A WOMAN has been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an 'emaciated and skeletal' horse which died less than a day after wildlife officers found him.

The RSPCA visited a farm in Bacup on February 4 for a pre-arranged appointment with Ann Quinn, 61, of Ashley Avenue, Bolton.

They were there to see a horse, owned by Quinn, which they had concerns about.

They found Mikey, a 17 hands bay thoroughbred male gelding, in very poor condition with his ribs, spine and pelvis prominent.

A vet said that the moorland environment was completely unsuitable for his breed and was without adequate shelter and exposed to the winter conditions without a rug to keep him warm.

He was subsequently seized by the police and put in the care of the RSPCA but he died within 24 hours.

Vets believed this was caused by re-feeding syndrome which is due to an animal being starved of carbohydrates and sugars.

At a hearing at Burnley Magistrates' Court, Quinn said she had seen Mikey eight days before the RSPCA attended and believed Mikey to be of 'no particular concern'.

She also stated that she had bought rugs for him but these had been lost or stolen.

Quinn also believed that the RSPCA had acted prematurely in seizing Mikey and that she was moving to Portugal and planned to take him with her.

The RSPCA had given her a notice previously telling her to ensure Mikey was checked daily and that the environment was not suitable for his breed and something should have been done about it.

Nigel Wellar, defending, said Quinn had owned numerous dogs and horses over the years and had no previous convictions.

She accepted that the environment was not ideal but planned to move Mikey to Portugal.

Vets said that Mikey had likely been suffering state for more than a month.

Quinn had been given advice the previous summer by vets that he should not be wintered out and that he needed medication.

This advice was not followed.

The prosecution said that Quinn was on a 'grass only' contract with the landowner and it was not accepted that responsibility could be delegated to the landowner who took no responsibility for her horse.

She was visited Mikey weekly and she would have seen him suffering and should have taken action.

District Judge Clark convicted Quinn of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal by failing to investigate and treat the cause of weight loss.

Four other charges were dropped.

Quinn was given a £1,160 fine.

RSPCA officer Charlotte Booker, said: "I have never seen a horse this underweight still standing, it is devastating that he did not get the opportunity to be nursed back to full health."

"Ann Quinn had been offered advice from two vets and several RSPCA officers that Mikey should not be wintered out and should be brought in to a warm stable environment."