Horse lady is allowed visiting rights 3/3/14
The owner of a horse evicted by the Comhairle is being allowed visiting rights.
Stephanie Noble was distraught when council welfare officials legally seized the adult Connemara pony which had been stabled in the front room of her home at Broadbay View, Back, on Lewis, for well over two years.
The council acted after a vet certified that the horse’s welfare is of concern and the restricted space means the house is not a suitable place to keep it.
Ms Noble failed to comply with an official care notice to improve the welfare situation last October.
In a sleek operation, the council whisked the animal away in a horsebox and drove
it to the ex-
The noon eviction was timed to allow the equestrian experts to catch the afternoon ferry from Leverburgh, South Harris, to the Uist Community Riding School which is the only British Horse Society approved riding school and livery yard in the Outer Hebrides.
The horse -
The council promises Ms Noble visiting rights so she can go and see the pony in its temporary new home.
Equestrian expert Sue Macdonald, who has been contracted by the council to look after
the pony, said: “Its not an easy situation for anyone. I am taking an impartial view
-
She added: “The pony is in superb condition and has been very well cared for.
“It is a very difficult situation for Stephanie and I hope it can be resolved for the pony to return to her.”
She said the pony is easy to look after and coped “very well” with the ferry journey.
The council -
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 -
A council spokesman said the authority “acted in the interests of animal welfare.”
He said the “pony is in a safe place, in appropriate accommodation and is being well cared for on another island.”
► Evicted living-