A NANTWICH farming couple have been banned for life from keeping horses after they were convicted last month of serious cruelty to two animals in their care.

Marshall and Susan Foster, both aged 58, were handed the lifelong ban at Crewe Magistrates Court on Monday.

The pair had been convicted at an earlier hearing on two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a foal and a colt called Poppy at their farm in Whitchurch Road, Sound.

The Fosters were also ordered to pay £5,836 in compensation, fines and legal costs.

In sentencing the pair, chairman of the bench Harry Mawdsley said: "There's no doubt that the foal died in an abysmal condition, and with regard to Poppy, we're aware that it had strangles.

"But you should've called a vet, and failure to do so contributed to its condition.

"The condition in which the horses were kept was very dangerous, and the offences were committed over a period of time.

"The RSPCA had warned you on previous occasions about their concerns and were very patient.

"We know you believe you'd done your best, but there are overriding factors in this case.

"Due to the seriousness of the offences, we're banning you from keeping equines for life."

Last month's trial heard that a foal was discovered collapsed in an undernourished and emaciated condition by RSPCA officers last April.

The foal had collapsed on Friday, April 2, but was left lying on a mat covered with faeces and wet straw until the RSPCA's visit three days later.

The animal was put down, and a post mortem revealed its intestine was almost empty, suggesting it had not eaten properly for a week.

The Fosters said they administered their own course of treatment and had done their best to care for the foal, but believed its condition was caused by an undersized liver.

A colt called Poppy was also put into RSPCA care after officers and vets expressed concerns about his poor and emaciated condition.

Mrs Foster claimed the colt had been recovering from illness, and said she had been administering her own course of treatment.

The trial also heard about hazardous barbed wire, metal and corrugated sheeting that was left exposed at the site, and a welfare assessment said animals did not have access to food and water at all times.

Defence barrister Anthony Birchall told magistrates on Monday that a disqualification would leave the Fosters' livelihood in ruins.

He said: "It's inevitable that a disqualification will cause them to lose their livelihood.

"They say a ban would ruin their business because it revolves around the horses."

Mrs Foster said: "If we can't take the rescue ponies, who'll take them?

"People from Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire come to us with their horses, and we find them a good home."

Mr and Mrs Foster were given 28 days to pay their costs and remove the horses currently in their care.

They said they were planning on appealing against the disqualification.