A horse breeder and her partner who neglected horses and ponies in their care have been banned from keeping the animals for life.

North Avon Magistrates Court saw an RSPCA video showing dead horses lying in fields and ditches at Susan Smith and Brian Blizzard's farm in Olveston, Gloucestershire.

Smith, 44, admitted three counts of permitting unnecessary suffering and Blizzard, 41, admitted three counts of causing unnecessary suffering by omitting care.

The couple - who currently keep 115 cattle and 75 horses and ponies - were visited by the RSPCA in February 2001.

District Judge Roger House described conditions at the farm as "horrific".

Smith was fined �1,500 and Blizzard �900 and they were ordered to pay combined costs of over �4,400.