A Fife woman has admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a Shetland pony that was so neglected it had to be put down.
At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, Martha Balmain (69), of Balbeggie Avenue in Thornton, pleaded guilty to failing to provide routine care that would have prevented the pony’s hooves becoming abnormally overgrown in the three weeks up to July 10.
However, Sheriff James Williamson said further investigations would have to be carried out before Balmain is sentenced on May 22.
The court heard the pony’s hooves would have taken three to four years to become so overgrown and the sheriff asked questions about what had happened to the animal before it had fallen into Balmain’s care.
It was revealed the accused had been contacted by someone, who asked if she could leave the pony on her land, although it was not known who the owner was.
Sheriff Williamson said: ”Somebody must have had an idea about what was going to happen to the pony.”
He said the fact the pony was in Balmain’s care for three weeks provided mitigation.
And he told her solicitor Grant Markie: ”By the time the pony was delivered to your client the question of ‘routine’ had passed.”
Mr Markie said Scottish SPCA officers had inspected Balmain’s premises on August 11 of last year and again two weeks later.
He said she also bred greyhounds for racing and kept 35 dogs at the site, including other breeds.
”The SSPCA conducted an inspection of the premises. There were certain matters that gave them rise for concern, specifically the cleanliness of the kennels. A warning notice was issued.
”After the issuing of the warning, the SSPCA returned to the premises to carry out a further inspection and all the matters which were raised in the warning had been addressed to their satisfaction.”
Depute fiscal Brian Robertson said when the SSPCA attended, they saw the pony had mobility problems and was struggling to walk.
He said: ”The SSPCA indicated that it would have been obvious to anyone dealing with animals that this pony required treatment, particularly for someone in the position of the accused, who has had dealings with animals in the past.
”They arranged for a vet to attend and the accused signed over the rights to the the animal. The pony was subsequently put down.
”According to the information that I have, this was because of the protracted nature of the suffering, the prolonged nature of any possible treatment and the poor prognosis for any long-term comfort.”