AN equestrian centre that sparked uproar by shooting a horse and dumping it in a garden is embroiled in legal action over three other horses dying there in similar circumstances.

Dan Kelbie, of Darlington, said he had launched a civil suit against the GG Centre, in Raskelf, North Yorkshire, after three of his cob-type horses, two of which were heavily pregnant, were shot there on March 8, 2011.

Mr Kelbie claims his two-year-old horses were shot hours before he arrived at the DIY livery centre to pay his quarterly fees for keeping the animals there.

The centre charges £15 a week for a horse in a paddock.

The fresh allegations surfaced following the collapse of a trial on Friday of one of the livery centre's managers, who denied a criminal damage charge over shooting a former racehorse last October.

The centre's owners had claimed Beckie Warner, of Raskelf, who leased thoroughbred War Kitty, had not paid fees for three weeks.

They said when staff tried to move the horse they became concerned about its behaviour and decided to have it put down humanely by a licensed specialist.

Liz King, owner of War Kitty, once owned by Newcastle trainer Robert Johnson, said she was "mortified" magistrates in Northallerton had told GG Centre boss Edward Johnson, 36, that he was free to go after the principal witness failed to attend court.

The incident in October sparked a nationwide outcry, with thousands of people signing a petition to have the equestrian centre closed down, while the RSPCA removed a dozen horses in its care.

Mr Kelbie alleges he had been up to date with his fees, but the centre's owners disputed this.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said officers attended the incident and spoke to all parties involved.

He said: "It was established at the time that the horses were lawfully and humanely shot as the landowner believed that they had been abandoned.

“The matter is now in the hands of the civil courts, therefore it is not appropriate for us to comment further.”

When asked to comment on the incident, Mr Johnson said the owners of the centre did not give interviews.

Mr Kelbie said he had been stunned that the police did not launch an inquiry after attending the incident, and he was left with the traumatic task of taking his beloved animals to the abattoir.

He said: "The police wouldn't do anything about it, they wouldn't even take a statement.

"I later wrote letters to the police and the police and crime commissioner, but they didn't do anything about it.

"It was my understanding that a crime should be investigated on all sides."

Mr Kelbie said a civil case over the incident would be held at Middlesbrough County Court later this year.

Campaigning group World Horse Welfare said it was shocked by the allegations as livery yards had a duty to keep an abandoned horse for two weeks before considering selling it on or giving it to a sanctuary.

A spokeswoman for the charity said: "In this situation, we believe the livery yard should first have attempted to contact the owners, before launching an eviction procedure.

"We would advise both livery yards and their users to make sure there is a written agreement in place detailing the consequences of not fulfilling payments."