Woman sentenced for starving pony to death and neglecting seven horses in Aberdeenshire

A woman has been given unpaid work after starving a pony to death and neglecting seven horses in Aberdeenshire.

Louise Emslie, from Skene, pled guilty to causing a two-year-old female grey Welsh pony named Jazzie unnecessary suffering by failing to provide veterinary attention before her death.

Emslie has been banned from owning any animal except pet dogs for ten years.

SSPCA officers visited a field at Strawberry Field Road after receiving concerns about an emaciated pony.

The field was found to be relatively small, with minimal grazing space for the number of horses in it.

An SSPCA inspector found Jazzie’s back end and pink rug covered in bright green diarrhoea, which could be seen from a distance.

“We removed Jazzie’s rug to reveal her emaciated condition, every bony prominence was visibly evident,” the inspector said.

“Jazzie had lice in her coat, looked uncomfortable, was in a hunched stance and moved slowly, looking very weak.”

The officer immediately called the local vet, with whom Emslie was registered, for help.

It was discovered that the vet had not seen or treated any of her horses since January 2023.

Jazzie was described as quiet, alert and slowly responsive while being examined.

Her tail was matted with wet, bright green diarrhoea, and she was stood in a tucked-up stance.

“There was no apparent fat or muscle coverage over the entire body. Live lice were easily found in hair coat,” the SSPCA inspector said.

Despite veterinary intervention, Jazzie died the day after being examined due to her condition being “too severe”.

“It was clear she was left to deteriorate and suffer for too long, and she eventually succumbed to her condition,” the charity added.

Emslie was sentenced at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on March 11 where she also admitted a charge of neglect in respect of a total of seven horses.

She was given a Community Payback Order for 225 hours to be completed within 12 months, and disqualified from owning animals for ten years except for the care of dogs.

The SSPCA said they were “disappointed” by the sentencing, saying Jazzie suffered from multiple problems that could have been prevented.

“The welfare and treatment of her should have resulted in a lifetime ban of all animals.”