A riding school in Bonnybridge, Falkirk, has successfully recovered two stolen ponies after they were taken by two schoolgirls and abandoned five miles away in a shed.
Zak and Toby were stolen from Hayfield Riding School on Friday night and found the following afternoon in a tin shed in Hallglen, left without food or water. The ponies had been seen being ridden bareback on a main road in the dark by the children, without helmets or high-visibility clothing.
The culprits were identified after their parents, “mortified” by the incident, recognized their daughters in dashcam footage shared on social media and came forward. Police Scotland confirmed they would be speaking to those involved.
The school’s owner, who wished to remain anonymous, realized the ponies were missing when she noticed other horses were still in the field, and the gate was shut. She quickly posted on Facebook and began receiving calls from the public.
“I was horrified to see the footage of the ponies being ridden on that dark road,” the owner said. “That back road is dangerous, especially in winter. They could have caused a serious accident, putting innocent drivers and the ponies at risk.”
The ponies were eventually located near Hallglen Primary School, in an abandoned tin shed. The owner said they were “dying of thirst” when found but are now recovering. “They’re still a little stiff, but they’re okay,” she added.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed they had received a report about the missing ponies and said inquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the incident.