ORMISTON WOMAN CAROLINE THORNTON FACES ANIMAL CRUELTY BAN FOR NEGLECTING HORSES
A WOMAN is facing a ban from keeping animals after she admitted causing one of her horses unnecessary suffering.Caroline Thornton, 66, was the owner of two thoroughbred horses that she kept in a field near to Samuelston Livery Yard, between Haddington and Pencaitland, when a passer-by noticed one of the animals was suffering from poor body condition.
The concerned member of the public reported the abuse of the animal to the Scottish SPCA animal charity on May 30 last year.
An inspector from the charity attended at the field and noted that one grey mare was in good condition though needed some attention to its feet.
The inspector also checked on the second horse, a grey gelding thoroughbred cross, and found that its body was in poor condition and he could feel the animal's bones when he placed his hand under the rug.
The inspector contacted Thornton, of Hillview Road, Ormiston, who arrived shortly after.
Thornton told the charity official she was planning to take the horse to the vet the following week and was cautioned by the inspector.
The vet examined the horse and found it to be emaciated, suffering from a painful wound on its withers, with broken or cracked hooves and a lice infection.
The vet concluded the animal had experienced unnecessary suffering, and both horses were taken to an animal rescue and rehoming centre.
The horse that was neglected was put to sleep around 48 hours after arriving at the rescue.
Thornton appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last week to plead guilty to causing the animal suffering by neglect, failing to provide a suitable diet, vet, and farrier treatment between March 30 and May 30 last year.
She initially pleaded guilty by letter and told Sheriff Francis Gill she didn't see how bad the horse was getting and had no plans to keep animals in the future.
The court was told that her sentence was deferred for a social work report and consideration of an animal disqualification order, with a hearing scheduled for next month.
