A WOMAN has gone on trial, accused of animal cruelty, after the remains of seven horses were discovered on her land.

Rachelle Peel, 56, faces 22 charges of cruelty to horses and dogs. The charges follow a visit by RSPCA inspectors and police to her property at Brookhouse Green Farm, Dale Head, Slaidburn, and her barn in Knotts Lane, Tosside, in March 2013.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Opening the case for the RSPCA at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court, Iain O’Donnell said representatives of the Horses & Pony Protection Association attended Peel’s home address at Brookhouse Green Farm following a report of a dead horse in a field.

There was nobody in so the officer drove back to Slaidburn to phone to request the presence of the police and a vet.

Later that day they went into a field at the farm and found the carcass of a horse.

There were a number of living horses feeding from a large bale of hay which was next to the carcass.

Shortly afterwards, the officials went into the farmhouse where there were a number of dogs.

The police officer said the house smelled so strongly of urine that his eyes were watering, and there were dog faeces all over the floor.

There were dogs tethered outside which the prosecution say were in a poor condition.

The party was joined by an RSPCA inspector. The police officer spoke to a farmer in a nearby field and as a result they went to the Knott Lane site which comprised a field and a large barn which was locked. The officer went to Brookhouse Green Farm and returned with a key.

There were two living horses in the field and what appeared to be the remains of at least two more horses.

Inside the barn there were three horses which were living among the remains of four dead and decomposed horses.

“One of the dead horses was in the same pen as the living animals,” said Mr O’Donnell.

A number of horses were removed immediately and more the following day.

One horse became upset in transit and suffered injuries which meant it had to be put down.

Two other horses which were removed were put down in the days that followed.

RSPCA inspector Kat Hamlyn attended the sites the day after the initial discoveries and organised the removal of more horses and dogs.

The case continues.