Pony finds new home after being beaten with pole  

A pony who was beaten with a plastic pole in a supermarket car park in Lancashire has now found a loving forever home where she helps young people develop important life skills.

The pony was hit by her owner more than a dozen times to “teach her a lesson”. The incident was captured on camera by onlookers who filmed the beating on their phone.

In November 2021 John Reid, 31, of Bartholomew Road, Morecambe was sentenced at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday November 3 after pleading guilty to two animal welfare offences.

The first was for causing unnecessary suffering by repeatedly beating his pony, a yearling filly called Pebbles, and the second was for not meeting her needs.

RSPCA inspector Will Lamping investigated the footage and rescued the yearling filly, who was underweight with prominent shoulders, backbones and ribs, all clearly.

The RSPCA rescued the yearling filly, who was underweight with prominent shoulders, backbones and ribs (Image: RSPCA)

She was also kept in a stable covered in horse faeces and plastic bags and there was ivy, which is poisonous to horses, growing at the back.

She had no clean area or bedding to stand on or feed available to her and she was also seen chewing wood which horses often do when they are not receiving adequate nutrition.

The pony was rescued by the RSPCA where she was rehabilitated and then rehomed to the British Horse Society’s Second Chance scheme.

This is a joint venture between the RSPCA and the horse charity which gives a second chance to rescued horses by rehoming them to British Horse Society (BHS) approved centres running the BHS’ Changing Lives Through Horses scheme.

This supports young people and gives them the opportunity to develop life skills through working with horses.

The RSPCA rescued the yearling filly, who has now found a new home (Image: RSPCA)

The pony now lives at Queen Mary’s School in North Yorkshire.

Alice Clennan, Queen Mary's School equestrian centre manager, said: "She is settling into her new home. She is thriving in her new setting and is loved by all the pupils at Queen Mary's Equestrian Centre. It is wonderful to be able to provide this opportunity."

Not only does the project support the wellbeing of young people but it aims to give a brighter future to many horses who have suffered an unhappy past by rehoming them.

Magistrates told the court that Reid’s offences were serious and in addition to the five year ban, which he cannot apply to terminate for three years, Reid was sentenced to 10 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months.

Man filmed hitting pony in supermarket car park (Image: RSPCA)

He was also ordered to pay £200 costs and a £128 victim surcharge.

As part of the charity’s Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, the RSPCA highlights that one animal is beaten every hour.

RSPCA inspector Will Lamping investigated the footage and rescued Bramble, the yearling filly, who was underweight with prominent shoulders, backbones and ribs, all clearly.

Alice Clennan, Queen Mary's School equestrian centre manager, said: "Bramble is settling into her new home. She is thriving in her new setting and is loved by all the pupils at Queen Mary's Equestrian Centre. It is wonderful to be able to provide this opportunity."

Not only does the project support the wellbeing of young people but it aims to give a brighter future to many horses who have suffered an unhappy past by rehoming them.

The RSPCA has launched a Cancel Out Cruelty campaign as figures released show that the charity receives a rise of 50 extra calls every day about cruelty to animals during the summer months.

The charity has seen a rise in reports of beatings and with the increase in pet ownership and financial pressures growing we are sadly braced for a summer of suffering.