A MAN who left a horse to suffer from a painful and crippling hoof disorder has been fined £450.
George Adam, 69, did not seek treatment for the 15-year-old mare when she developed laminitis, a condition where the internal structures of the hoof come apart, making it painful to walk.
The horse, named Wriggles, was unable to move, had severely overgrown hooves and was overweight.
Inspector Leanne McPake said, “Wriggles was in extreme pain as a result of her laminitis and needed nerve blocks in all four legs to allow her to move.
“It took us three days to stabilise her so we could move her from the farm to one of our centres.
“Although horses can recover in some cases if laminitis is treated immediately, the disease was so far advanced that Wriggles did not respond to treatment during seven weeks in our care.
Ban
“Sadly, the equine veterinary advice was her chances of recovery were nil and she should be to put to sleep to end her suffering.
“Adams showed complete ignorance in providing even the basic care required for his horse. He also failed to have Wriggles’ hooves trimmed in fifteen years, which is recommended every six to eight weeks, and they were in a horrific state.
“While we have to accept the decisions of the courts, given the nature of this case we would have supported a ban on keeping animals, ideally for life.
“This was a tragic outcome and one which could have been avoided had Wriggles received the treatment she so desperately needed long before we intervened.”
Adam was reported to the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) in September last year.
Adams was sentenced at Stirling sheriff court on Thursday.
