Jon Clarke (Publisher & Editor)A HORSE-breeder convicted of animal cruelty has been tracked down to her new home deep in the Andalucia outback.
The Olive Press has located the new address of Susanne Jenkins – who was convicted of horse cruelty in the UK – after she disappeared from her Cadiz farm last June.
In 2008 at least 12 of Jenkins’ horses died on her ‘Farm of Death’ in Medina Sidonia, allegedly due to a lack of feed. Now, experts fear history may repeat itself.
“They look to have been completely abandoned, the blemishes on their coats are a clear indicator of a severe absence of food.”
After seeing our exclusive photos, Antonio Moreno from equine charity CACMA, revealed: “Some of these horses are in a very bad way.
“They look to have been completely abandoned, the blemishes on their coats are a clear indicator of a severe absence of food.
“Their skeletal appearance shows that they have gone weeks without correct feed.”
The charity spokesman added: “The horses are certainly in a bad way, malnourished, with dry wounds and maybe even intestinal parasites.
“I am sure some of them will not make it through the year.”
It is a view also held by Jill Newman, from the Andalucian Rescue Centre for Horses (ARCH).
“They look in really bad condition, almost as if they are being fed, but on very bad quality feed. It is also possible they have either worms or bad teeth,” explained Newman.
“They obviously need veterinary attention but at first glance it is more neglect than cruelty. Where does one draw the line between the two?”
Meanwhile, another local horse specialist described their health as “shocking”.
Using a Body Condition Score Chart – a method that records the amount of fat covering parts of the body – the specialist concluded that they were in poor health.
“The dark bays are missing muscle on the back and neck, the horses are either ill or it’s a clear case of starvation,” explained the specialist.
“A huge number of bones that should be otherwise concealed by body fat are on display.”
Meanwhile, an animal rights activist, who wanted to remain anonymous, has criticised the Junta and Seprona (the Guardia Civil’s animal welfare arm) for their apparent lack of action.
“This whole process seems to be going round in circles,” explained the activist.
“Judging by their past record, I’m sadly not surprised Seprona and the Junta seem disinterested.
“I saw the horses for myself recently and they look to be in almost as bad a state as they were at her old farm in Medina.
“She is trying to look after so many horses without providing them with the necessary feed and resources. She has over-stretched herself.”
However, Seprona official Pedro Chavez has defended his organisation and also insisted that allegations the horses were unhealthy were “lies”.
Chavez, whose organisation hs visited the farm on a number of occasions, said: “People can say whatever they like but I have seen the horses with my own eyes and right now they are ok.
“A few photos don’t mean anything, the horses are certainly much healthier than they were in Cadiz.”
Last summer, the Olive Press printed photos of emaciated, vulture-eaten horses owned by Jenkins.
Worse still, two years ago, some 12 of Jenkins’ horses died on her ‘Farm of Death’ in Medina Sidonia.
Jenkins was also convicted back in the UK for the mistreatment and starvation of horses.
She was discredited by the judge as being “deluded”.
However, Jenkins insists that she has been the victim of “severe bad luck” and maintains that her horses have suffered from various diseases.
I’m very glad to see that you are still on the case.
Good work. Keep it up. Get her stopped.
oh my god, are you do gooders still going on about all this, i have seen the horses for myself and know that moreno is full off it along with the ones from medina who never even went to see the horses
Yes Richard, the horse in the picture looks so healthy doesn’t it?
well fred i take it you were there when that picture was taken and can guarantee that it is one of these horses then?
If you re-read the article and see how many people from different equine organisations went to see the horses, it is clear that the animals were suffering.
I actually think that you have more of a personal interest in this issue perhaps. You question the authenticity of the picture and then make an unprovable comment yourself about personally visiting the horses. I believe the OP more than I believe you, that’s all that matters lol.
well fred thats upto you to believe what you have read in a news paper, if you do not believe me about visiting the horses why do you not just ask Sue jenkins yourself? im more likely to believe seprona myself and what i have seen, not what people have been led to believe by such people as moreno.
Go and look after the horses – stop waffling.
why would i want to look after the horses? just because i have been to see them, i take it you have been to see them aswell? im only asking cos in curious.
Whatever you say, Nob.
i take it that since you know my nickname, that i know you? and your just trying to wind me up?
This woman should NOT be allowed to keep any equines. She has an appalling record here in the UK and has just exported her problems to Spain. I speak as someone who has been around horses (and kept them in tiptop shape) for nearly 60 years – I suspect Nob (good name!!! :) )has very little knowledge. I was quite shocked to see that history has repeated itself – poor, poor horses.
Here is an article published in the horse bible “Horse and Hound in October 2008.
Breeder Suzanne Jenkins banned from owning horses in the UK
Charlotte White, H&H deputy news editor
24 October, 2008
The RSPCA is working with the Gardia Civil in Spain to try to resolve an alleged welfare problem on a farm in Andalusia.
Suzanne Jenkins, 33, formerly of Kilcot, Gloucestershire, runs a farm in Medina Sidona where it is alleged that 16 horses have died and another 36 are starving (news, 21 August).
Mrs Jenkins was banned from keeping horses for two years at Coleford Magistrates Court on Thursday (23 October) in a separate case brought by the RSPCA.
She was also fined £600 with £400 costs and deprived of five Trakehner horses.
The animal nutritionist, who had kept 49 horses at her stud farm in Gloucestershire, was found guilty of three charges of causing unnecessary suffering and four of poor husbandry under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. She was cleared of a fifth husbandry charge.
RSPCA Inspector Debbie Large said the RSPCA was concerned the five horses horses seized during the Gloucestershire investigation would have ended up in Spain.
She added: “She is currently facing investigation from the Spanish authorities and we have sent a senior officer out to Spain to liaise with the Gardia Civil and the local welfare organisations involved.
“She had stated in court that her business was going very well in Spain, but the conditions there make this case pale into insignificance.”
Jenkins’ ban on owning horses is not effective in Spain.
When RSPCA officers visited Jenkin’s Gloucestershire property in June this year they found a Trakehner mare, Polar Princess —worth £20,000, “severely underweight” the court heard.
Three colts were in a poor condition. Grand Dezzo was “abnormally weak and thin” and suffering skin lesions, Impressario was also thin, with a poor coat and Ullando was emaciated and had dental problems.
Three-year-old mare Evie had very poor body condition and a five-year-old gelding, Lugiani, was being kept in a stable that had not been cleaned for two to three days.
Other horses were being kept on meagre grass in a field with dangerous fencing.
The five Trakehner horses seized from Mrs Jenkins have been cared for at the Bransby Home of Rest for Horses in Leominster, Herefordshire since June.
Philip York general manager of the charity said: “In a very short period of time the horses regained their health simply because they were fed a correct diet.”
He said Bransby has spent around £15,000 nursing the horses back to health and they will go out on loan to suitable homes when they are fully recovered.
The RSPCA has thanked Bransby for their help in the case.
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For the sake of the horses, I pray that God removes Suzanne Jenkins from the face of the earth.