A WOMAN has been spared jail after she was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a horse and Welsh pony.

Emily Payne, of Manor Court in Banbury, was convicted at Oxford Magistrates’ Court of failing to protect both animals from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

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The 34-year-old faced three charges, to which she pleaded not guilty, including one of causing unnecessary suffering to a thoroughbred horse named Esp, by failing to provide her with a nutritionally balanced diet between July 30 and August 30, 2018, in Banbury.

A second charge relating to the same horse found Payne guilty of failing to follow veterinary advice to protect the animal from pain or suffering between March 19 and August 30, 2018.

The third charge was in relation to another animal, a Welsh pony named Ruby, which Payne did not protect from pain or suffering seen by her overgrown hooves and ‘laminitic state’ - a disease commonly found in horses and cattle.

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Payne was found guilty on July 18 at Oxford Magistrates’ Court, and sentenced at the same court on August 21.

She was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months due to ‘deliberate concealment’, ‘prolonged suffering’ and ignoring expert advice.

She must pay a £115 victim surcharge and £1,000 court costs and was banned from keeping horses for five years.