Hebrides  News

Contact newsdesk on:  info@hebridesnews.co.uk

 Local Services     

Classified adverts   I   Jobs                               

Evicted horse at centre of custody battle               5/3/14

 

A controversial fight over custody of an evicted horse is expected to be heard in court next week.

 

Council welfare officials ordered the legal seizing of the adult Connemara pony which has been kept in the front room of Stephanie Noble’s house in Broadbay View, Back, on Lewis.

 

A vet has certified that the horse’s welfare is of concern and the restricted space means the house is not a suitable place to keep it.

 

The council now intends to apply to Stornoway Sheriff Court to take legal ownership away from Ms Noble.

 

Next Thursday, lawyers for the local authority plans to ask sheriff David Sutherland to grant a formal disposal order and permit the official legal transfer to a new owner or a rescue centre.

 

Ms Noble is outraged and indicates she will contest the legal moves.

 

The issue is then expected to be deferred for a few weeks which would give her time to prepare her case.

 

In the meantime, Ms Noble has been given visiting rights to see Grey Lady Too at the Uist Community Riding School in Benbecula which is the only British Horse Society approved riding school and livery yard in the Outer Hebrides.

 

The council confirmed it was launching a legal action for a disposal order at the sheriff court.

 

It said Ms Noble can avoid the custody court action if she guarantees to provide better accommodation for the horse.

 

She previously received a month’s period of grace in which she would not be prosecuted over the separate welfare care notice and the council made a formal complaint to the procurator fiscal after she failed to comply.

 

The Scottish code of practice issued under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 gives stable sizes, door widths, and head clearance to avoid a horse getting stressed - or trapped if there is a fire - if it is forced to live in cramped spaces.