CONVICTED (2023) | Natalie Morris, born c. 1983, of Bush Row, Haverfordwest SA61 1RJ – allowed her horse to become malnourished and failed to protect him from adverse weather.
Morris was disqualified from keeping animals for five years in relation to a 12-year-old bay gelding horse called Ben, who was found in a field in an emaciated condition with severe rain scald on his back.
The court heard that a vet examined Ben and found that he had a body score of just 1/5. The vet added that he “had significant rain scald along his back and pitting edema in both hindlimbs.”
RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben said in a witness statement that when he spoke initially with Morris, she denied she was Ben’s owner but conceded she had been looking after him.
On 19 February 2022 Inspector Hogben met Morris at the field in Clay Lane, Haverfordwest. After Ben’s rug was removed the inspector could clearly see his ribs, hips and spine protruding through his winter coat.
Morris told him that she had taken delivery of Ben in the second week of December 2021 and was only supposed to have the horse for a month. Ben was removed from the site and taken into RSPCA care for treatment.
Inspector Hogben added in his statement that he had spoken with a woman who said she used to own Ben and said she had transferred ownership of him to Natalie Morris in July 2021.
Morris pleaded not guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Ben but was convicted in her absence.
Ben is back to full health and has been rehomed.
Sentencing | 12 month community order; £1,200 costs and a £65 victim surcharge. Disqualified from keeping all animals for five years (expires April 2028).
Additional Information
In March 2021 Natalie Morris was interviewed by the BBC after the sad death of her four-month-old foal Chicco.
Morris claimed Chicco had died from stomach blockage after being given food such as potato peelings, pasta and sandwiches wrapped in tinfoil and clingfilm by walkers.
Chicco’s mother, Lady, died a short time later, possibly due to stress from losing her foal.
While the public feeding of horses is an important issue (you can learn more about the awareness campaign in the Facebook group Public campaign to #StopFeedingOurHorses Morris has now proved herself incapable of safeguarding the welfare of the animals in her care and we have to wonder if there was more to that tragedy as well.
Update | December 2023
Natalie Morris has had her ban on keeping animals overturned following an appeal.
Ian Ibrahim, representing Morris at the appeal hearing, said: “The main point of the appeal is the blanket ban on owning and keeping animals.
“She has extensive background and history in dealing with animals.”
He said the ban meant that the appellant had had to give up another horse that she had owned for 12 years, as well as the fish that she owned.
The court heard Morris had no previous convictions and that – other than Ben – there was no evidence of cruelty towards any other animals.
The appeal was successful, as it was determined that the ban was “neither necessary or proportionate”.
The disqualification was removed. Morris must pay a £200 contribution to the costs of the case.