A GREAT Harwood woman convicted of horse neglect has been banned from keeping horses or ponies for two years.

Mary Smith, who was said to have been ‘landed’ with the responsibility for her husband’s herd of horses when he was jailed, was also ordered to pay £6,582 costs and made subject to a curfew for 14 weeks between 9 pm and 6 am.

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The court heard 28 cases of neglect had been proven against Smith, of Meadow Street, Great Harwood, and a further 21 cases found not proven.

Simon Farnsworth, defending, told the court his client’s husband, Tommy Smith, had been involved with horses all his life and as part of the travelling community they were part of his culture.

“The beginning of the herd was given to my client and her husband by his father as a wedding present,” said Mr Farnsworth.

“The responsibility for the horses fell on my client following her husband’s unexpected incarceration.

“As well as the horses she was looking after the scrap metal business and four children and dealing with her own health problems.”

District judge James Clarke said the offences which he had convicted Smith on were the ones where the RSPCA had flagged up problems and she hadn’t taken the necessary steps to remedy them.

He said it was significant that the animals were kept for a commercial purpose which increased the duty of professional care.

He said he accepted the operation was too much for Smith to handle following her husband’s imprisonment.

“You relied on members of staff who were capable when under the instruction of your husband but left to their own devices weren’t able to cope,” said District Judge Clarke.

“The ultimate responsibility for the welfare of the horses lay with you.”

The horses subject to the charges were animals that she claimed had been abandoned in fields around Great Harwood after word got round the travelling community that she was taking in animals.