A DURHAM woman has been found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an underweight horse with a deformed hoof.

Pamela Brown, 60, of Browney Lane, Durham, denied failing to ensure the animal’s welfare and causing unnecessary suffering to the horse she kept in a field with twelve others in Langley Moor, Durham.

She was found guilty following a three-day trial at Darlington Magistrates’ Court which concluded today (Wednesday, January 28).

Her co-accused, 26-year-old Louise Nicholson, also of Browney Lane, was cleared of five charges of failing to ensure an animal’s welfare which related to one horse and a pony called Tiny.

Magistrates concluded that there was not enough evidence to prove that Ms Nicholson was responsible for the horse, which had a lice infestation and rain scold, and the pony she did admit to being responsible for was in good health.

During the trial the court heard that RSPCA inspectors visited the 24-acre field on February 22 last year and found a collapsed horse that was in such a poorly state it needed to be put down on the spot.

Officers returned the following day and seized a dozen horses which had ailments including skin disease and lice infestations.

Two more horses later had to be put down by the RSPCA because of their poor condition.

Following the verdicts, the RSPCA applied to keep the remaining horses in their care and the application was granted with the exception of Tiny the pony who will be returned to Ms Nicholson.

Magistrates adjourned the case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared on Brown and she is due back at Darlington Magistrates' Court on February 25 for sentencing.