where it has been kept for the past two months.

The emaciated animal is believed to have lost 300 pounds in weight since December and its tail had been eaten away by rats.

And it appears that the pony was neglected because a mix up over who was caring for it after its owner was jailed at the Prison Farm.

The pony, Last Minute Again, was found in the Field View stable by the SPCA and Government Veterinarian Dr. Neil Burnie. And Dr. Burnie persuaded the people left in charge of the pony to pay for it to be properly cared for at the stables of Mr. Norman Terceira in Devonshire.

Mr. Terceira previously owned the animal and said it had lost 300 pounds since, but Dr. Burnie estimates it is only 60 pounds underweight.

Dr. Burnie said: "If this had been left with one person we possibly could have instituted charges against that person, but it was found with a co-operative of people.

"It is difficult to find who is responsible for the pony while its owner is incarcerated.

"The owner's mother was distressed to see the animal in this state and has now paid a lot of money for it to be cared for.'' Dr. Burnie stressed that the horse had probably been fed but with the wrong types of food. He said the owners were guilty of being "irresponsible.'' But Mr. Terceira, who has looked after horses all his life, said: "This is so far from normal it is not funny. You can see his ribs.

"It has been locked up and fed the wrong foods, and the rats have eaten away its tail to make nests. Its tail should be much longer.'' He said there are many other examples of ponies in a similar state on the Island but nothing is being done to help them because the law will not allow it.

Dr. Burnie said that while horses could get into fairly emaciated states without suffering too badly, any real cases of suffering will be dealt with by law.

Last Minute Again will now be fed roughage, like hay, and Mr. Terceira is expecting to see an improvement within a month.

Dr. Burnie said it could act as a warning for people caring for ponies and horses to make sure they get the correct diet.

SAVED FROM NEGLECT -- Government Vet Dr. Neil Burnie shows the emaciated pony's visible ribs.