The operations manager on the farm received a permit for a riding school in 2016, but just over a year later, an anonymous tip was received by the county administrative board that the animals were being neglected.

They then discovered 16 severely emaciated sheep and a lamb that was starving to death.

During more inspections, the county administrative board has also found rabbits with uncared for claws and fur, insufficient outdoor protection and dirty cages.

Horses must have received insufficient feeding and in some cases have not been taken care of properly in case of injuries.

Some shortcomings have been rectified over time, but several have remained during new inspections, according to the county administrative board.

Risk to human health

In November 2018, the county administrative board therefore decided to revoke the permit for horse activities.

But despite that, the farm has continued to run a riding school as usual for several years - something that violates the Animal Welfare Act, according to the authority.

- It's serious.

In this case, we have made checks, but perhaps at slightly too long intervals, says Elisabeth Schöning, unit manager at the County Administrative Board's veterinary unit.

At the same time, the problems have continued.

In April 2022, the Environment and Building Committee decided to stop the farm's café operations when it was established that the premises were dirty and lacked running water for hand washing.

According to the decision, the deficiencies were so serious that there is a risk to human health.

4H breaks the collaboration

According to the farm's own statement, they have had collaborations with local schools, daily activities and Studieförbundet Vuxenskolan.

At the same time, it has been listed as a 4H club, despite the lack of permits.

Only at the end of 2021 did the organization carry out a proper inspection when the farm applied to become an official 4h farm.

When they became aware of the criticism from the county administrative board, they chose to end the collaboration due to "extensive shortcomings in animal husbandry."

- We were quick to make the decision that this type of business should not be associated with 4H, says Ellen Johansson Wiss, regional consultant.

Penalty: 40,000 a month

In order to stop the riding activities, the county administrative board has now decided to impose a fine of 40,000 per month on the leader of the riding school, which the riding school continues without a permit.

SVT has visited the farm and talked to the woman, who states that she will close down the horse business on 13 June.

She feels convicted in advance by the county administrative board and emphasizes that the activity has played an important role for children with mental illness, and that several problems have been remedied.

SVT went out to the criticized farm - hear the business manager answer our questions in the clip:

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Here, the farm's operations manager is confronted by SVT's reporter Photo: SVT