Thomas Price, once hailed as “Wales’ gypsy horse king,” is back behind bars. Known for breeding the elegant Gypsy Vanner horses, Price, 62, has a checkered past with animal cruelty charges that led to a lifetime ban on owning animals. But old habits die hard.
Despite his ban, Price was caught with horse feed and caught tending to horses, a clear breach of his criminal behaviour order. His history paints a grim picture—having been convicted in 2021 for 32 counts of animal cruelty involving sheep and horses. The conditions were described as “atrocious,” with maggot-ridden sheep and emaciated horses found on his farm. In some cases, these poor creatures had to be put down.
Price’s notoriety grew as his horses roamed unchecked across Cardiff and the surrounding areas. In 2022, he was sentenced to another six months for attempting to transfer ownership of animals to his teenage son. Fast forward to 2025, and he’s breached his order yet again. This time, Price was found with horse feed and equine-related items in Cardiff and was seen tending to horses—actions that landed him a fresh sentence.
Appearing at Cardiff Crown Court, Price was sentenced to 21 months in prison plus a victim surcharge. Charities and welfare officers have been vocal, pointing out the “shocking conditions” in which the animals were kept and Price’s “desperate lack of care.” Even with his latest stint in jail, the scars of his past actions on animal welfare are still raw for many in the community.