Mother and daughter banned for life from owning horses
A mother and daughter from Norfolk have been banned for life from owning horses after they neglected six animals.
Sally Ann Rix, 48, and Louise Carla Rix, 20, both of Felthorpe near Norwich, hid horses in remote fields, Norwich Magistrates' Court heard.
RSPCA inspectors found the six animals emaciated, with skin ulcers, lice, overgrown hooves and other ailments.
The pair were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering and got eight-week jail terms suspended for a year.
They were also found guilty of neglecting their welfare responsibilities towards the animals and breaches of previous convictions for neglect and bans from owning horses.
The court also heard the two women were serial offenders with charges relating to mistreatment dating back to 2005.
They were not represented in court and were in complete denial about the seriousness of their offences, the court heard.
They were told that if they were found with horses again in any condition they would be jailed.
RSPCA inspector Ben Kirby said after the hearing that he had been tipped off about the condition of the animals.
The women initially denied owning the horses and the RSPCA went through a painstaking search to prove that they did, the court heard.
The unemployed women must each also do 80 hours unpaid work and pay court costs of £100.