An international horse show judge and breeder who was banned from owning, keeping, dealing or transporting equines for three years in September has withdrawn his appeal against his sentence. He, and his mother, have been ordered to pay £184,667.66 in costs between them.

1. International horse show judge and
breeder withdraws appeal
Mother and son ordered to pay almost all RSPCA costs
Friday 4 May 2012
An international horse show judge and breeder who was banned from owning, keeping,
dealing or transporting equines for three years in September has withdrawn his appeal
against his sentence. He, and his mother, have been ordered to pay £184,667.66 in costs
between them.
Mr David Hinde (D.O.B 7.1.65), of Arlington Villas, Aberford, West Yorkshire, who bred
Dartmoor ponies at Becca Farm, Aberford under the name ‘Pumphill Dartmoors’, appeared at
Hull Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 3 May) along with his mother Mrs Cynthia Hinde, of the
same address.
Mr Hinde appeared at Beverley Magistrates Court on Monday 26 September for the start of a
five-day trial but entered guilty pleas instead. He admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a
bay Dartmoor colt by failing to address its emaciated and collapsed state and failing to meet
the needs of 13 ponies by failing to investigate and address the causes of their poor body
condition. As well as the three-year-ban he was ordered to pay a £200 fine and costs of £800
at that time.
The RSPCA attended Walkhouse Farm, Kiplingcotes, East Yorkshire – a property rented by Mr
Hinde but no longer connected to him - on Sunday 7 March 2010 after a call from a member of
the public who was concerned that he hadn’t attended to the ponies for a few days. Thirty one
ponies were seized by police on veterinary advice and placed in the RSPCA’s care. One of
North them - a bay Dartmoor colt - was emaciated and collapsed.
Leanne Plumtree
Senior press officer RSPCA inspector Hannah Bryer said: "When an experienced horseman with such a high
standing in the horse world allows a pony to get into this kind of state, as Mr Hinde did here, it
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is truly shocking.
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"The pony was literally at death’s door when we found him. He was severely emaciated,
E-mail: collapsed and unresponsive and we considered putting him to sleep there and then to end his
lplumtree@rspca.org.uk
suffering. He was placed on a drip at the scene and had to be moved to the transporter on a
PO Box BR29 tarpaulin sheet. It was the most distressing thing I’ve seen in my career at the RSPCA.
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"His recovery was extremely difficult but amazingly he is now back to full health. No underlying
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clinical reason could be found for his condition, suggesting that the cause was purely and
simply malnutrition and dehydration."
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Mrs Cynthia Hinde, who it was always maintained owned the ponies, also withdrew her appeal
Website:
www.rspca.org.uk against an Animal Welfare Act 2006 section 20 ruling that she be deprived of the horses and
that their care be passed to the RSPCA. After over two years in RSPCA care the horses will
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now be able to be rehomed.
(evenings and
weekends)
Tel 08448 222888 The RSPCA is keen to hear from anyone who sold a pony to the Hindes and is interested in
and ask for pager taking it back. Please call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 and ask to leave a message for chief
number 828825
inspector Cathy Hyde, who is co-ordinating the rehoming.

2. Mr Hinde was ordered to pay costs of £95,338.14 and Mrs Hinde was ordered to pay costs of
£89,329.52. The RSPCA will now seek to reclaim the funds through the courts.
-ends-
Notes to editors:
 Photographs are available from Leanne Plumtree, senior press officer, by e-mailing
lplumtree@rspca.org.uk or the national press office at press@rspca.org.uk
 RSPCA inspector Hannah Bryer is only available for further comment at very limited
times
North
Leanne Plumtree
Senior press officer
Tel 0300 123 8772
Fax 0303 123 8772
Mob 07714 138221
E-mail:
lplumtree@rspca.org.uk
PO Box BR29
Leeds LS13 2XL
National press office:
Tel 0300 123 0053
E-mail:
press@rspca.org.uk
Website:
www.rspca.org.uk
Duty press officer
(evenings and
weekends)
Tel 08448 222888
and ask for pager
number 828825