A 36-year-old man has been charged with criminal damage after a horse was found shot dead in a North Yorkshire garden.
The man from Raskelf, a village in North Yorkshire, will appear at Northallerton Magistrates’ court on 28 November.
Kit, a seven-year-old throughbred ex-racehorse on loan to Beckie Warner, was believed to have been shot over a small unpaid livery yard bill of £30, as reported on H&H online last month.
The story provoked national outrage when the horse was allegedly dumped by a JCB in Mrs Warner’s garden in Raskelf at 9.40pm on 15 October.
The man charged was arrested on the night of the incident. A 56 year-old-man arrested at the same time has been released by police without charge.
As the vet who attended the incident confirmed the horse did not suffer, no animal welfare charges will be brought.
Karen Colman the RSPCA’s deputy chief inspector was called to the property and assisted the police with their investigation into the horse’s death.
The horse had been kept on DIY livery at the GG Centre in North Yorkshire.
Following the death of the horse the RSPCA has removed the dozen horses it kept at the GG Centre.
“There are more than 700 horses in the RSPCA’s care throughout England and Wales and these 12 horses were moved to another facility. Their welfare continues to be our priority,” said an RPSCA spokesman.
“The horse involved in the dispute was not in the care of the RSPCA and the veterinary surgeon who examined the body at the scene stated that it was put to sleep humanely, meaning no prosecution under animal welfare legislation can be taken.
“The RSPCA is sympathetic to the strength of feeling surrounding this incident and does not condone what happened,” she added.
