AN Atherton woman was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a horse when she appeared at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court.

In February last year International League for the Protection of Horses Field Officer Chris Williamson was asked by the RSPCA to attend premises at Bolton House Road in Bickershaw where Bridie, a 15 hands high cob mare was kept.

The horse was found to have large masses of granulated tissue in the bulb of both front feet and her left hind foot, and there was an overpowering smell of infected tissue emanating from the wounds.

Bridie's owner, Errol Smith, who was in poor health, was unaware of the situation and had entrusted the care of the horse to Dawn Jones since 1999. Ms Jones was said to have failed to seek veterinary attention for the mare since 2002, leaving it to suffer unnecessarily for over four years.

Mr Smith signed ownership of Bridie to the RSPCA but sadly the mare had to eventually be put down.

Chief Inspector Kathy Hyde of the RSPCA said: "It was clear from the expert evidence provided by veterinary surgeon Simon Constable and Professor Derek Knottenbelt of Liverpool Veterinary University that the horse had suffered unnecessarily for some considerable time."

ILPH Field Officer Chris Williamson said: "I was appalled at the condition of Bridie's legs and the unnecessary suffering that she was subjected to and am glad that the court recognised this. Dawn Jones had a Duty of Care towards Bridie. This should act as a warning to anyone who allows an animal to suffer whilst in their care."

Ms Jones was given a three year conditional discharge and ordered to pay compensation of £2,000 towards the prosecution costs.