The Scottish SPCA is seeking good homes for three neglected ponies who have made a fantastic recovery in the charity’s care.

Penny, Blaze and Little Annie arrived at our Aberdeenshire Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre at Banchory in a sorry state in May this year after their previous owner became unable to care for them. The three ponies, all ten years old, had badly overgrown hooves, matted manes and tails and were struggling to eat due to dental problems.

Staff at our Drumoak-based centre spent months caring for the animals and giving them the vet and farrier treatment they needed and now all three ponies are fully fit, healthy and ready to be rehomed.

Centre Manager Graeme Innes said, "These little guys have come on leaps and bounds in the time they’ve been with us and after everything they’ve been through we’d love to see them settled into good, loving homes.

"We have no history of them being backed or ridden so their new owners will need to start from the very beginning if they’d like to bring them on as riding or driving ponies.

"As they don’t appear to have had much handling before coming into our care they can be a little cheeky at times, but with calm and firm direction they soon settle down.

"Penny is a lovely 12.2hh grey mare with super paces. She’s easy to catch and is now good with the farrier, dentist and vet.

"Blaze, a 12.2hh bay gelding, is a lovely lad who has shown potential to excel as a riding or driving pony and we’re sure he will come on rapidly in a good home.

"Finally, Little Annie is a fantastic miniature Shetland. She’s good to handle but can be wary when you go to catch her in her field or stable. We find a reassuring scratch on the bottom is all it takes to allow us to attach her lead rope to her head collar."

Anyone interested in offering Penny, Blaze or Little Annie a home can call our Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999 and ask to be connected to the Aberdeenshire Centre.