A Washington Township stable owner agreed to take part in Westmoreland County’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program to avoid animal cruelty charges filed a little less than a year ago.

Sandra A. Hobbs, 67, owner of Victory Stables on Camp Nancy Road, initially was charged with animal cruelty and neglect, the result of a Humane Society investigation into a video taken in May 2021 during a training session with a horse in Hobbs’ care.

During the training session, humane officers said, the female horse named Rachelle was struck twice with a riding crop, causing her to rear up and fall backward, and also was being pulled with a lead rope by two Airedale terriers issued commands by Hobbs.

During a pretrial conference in February, Hobbs agreed to undergo a yearlong program in order to avoid the charges.

Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, or ARD, is offered by Pennsylvania’s court system to give first-time criminal offenders the opportunity to be rehabilitated. If an offender successfully completes the program, the person may petition the court to have the charges dismissed and the case expunged.

Hobbs could not immediately be reached for comment.

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