Horses rescued from horse dealer James Gray’s farm near Amersham, Buckinghamshire, three years ago are settling into fantastic new homes. This is thanks to a phenomenal public response to an RSPCA appeal.
More than 1,500 people applied to adopt one of the 37 Amersham horses in the RSPCA’s care. New homes were also found for a further 80 horses that had been rescued by the RSPCA from elsewhere.
Tamsin said: “They’re all such lovely ponies. They’re not scared of people and have been superstars. Twiggy is a big baby and loves to have cuddles. She’s a very pretty little horse and I think dressage will definitely be for her.
“Hamish looks amazing trotting around and he loves to go out hacking – he’ll take the lead wherever he goes. And Jerry knows he’s a bit special – he trots and canters with his little feet flicking, so he’s definitely got a career in the show ring.
“I’d definitely rehome more horses from the RSPCA. It’s nice to deal with the hairy cobs as well as the competition horses – we’ve had fun with these three and hope to get a few more!”
True to her word, Tamsin has just taken on another pony from the RSPCA - a five-year-old coloured cob called Leo, who is settling in well.
Another happy owner is Liz Downes, from Lincolnshire. She is thrilled that Shetland mares, 13-year-old Rosie and one-year-old Ruby get on so well with her other horses and ponies.
She said: “Rosie and Ruby are so different to big horses. They have a huge amount of personality packed into very little bodies!
“Rosie is still very shy and wary of people. She had a horrendous experience and horses have got long memories. But if you treat them with patience and kindness they soon come round.”
RSPCA equine rehoming officer Sally Learoyd said: “We’ve had a massive response to the Amersham appeal and we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported us.
“Many people expressed an interest in adopting the horses, and sadly not everyone could be successful. But I would like to thank everyone who applied for their interest, time and patience.
“Some very experienced, knowledgeable people came forward and the horses are doing well in brilliant homes. The horses have had a long, difficult journey but now have great futures ahead of them – it’s wonderful to see.”
For further information about adopting a horse from the RSPCA or if you would like to support our work by making a donation, please visit www.rspca.org.uk.
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Notes to editors:
1. In May 2009 James Gray (46) and James Gray Junior (17) were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to 40 equines after a 12-week trial, brought by the RSPCA. Along with James Gray’s wife Julie (42) and daughters Jodie (27) and Cordelia (21), they were also found guilty of failing to meet the welfare needs of a further 114 equines.
Appeals against convictions brought by James Gray and Julie, Jodie and Cordelia Gray were dismissed. James Gray Junior (17) was acquitted on two charges, but convicted of the rest.
An arrest warrant was issued when James Gray absconded from court when his appeal against sentence failed. He was later caught and was sentenced to nine months in prison.
2. The Horse Trust is currently looking after 11 horses, ponies and donkeys that were rescued from Spindle Farm. Some of the older animals will be given lifetime sanctuary at the charity’s Home of Rest for Horses, such as jenny (female) donkey Gladys, who was unable to stand unaided for 10 days after she arrived, and Angel, a mare with eyesight problems. The Horse Trust hopes to rehome most of the younger horses and ponies to enable them to have an active life with a loving owner, however they require further training and will not be ready for rehoming for several months. The Horse Trust is also looking for good homes for retired, unridden horses under its rehoming scheme. To download an application form for taking on a retired horse, or one of the Spindle Farm horses, please visit: www.horsetrust.org.uk/the-horse-trust-rehoming-scheme.
Redwings Horse Sanctuary is currently caring for 63 of the horses, ponies and donkeys from the Amersham rescue. Many came into the Sanctuary with ongoing handling or veterinary issues so each will be individually assessed over the coming months and only those deemed suitable will join the Redwings Re-homing Scheme. In the meantime, if people are interested in becoming a Redwings Guardian and can offer a home to a rescued horse or pony, they can visit www.redwings.co.uk/rehoming for more information or to apply online.
World Horse Welfare took in 11 of the Amersham horses. They are now beginning to assess their suitability as either riding or companion horses for rehoming through their horse loan scheme. Anyone interested in rehoming a horse from World Horse Welfare can visit: www.worldhorsewelfare.org.
- A podcast which includes clips of Tamsin and Liz talking about how the horses are settling in is available from the press office. You can listen to it at www.rspca.org.uk/media/podcast.
