THE charity which took on neglected horses from a south Buckinghamshire farm today released heartbreaking information about the condition they received them in.

The Horse Trust at Speen released the information after members of the Gray family were convicted at Bicester Magistrates' Court.

Over 100 horses, donkeys and ponies were seized from Spindles Farm in Chalk Lane, Hyde Heath, in January last year over concerns for their welfare.

Some were in such a poor state they had to be put down and many were severely emaciated – and it has cost £850,000 to provide care for the animals that were seized by the RSPCA.

Today the farm's owner, 44-year-old James Gray, was convicted of eleven charges under the Animal Welfare Act of causing unnecessary suffering and failing to protect animals from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

His 16-year-old son, James junior, was also found guilty of all the offences following a 50-day trial at Bicester Magistrates' Court.

Wife Julie and daughters Jodie and Cordelia were cleared of causing unnecessary suffering but found guilty of failing to protect animals at Spindles Farm.

All the horses, ponies and donkeys taken in from Spindles Farm were underweight, with body condition scores of 1 or 2. The ideal body condition score for a horse is 3. For more information on body condition scores see the National Equine Welfare Council's Body Condition Score charts (http://www.newc.co.uk/advice/bodyscore.php).

All horses gained weight after spending time at The Horse Trust, with an average weight gain of 80kg within four months. Six of the animals gained over 100kg in this time.

When tested, all the horses had a low concentration of the protein albumin and a high concentration of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase in their blood. This result suggests all the horses had impaired liver function, probably caused by starvation.

All the animals were given a name when they arrived at The Horse Trust. Listed below are the horse names, followed by their exhibit number for the court case in brackets.

Bill (KH17). Bill, a young male pony (colt), had a body condition score of 1 when he arrived at The Horse Trust. He weighed 228kg on arrival and put on 132kg within four months of arriving.

When Bill arrived he was treated for salmonella infection and given repeated treatments for worms. He was in good health over the summer and autumn, but in January 2009 developed bloody diarrhoea and blood poisoning. When his condition deteriorated to a moribund state, he was euthanased.

A post-mortem found he had suffered from a salmonella infection, but that his death was caused by damage to his intestine by parasitic worms (known as cyathostome larvae), which had been hibernating in his body over the previous year.

As Bill had been wormed five times since arriving at The Horse Trust, his high parasite burden is almost certainly a legacy of the neglect he suffered at Spindles Farm.

Angel (KH6). Angel, a female horse (mare), had a body condition score of 2 when she arrived at The Horse Trust. She weighed 228kg on arrival and put on 80kg within four months of arriving. Angel now weighs 518kg, more than double her weight on arrival. She has gained the most weight out of all the ponies rescued.

When Angel arrived at The Horse Trust she could hardly see anything. She was reluctant to go anywhere and made shuffly, exaggerated leg movements indicating she was unable to see ahead of her. Being kept in a pen with other animals at Spindles Farm is likely to have been extremely stressful for her and she wouldn't have been able to compete with the others for food if it was only placed at the front of the pen.

Angel is now much happier and her eyesight appears to have improved slightly. The Horse Trust keeps her in the same field with the same companions so she is comfortable with her environment.

Gladys (KH10). Gladys, a female donkey (jenny), had a body condition score of 1 when he arrived at The Horse Trust. She weighed 146kg on arrival and put on 105kg within four months of arriving (72% of her original body weight).

Gladys was unable to stand for two days after she arrived. On the third day she was able to stand with the help of three people, but it took 10 days before she was able to stand unaided. She showed no clinical evidence of disease so her inability to stand unaided was a result of starvation alone.

Gladys has now fully recovered and is very popular with visitors to The Horse Trust.

Red (KH5). Red, an adult male pony (gelding), had a body condition score of 1 when he arrived at The Horse Trust. He weighed 270kg on arrival and put on 71kg within four months of arriving. Red currently weighs 370kg Red is the only horse at The Horse Trust who was able to be matched to his horse passport. Research into his background has shown that he was a family pet who was ridden in horseball championships in France.

