A woman has been disqualified for keeping horses for five years after being found guilty of neglect and causing unnecessary suffering to her four horses.

Gemma King, 30, of Mallard Way, March, was also given a 12 month community order and made to pay costs of £300 at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

She had been found guilty in May of not providing water, proper hoof or farrier care, treatment for external parasites, or an adequate environment for four cobs named Sooty, Bongo, Sweeper and Barney.

She was also found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to Barney, a grey cob found in a very poor body condition with bones visible through his skin.

The horses were discovered by the RSPCA in Horsemoor Road, March in April 2013 after concern was raised by a member of the public.

RSPCA inspector Jon Knight said: “This is the perfect example of a case where horses were left neglected without even the most basic equine care.

“The suffering of the horses in this case was completely unnecessary, and could have been easily avoided with a little bit of routine treatment to their hooves and other things.

“Luckily we were alerted in time, and in our care three of the horses were nursed back to health and have made a full recovery. Sadly Sooty died earlier this year of an unrelated illness but the other three are now well and ready for new homes.

“Over the past five years there has been a marked and very worrying increase in equine neglect and abuse. This is witnessed on a daily basis by frontline staff.”

Anyone specifically interested in rehoming Barney, Bongo or Sweeper, please visit www.rspca.org.uk/homesforhorses