Angel, a 12-year-old rescue horse, has formed a remarkable bond with Tarna, who shadows her everywhere and gently guides her away from danger.
The pair have become inseparable since meeting at The Horse Trust animal sanctuary in Buckinghamshire.
Angel is fully reliant on Tarna because she lost her sight when she was starved to within an inch of her life at Spindles Farm, Bucks.
Full article
A horse trader who absconded during his appeal against his sentence for animal cruelty offences has been arrested.
James Gray, 46, fled a hearing at Aylesbury Crown Court on 12 May and in his absence lost his appeal against his 26-week jail sentence.
He had been convicted of neglecting more than 100 animals at Spindle Farm in Amersham, Buckinghamshire.
Full article
The original verdict in the Amersham animal cruelty case has been upheld today at Aylesbury Crown Court.
We wanted to let you, our valued supporters, know as soon as we did: the original verdict in the Amersham animal cruelty case (brought by the RSPCA) has been upheld today (6 May 2010).
All five defendants were appealing against charges of neglect and cruelty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Two of the charges were dismissed earlier in the appeal hearing, and the juvenile male was acquitted of a further two today. The rest were upheld by presiding judge Christopher Tyrer today following 33 days of evidence.
The appeal against sentence will take place on May 12th, also at Aylesbury Crown Court at 10am
Full article
A horse trader found guilty of animal cruelty was today sentenced to six months in prison and banned from keeping horses, ponies and donkeys for life. James John Gray (45) was also ordered to pay £400,000 costs.
His son, James Gray Junior (16), was ordered to complete an 18-month supervision order and banned from keeping equines for 10 years.
Wife Julie Gray (42) and daughters Jodie Gray (26) and Cordelia Gray (21) were ordered to complete 150 hours of community service and were banned from keeping equines for 10 years. Julie Gray was ordered to pay £750 in costs and Cordelia and Jodie Gray were ordered to pay £500 each in costs.
James Gray and his son James Gray Junior were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to 40 equines on Friday 8 May after a 12-week trial, brought by the RSPCA. Along with wife Julie Gray and daughters Jodie Gray and Cordelia Gray they were also found guilty of failing to meet the welfare needs of 114 equines.
The family was prosecuted after RSPCA inspectors discovered more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys and the bodies of a further 32 equines at Spindle Farm near Amersham between Friday 4 and Wednesday 9 January 2008.
RSPCA inspector Kirsty Hampton said: “The RSPCA is pleased that the district judge has recognised the extent of the cruelty, neglect and the suffering endured by the animals in this case. We see the disqualifications from keeping horses as an effective measure to prevent animals suffering in the future.”
Inspector Hampton described the conditions that the horses were kept in as ‘grotesque’.
She said: “When we arrived at the farm we were confronted with an extremely distressing scene. The stench of decomposition and urine was overpowering. The sight of horses left in such a miserable state will stay with me forever and I hope I never have to see animals treated with such little care and compassion again.”
Officers from World Horse Welfare, Redwings Horse Sanctuary, vets and Thames Valley Police worked alongside the RSPCA in very difficult conditions to rescue the surviving animals from the terrible scene.
Many of the animals had little food or dry bedding and were crammed into pens, ankle deep in faeces. Other horses had simply been left to die where they fell and then, surrounded by their companions, decomposed. Further carcasses were discovered in surrounding fields, some burned on bonfires, and there was a pile of bones and a skull against an outbuilding.
District Judge Andrew Vickers said of James John Gray at today’s hearing at Aylesbury Magistrates’ Court: “I know you have a strong background with equines so it is all the more sad that you stand convicted. It is something your father and grandfather would be ashamed of.”
All the defendants had denied all counts of cruelty and neglect. In court, James Gray claimed sole responsibility for the animals and said his wife and one of his daughters were “frightened” of the horses.
He said he ran a limited company dealing in 2,300 to 2,400 equines a year and, of these, “nine or ten” would die. He added that bad weather had been responsible for the wet bedding and “temporary” overcrowding when the RSPCA visited his farm in January 2008. He denied that the horses were poorly fed and housed.
The investigation has been one of the RSPCA’s biggest ever, and just providing care and rehabilitation treatment for the horses has cost the charity more than £850,000.
If members of the public would like to contribute towards the work of the RSPCA and the animals in its care, they should call 0300 123 8000 or visit www.rspca.org.uk/amershamhorses.
