A COUPLE have been banned from keeping horses after they left a pony starving on a demolition site.
Gypsy Boy, a piebald pony, was "extremely thin" and weak when he was found on the site in Dane Park Road, Orchard Park.
He had no access to food and was surrounded by exposed pieces of metal, cabling, wires and household rubbish.
His owners, Alisha Suzanne Davies and Alex Higgins-Smith, have now been banned from keeping horses for ten years.
Veterinary surgeon John Levison, who attended the scene, said: "This pony was very subdued and quiet. He was able to walk but he was very slow and weak, with a low head carriage.
"This pony was in poor body condition, he was weak and lethargic. He had a very thick winter coat but, despite this, it was obvious that this pony was extremely thin."
Davies, 21, and Higgins-Smith, 28, both admitted causing unnecessary suffering to Gypsy Boy for at least a month when they appeared at Hull Magistrates' Court.
The couple, of 22nd Avenue, north Hull, were also ordered to undertake unpaid work.
The pony was found when the RSPCA were called to the wasteland on March 22.
Inspector Hannah Bryer said: "The area is currently a demolition site. There were various exposed pieces of metal, cabling, wires and household rubbish, including tin cans and plastics.
"I observed a piebald pony who appeared to be dull and disinterested.
He was very underweight and was weak."
The pony had a body condition score of 1.5, the court heard, when 0 is very poor and 5 is obese.
Mr Levison said: "The extent of his weight loss should have been apparent to any owner by observation and touch.
"I would have expected a reasonable owner to seek the advice of a veterinary surgeon to investigate the possible causes of this weight loss prior to the animal reaching this condition.
"I also would have expected a reasonable owner to house this pony appropriately given its poor body condition and very cold weather conditions."
He said Gypsy Boy would have been suffering for at least a month because he did not have a proper diet or living environment.
Mr Levison said: "The warmth and shelter provided by proper housing would have reduced the amount of energy required to maintain a normal body temperature.
"The thinner the pony gets, its energy requirements merely to survive increase.
"During this time the animal will suffer the unpleasant sensation of hunger, which it can not satisfy; become more susceptible to secondary disease and infection; and be more sensitive to extremes of weather."
Davies must carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and Higgins-Smith must complete 120 hours. Both were ordered to pay £100 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
