Three family members have been banned from keeping equines for life after their pony was found collapsed in a field in Essex. Spirit, since renamed Frugal, was originally reported to the RSPCA by a member of the public in December 2012.
RSPCA Inspector Matt Gough immediately attended the site, in Tilbury, Essex, and found a 2-year-old piebald cob in a state of collapse. He was unable to stand by himself, so the local fire service had to attend to help lift him from the muddy field. The pony was taken to nearby vets House & Jackson who confirmed he was suffering from starvation. After a few days he was transferred to Redwings Horse Sanctuary, where he has now made a full recovery. Staff at the Sanctuary named the pony Frugal as he arrived just before Christmas. The RSPCA have now brought a prosecution against three people who were supposed to be responsible for his care and all three were banned for life from keeping horses when sentencing took place at Basildon Magistrates Court. Victoria Jaggers of Wellington Road, Tilbury, her husband Kelly Trundle and her daughter Alicia Jaggers were all found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the horse and given a lifetime ban on keeping equines. Frugal has now been signed over into the permanent care of Redwings.
