Five-year ban for sick pony owner

Awoman has been banned from keeping horses for five years after Scottish SPCA inspectors discovered a pony severely underweight and suffering from lice and redworms.

Gail Vines had been juggling a divorce, childcare and work, so had only been checking on her field of nine horses on the way home, shining a torch to check they were all there.

The 64-year-old failed to notice pony Eve had become unwell and underweight due to redworms causing digestive issues and diarrhoea.

The animal was also suffering from skin lesions and lice when inspectors found her and took her away to be treated.

At Aberdeen Sheriff Court Vines admitted causing the pony unnecessary suffering.

Fiscal depute Victoria Kerr told the court: “The Scottish SPCA received a complaint of concern regarding horses on the accused’s premises and attended at approximately 12.30pm on February 28 2020.

“They saw a grey pony standing on its own beside a hay feeder in a manner that gave immediate concern.”

Inspectors noted the pony’s “emaciated body condition” and that it “looked poorly, with its head hanging low”.

A vet then arrived and it was decided the horse needed to be taken to an SSPCA facility for its own welfare.

Ms Kerr said: “The vet was of the opinion the horse had been caused unnecessary suffering by the owner’s failure to secure vet treatment.”

Ms Kerr said the pony, along with eight others, remained in the care of the charity and asked the court to consider an order banning Vines from owning horses for at least 10 years.

Vines admitted failing to provide adequate care and treatment, including nutrition, leading to the pony becoming emaciated and suffering from poor body condition, chronic diarrhoea, skin lesions and an infestation of lice.

Defence agent Gregor Kelly said: “Ms Vines accepts this was an act of omission. She maintains she would never knowingly maltreat an animal.”

He said she “loves horses” and had looked after them for 50 years.

He said she had no previous convictions and “feels great shame and grave concern for the horse which suffered”.

Mr Kelly said Vines had gone through a “toxic divorce” which led to financial difficulties and had been “struggling greatly” dealing with that while caring for her son and also working.

He said she would look in on the horses on her way home from work, shining a torch to make sure all nine were still there, but did not notice Eve was unwell. The solicitor explained Eve had been underweight due to digestive issues related to the redworms, but that food had been provided.

He said: “She was horrified to realise the diagnosis of redworms and how bad this pony was, but certainly she was making provisions the best she could.”

Mr Kelly said Vines had not sought to get the horses back from the charity and would not look to keep any more until she is in a better, more stable position.

He described the incident as a “blip and not a continuing course of conduct”.

Sheriff Philip Mann told Vines he was prepared to treat the neglect as an aberration.

Sheriff Mann banned Vines, of Kinnear Square, Laurencekirk, from keeping horses for five years and granted a deprivation order in respect of Eve.

ACT OF OMISSION: Gail Vines leaving Aberdeen Sheriff Court after being sentenced by Sheriff Mann.