Environmental Health officers have deferred a decision on the fate of a Highland pony trekking centre whose owners want a licence to move to new pre4mises.
In June, Northwilds Trekking Centre in Tain was given three months to address concerns about the number of animals and stabling conditions after owners transferred horses from its previous base in Brora 23 miles down the A9.
Jan and Graham O’Neill moved part of their Highlands Unbridled operation – and most of its 30 horses – to a new location near Tain when Sutherland Estates decided to sell their premises in Brora.
Members of the local authority’s licensing committee have decided that work must still be done before the business can continue to operate at Fendom.
Issues raised included the need to erect fencing around additional grazing land, having enough suitably trained staff, and removing all of the poisonous ragwort weed from the area’s sandy soil.
The council’s environmental health department will decide by September 15 whether to grant a provisional licence, up to December 15, for more than 10 horses to be kept at the premises subject to advice from vets and an extra 13 acres of grazing land being created.
As well as making the improvements, the owners will also need to produce evidence about suitably qualified staff to ensure the welfare of the animals.
Councillor Maxine Smith said: “It sounds like a case of putting the cart before the horse, if you’ll excuse the pun.
“When you start a business you get everything in place first then you start operating.
“It’s like saying ‘we will give you the licence and you will get everything right’.
“I recognise it’s a difficult situation but in a way it is not our problem. Our main concern is the welfare of the animals.”
But Mrs O’Neill said they were not starting a business from scratch and added: “I find it quite frustrating that people only see a little trekking centre and they don’t see the long-distance treks where we stop at bed and breakfasts each night, which has a combined economic benefit for the whole Highland region.
“We would like to thank the people in Brora for their support and we will miss being there but we are looking forward to a new future in Tain.”