A St Cyrus woman denied failing to ensure a pony lived in a suitable environment and causing the animal unnecessary suffering.
Donna Francis Parley, 29, of Croft Place, is charged with two offences under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act.
She denies that between January 27 and February 14 at Jackston Farm in St Cyrus she caused a pony unnecessary suffering by failing to provide it with adequate food and clean water and appropriate care and treatment.
The charge states that the pony’s coat was dirty and matted, it suffered from lice and had a gastrointestinal condition whereby it became listless and emaciated.
She also denied that she failed to take steps to ensure the animal’s needs were met to the extent required by good practice under the Act.
Parley is accused of failing to provide a suitable environment as the pony was kept in a horse box and the area in which it had been lying was covered in wet excrement.
She is also accused of failing to provide a suitable diet and failing to protect the pony from suffering by not providing timeous and appropriate care treatment, including veterinary treatment.
Defence agent Lynne Sturrock submitted pleas of not guilty on behalf of Parley, who did not appear in person at Forfar Sheriff Court.
A trial date was set of September 30.