CONVICTED (2021) | animal sanctuary owner Sandra Jane Kaverneng-Stolp, commonly known as Sandra Stolp, born February 1966, of Alltwen Isaf Farm, Derwen Road, Pontardawe, Swansea SA8 3AU – banned from keeping equines for 10 years after 130 horses in her care were found malnourished and in poor bodily condition
In November 2019 the RSPCA led an operation to remove 137 horses from the Whispering Willows Equine Rescue Centre in Swansea, Wales. Some of those rescued had been suffering for as long as six months and two had to be put down.
Now the owner of the sanctuary, Sandra Kaverneng-Stolp, has been banned from keeping equines after admitting to causing unnecessary suffering to 22 animals in her care.
The horses were found at sites in Alltwen Isaf Farm in Pontardawe, Neath Port Talbot, Gowerton in Swansea, and Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.
Many of the horses were “in poor bodily condition” and photographs showed hips, spine and ribs clearly visible on some of the horses.
One horse named Saffron appeared lethargic, depressed and in discomfort, with her condition deteriorating. Very sadly it was decided that she should be euthanised to end her suffering.
Despite rehabilitation efforts, another horse was put down nine days after being found lame and reluctant to move.
The court heard Dyffryn Tywi Equine Clinic and Cotts Equine Hospital had engaged with Kaverneng-Stolp in the past but “both experienced frustration” at the “lack of experience and care for vulnerable horses and a reluctance to listen to advice.”
On November 7, 2019, the RSPCA attended the farm in Pontardawe together with a representative from World Horse Welfare where they observed that food and water was present for most of the horses but the stables were “dirty and unclean”.
They saw multiple horses, many thoroughbreds, in very poor bodily condition, many weather-beaten.
Three days later, the same group attended the farm in Gowerton, where they found two stable blocks with 64 horses present in a similar condition. A woman named Grace, standing in for Kaverneng-Stolp, who the court heard was in Blackpool at the time, agreed for the horses to be handed over.
Prosecuting, Jon Tarrant told the court: “There has not been a deliberate act to this offending, but something where she lost control in the circumstances.”
Mr Tarrant described the way horses named Marley and Holly were discovered – in a poor demeanour with bones protruding, ulcerated abrasions and painful cellulitis.
Another horse, Chance, was found to be subdued in demeanour and reluctant to move voluntarily, with severe lymphangitis, crusted serum and thick scabs.
Another, Frankie, was noted to be badly malnourished, subdued, suffering from severe dermatitis and being kept in an environment with poor shelter.
Kaverneng-Stolp was interviewed and admitted that the horses had not been seen daily. Asked for her expertise in keeping horses, she described herself as “no expert, but with general knowledge.”
She ran the rescue centre through some donations, but mainly her own money. She accepted the available amenities were not sufficient for the number of horses present.
Mr Tarrant said: “This is a case of well intentioned but incompetent care. A number of horses had to be euthanised. The aggravating features are that this was a sanctuary, where horses were being held on behalf of owners in cases where they could not be looked after. There is also a case where professional advice was ignored.
“It cost the RSPCA and other charity organisations £130,000 to get these matters resolved, so there is financial implications of this well intended, but incompetent care.”
Mitigating, solicitor John Goodwin said: “Ms Kaverneng-Stolp had a worthy ambition to rescue horses that would have been abandoned and instead give them a good life, but it got completely out of hand.
“She had good intentions to set up Whispering Willows but got out of her depth.
“She was caring for a close friend who was ill with cancer and bequeathed an inheritance.
“She used that money to set up the sanctuary. She wanted to look after horses her whole life. She used all her money and everything is gone now. She is left with nothing but benefits. She has no savings, no capital.
“She rented all the land and her record keeping was chaotic to say the least. She started off with a couple of horses, some of whom were given to her by owners who could not cope, and some whom arrived in a terrible state.
“She has received abuse online with photos posted of her smiling face next to the shark from Jaws. This has had an adverse effect on her.
“She bit off more than she could chew with this whole enterprise which has led her to be in court and face criminal charges.”
Judge Neil Thomas described the case as “highly emotive” where there had been “a failure to give any proper consideration to the animals in Kaverneng-Stolp’s care.”
Speaking after the sentencing, chairman of the National Equine Welfare Council (NEWC), Nic de Brauwere said: “The tragic case of Whispering Willows shows why the regulation of sanctuaries and rescue centres is the next vital step in protecting the welfare of animals in the UK.
“Too many times NEWC members have seen sanctuaries struggle and fail when – at best – they simply take on too many animals without the necessary care knowledge, experience or finances, or – at worst – use it as a means to unscrupulously ask for people’s money while allowing animals in their supposed care to needlessly suffer.
“Just like on this occasion, it results in experienced charities having to join forces to provide emergency care and find new homes for the affected animals – putting additional pressure on their own resources. It is thanks to the strong partnerships formed as part of NEWC that our members were able to offer their expertise and open their doors so quickly to the horses from Whispering Willows, many of which were in a desperate condition, and want to thank everyone involved in helping to give them safe new homes.
“We welcome the result and sentencing which we hope will reinforce the point that rescuing horses carries great responsibilities, and encourage more people to think carefully about who they donate their money to.
“Anyone wishing to support the care of the horses from Whispering Willows can donate to the registered charities who came together to save them.”
Sentencing: 20-week community order with curfew. Ordered to pay £1,000 costs. Disqualified from keeping equine animals for 10 years (expires February 2031).
