Man fronts Hobart court over alleged cruelty to Shetland pony named Molly

A Derwent Valley man has fronted court charged with animal cruelty against a Shetland pony named Molly.

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A WESTERWAY man has fronted court over allegations he failed to care for a Shetland pony’s hooves and trim them in a way to prevent an extremely painful – and potentially crippling or even fatal – condition called laminitis.

Stephen John Hall, 59, appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Tuesday after the RSPCA filed three charges against him: animal cruelty, aggravated cruelty, and using a management method likely to result in unreasonable and unjustifiable pain or suffering.

According to court documents, the RSPCA alleged that in October 2020, Mr Hall failed to properly care for the hooves of a female Shetland pony named Molly by trimming them, caring for them, or feeding her food to prevent laminitis.

The RSPCA alleges Mr Hall committed aggravated cruelty in that he was reckless as to whether the failure to care for Molly’s hooves would lead to her death, deformity or serious injury.

On Tuesday, Mr Hall asked for an adjournment to seek legal advice as it was his first court appearance.

Magistrate Robert Webster adjourned the case until May 7.

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