A FATHER and daughter have been warned they could face jail after admitting cruelty to three horses.

Two of the animals, a grey mare and a strawberry roan mare, later had to be put down.

Ernest Horsfield, 66, and his daughter, Deborah, 39, appeared at Northallerton Magistrates' Court yesterday, where they pleaded guilty to three counts of causing unnecessary suffering.

The court heard that the horses were kept in dilapidated stables on Mr Horsfield's smallholding, Greenbury Farm, in Scorton Lane, South Cowton, North Yorkshire.

Mother-of-two Miss Horsfield, of Meadow Lane, Northallerton, shared their ownership with her father.

Andrew Clarke, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said that the only surviving horse, a bay-coloured stallion, had not been out of its stable for up to five years and that the dung came up above the stable door.

He said that the horses had been found with overgrown feet and were struggling to stand.

The stallion had to be tranquillised before it could be taken out of the stable and when its feet were finally trimmed, growths of between 12.5in and 20in were removed.

It was later found to be suffering from agoraphobia and is now recovering at an RSPCA treatment centre.

In mitigation, Claire Brinton said Mr Horsfield had suffered a heart attack five years ago and his ill health meant that he had been unable to look after the animals as well as he should.

She said: "They are both ashamed and embarrassed that they are before the court."

But chairman of the bench Anne Hewitt said: "We see this as a case of deliberate neglect - neglect that has taken place over a very long period of time.

"We believe this case is so serious as to require pre-sentence reports to be prepared about you. The reports should explore all options, including the possibility of custody."

The case was adjourned until December 20.

After the hearing, RSPCA inspector Justin Le Masurier said: "I just hope this very sad case will be a warning to anyone else out there who may have a problem. We need to remind ourselves that two very gracious animals have been put to sleep due to the cruelty of the defendants."