Sixteen animals starved to death, including thoroughbred Trakehners

By David Eade
A British woman who is accused of allowing 16 of her horses to starve to death in Medina Sidonia could now be extradited to face separate cruelty charges in the UK.
The animal charity RSPCA has confirmed that Sue J., who describes herself as a horse nutritionalist, is being prosecuted for eight offences of cruelty or neglect to 16 horses. She is due to appear before magistrates in Coleford, Gloucestershire, on October 13 and if she fails to attend, a warrant could be issued or the case heard in her absence.
It is alleged that the 16 horses, amongst them celebrated Trakehners, have died, with another 36 horses in such a bad stated that the authorities may order some of them to be destroyed. It is said they have been kept in appalling conditions and left to die on scrubland in Medina Sidonia. The environmental arm of the Guardia Civil, Seprona, is investigating the situation and regional government vets are working to save the remaining horses.

UK case history
The RSPCA case is related to events in 2003, when the accused bought around two dozen horses from the Singing Stud stables in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, for around £4,000. Local residents have alleged that she struggled to meet the cost of vets' bills, food and water, and allowed the horses to "waste away." In 2007 she moved to Cádiz province from Gorsley, Gloucestershire. She has denied mistreating the thoroughbreds in the UK as well as in Spain.