CONVICTED (2021) | Margaret (Margie or Margs) Greaves, born 8 September 1955, of Balbithan, Kintore, Inverurie AB51 0UQ – allowed a pony to suffer in severe pain for at least a week.
Greaves, who breeds and shows Shetland ponies under the name ‘Chapelhill’ delayed having Il-month-old Zafira put down, even though the animal was unable to walk and had a wound that was worn down to the bone.
Greaves told the court she did so in the hope it would remedy itself, despite vets saying the pony should be euthanised.
The court heard how between June 28 and July 4, 2020, Zafira had suffered an injury caused by fence wire.
Zafira was eventually put down, but only after ‘at least seven days’ of suffering, having endured necrosis and infection.
Greaves admitted allowing the pony to ‘suffer unduly’ in her care at a farm steading at Balcraig, near Kintore, Aberdeenshire.
Sheriff Graeme Napier told Greaves that in light of the pain and suffering she caused Zafira he would fine her £3,375. However, he did not disqualify her from working with horses.