Duke (KH8). Duke, a young male horse (colt), had a body condition score of 2 when he arrived at The Horse Trust. He weighed 393kg on arrival and put on 43kg within four months of arriving. Duke now weighs 486kg.

When Duke arrived at The Horse Trust he had visible signs of the equine respiratory disease Strangles, with thick pus coming out of his nostrils. Despite the risk of infecting other horses, Duke had been kept together with other horses at Spindles Farm.

Duke recovered from the infection by the end of March, but in October fell ill again - this time due to a combination of parasitic worms and salmonella infection (similar to Bill). He had severe diarrhoea, his body weight dropped and he lost interest in life.

He has now recovered, although staff at The Horse Trust are concerned that the problem may flare up again due to his high worm burden.

Lola (KH18). Lola, a female donkey (jenny), had a body condition score of 2 when she arrived at The Horse Trust with her foal Nora. She weighed 128kg on arrival and put on 22kg within four months of arriving.

Nora (KH18a). Nora, a baby donkey (foal), had a body condition score of 2 when she arrived at The Horse Trust. She weighed 37kg a few weeks after her arrival and put on 35kg within three months. Nora now weighs 118kg.

Apart from being underweight, Nora was in good health when she arrived. Once she regained her confidence, Nora has become renowned among staff at The Horse Trust for being very cheeky and naughty!

Ben (KH2). Ben, a young male pony (colt), had a body condition score of 1 when he arrived at The Horse Trust. He weighed 231kg on arrival and put on 112kg within four months of arriving.

Ben was suffering from a salmonella infection when he arrived. He recovered from the infection, but in November fell ill again - this time due to a combination of parasitic worms and salmonella infection (similar to Bill and Duke). He had severe diarrhoea, his body weight dropped and he lost interest in life.

He has now recovered, although staff at The Horse Trust are concerned that the problem may flare up again due to his high worm burden.

Disney (KH9). Disney, an adult male pony (gelding), had a body condition score of 1 when he arrived at The Horse Trust. He weighed 277kg on arrival and put on 99kg within four months of arriving. Disney has put on a total of 225kg and now weighs 502kg, almost double his weight on arrival.

Disney was suffering from a salmonella infection when he arrived. As Disney has been shod it is thought he may have been a riding or driving pony.

Dazzle (KH20). Dazzle, a young male pony (colt), had a body condition score of 2 when he arrived at The Horse Trust. He weighed 233kg on arrival and put on 102kg within four months of arriving. Dazzle now weighs 346kg.

He was unwell with a salmonella infection when he arrived at The Horse Trust, but recovered by the end of February. He has been in good health since.

Star (KH16). Star, a young male pony (colt), had a body condition score of 1 when he arrived at The Horse Trust. He weighed 197kg on arrival and put on 54kg within four months of arriving. Star now weighs 378kg.

He was unwell with a salmonella infection when he arrived at The Horse Trust, but after recovering has been in good health.

Walt (KH4). Walt, a young male pony (colt), had a body condition score of 1 when he arrived at The Horse Trust. He weighed 230kg on arrival and put on 115kg within four months of arriving.

He was unwell with a salmonella infection when he arrived at The Horse Trust, but after recovering has been in good health.

Marley (KH7). Marley, a young male pony (colt), had a body condition score of 1 when he arrived at The Horse Trust. He weighed 262kg on arrival and put on 49kg within four months of arriving.

He was unwell for over three months after arriving due to a persistent salmonella infection. He was rehomed to another sanctuary in August.

Yogi (KH19). Yogi, a young male pony (colt), had a body condition score of 2 when he arrived at The Horse Trust. He weighed 230kg on arrival and put on 112kg within four months of arriving.

He was unwell with a salmonella infection when he arrived at The Horse Trust, but recovered within a couple of months. He was rehomed to another sanctuary in August.