A teenager has been banned from keeping horses for five years after pleading guilty to neglect charges.

Aaron Gumble, 18, of The Swenys between Thornwood and Harlow, appeared in Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on July 20 charged with animal welfare offences concerning a black and white mare.

The RSPCA was first called in December 2013 after concern had been raised about the horse, now called Twiglet, who was found near the M11 on Harlow Common.

She was in a very poor body condition, tethered and had no water or hay.

Despite several attempts to advise the defendants on the horse’s care she was again found with infected wounds on her body by a Redwings officer in February and was taken into possession by police on welfare grounds and placed into their care.

At this stage she was four months pregnant.

Epping Forest Guardian:

Twiglet was found in an emaciated condition in February.

Gumble pleaded guilty to failing to address the horse’s poor body condition and weight loss, not providing veterinary care for wounds on her back and not providing suitable environment, fresh drinking water or treating hooves.

He was disqualified from keeping horses for five years, given a 12 month community order involving 180 hours unpaid work, and made to pay £1,200 in costs.

Twiglet gave birth to a healthy foal named Frazzle in September.

An RSPCA inspector said: “Poor Twiglet was in a terrible state.

“She was emaciated with open infected wounds on her body which had not been treated, and was also extremely dehydrated.

“Her most basic needs had simply not been taken care of.

“She was living in completely unsuitable conditions without food or water.”

“She was given the name Twiglet because she so hungry when she was found, that she was eating a branch which was the only food she could find.

“We had given a lot of advice and issued three advisory notices, yet the advice had not been heeded so we had no choice but to take her into care.

“We had to prosecute to prevent further horses from suffering.”