A FORMER Horsewoman of the Year could be ordered to carry out community work after reducing a horse to just "skin and bone" through neglect.

Ordering a pre-sentence report at Teesside Magistrates Court yesterday, Chairman of the Bench Stephan Willers told 30-year-old Joanne Eleanor: "The view of the Bench is the seriousness of this offence is substantial."

He warned her that the court would have to consider "restriction of liberty and the preventing of re-offending".

Simon Catterall, prosecuting, said the RSPCA went to Eleanor's address at Red House Farm, on the Moorhouse Estate, near Stockton, as the result of a tip-off.

Once there, RSPCA Inspector Laura Glover found an under-nourished chestnut mare.

"It was skeletal almost," Mr Catterall said. "When they let it out of the stable, there was something wrong with the rear right hand leg. It was limping.

"The main thing was the animal was just skin and bone.

"A veterinary examination found there was no muscular or fat coverage on the animal - the same with the ribs, which were easy to see. The RSPCA was taken aback to see this animal."

John Nixon, defending, said Eleanor, a one time award-winning groom, became depressed when her marriage ended and she had been too proud to ask for help.

"The two words that go hand in hand are pride and shame. She is plainly a very proud lady who is deeply ashamed, and said as much when she was interviewed by the RSPCA in the context of this case."

Mr Nixon went on to say his client had won "awards right, left and centre" at horse shows.

But he claimed Eleanor became clinically depressed and had severe financial problems after her marriage collapsed.

"Unfortunately, the marriage hit the rocks, and not wanting to wash her dirty linen in public, she had a difficult and acrimonious divorce."

Eleanor pleaded guilty to causing suffering to the horse, which the court heard had put on ten stones since it been cared for by the RSPCA. The case was adjourned until August 31 for a pre-sentence report.