Man fined for ‘shocking neglect’ of ponies

PONIES were subject to “shocking neglect” after a man failed to deal with their severely overgrown hooves.

A Pembrokeshire man has been fined after admitting causing the ponies unnecessary suffering when he appeared in court on Monday.

Eric Gwilym Symmons 63, of Station Road, Letterston, Pembrokeshire, admitted his failure to act caused the animals to suffer unnecessarily when he appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben said: “We found three Shetlands at this property seriously impeded by overgrown hooves and hidden from view. The suffering they endured is likely to have lasted many months.

“Put simply – there’s no excuse for this sort of shocking neglect.

“A straightforward five-minute phone call to a farrier could have prevented these Shetland ponies from experiencing the pain and suffering of such dangerously overgrown hooves.

“This was long-term and completely unnecessary neglect with one of the ponies also lame with a very poor physical body condition – and the RSPCA is steadfast in its commitment to acting against such animal cruelty.”

Symmons pleaded guilty to two Animal Welfare Act offences and was fined £535, told to pay £300 in costs and a £53 victim surcharge.

One of the ponies also suffered due to her physical condition. Her weight was judged to be 141kg – which was more than 100kg below the average expected weight for a Shetland of her height.

All three animals were signed into RSPCA Cymru care and have since been re-homed.