Families could sue 'over-ambitious' gymkhana mother who doped other children's ponies

A woman accused of doping ponies in a junior gymkhana to boost her son's chances of winning is likely to be sued.

Kim Baudains was questioned by police over allegations that she fed doped mints to four ponies belonging to rivals of her 12-year-old son Josh.
The ponies, which were competing in last year's showjumping championship on the island of Jersey, tested positive for the tranquilliser acetylpromazine, or ACP.
But officers were unable to press charges due to a loophole in Jersey law which means it is not illegal to give sedatives to animals.
Now three of the families whose ponies were doped are considering legal action against Mrs Baudains, claiming their children's lives were put at risk.
They also claim some of the ponies are permanently affected and that the doping was not a one-off but a long-term campaign to help Josh and his mount Ku-Hi Charisma.
The parents will decide whether to launch legal action after the results of an independent inquiry by the British Showjumping Association due in the next few days.
Local association members will also be asked to decide whether Josh's membership of the association should be revoked, and whether he should be banned from competing in their events, the focus of Jersey's showjumping calendar.
Divorced mother-of-two Mrs Baudains, 37, a well-known figure on Jersey's showjumping circuit, strenuously denies that she drugged the horses.
She admits feeding mints to some horses - including the champion Conrhenry Thumbelina - but claims the sweets were not doped.
But vet Ben Linnell has confirmed that Mrs Baudains was given several tablets of ACP less than a week before the competition.
Mr Linnell said the drugs were given in good faith as Mrs Baudains claimed she wanted to sedate one of her ponies during clipping.
The Jersey showjumping community is furious that no prosecution is possible.
One British Showjumping Association member said: 'We are livid to think that, in the whole of Jersey law, nothing can be done to protect our children or stop a person from taking action which endangers the life of our children.
'It has changed the whole atmosphere of Jersey showjumping. Nobody leaves their pony unattended now.'
Another described Mrs Baudains as 'extremely competitive' and ' determined her son will be a champion'.
The member added it was a ' typical case of living your own ambitions through your children'.
Mrs Baudains said: 'They cannot suspend my son's membership. I have not done anything wrong.'