We had a report of some underweight ponies on Lynch Common, near Sheeptor, our welfare assistant went out to investigate. She came across this mare and foal, the mare looked underweight and the foal small. Our welfare assistant watched the mare for a while and watched her grazing and moving on, which she did successfully.
Our welfare officer contacted the owner of the ponies, who was aware some were looking poor, and agreed to monitor them. They assured us that they were providing supplementary hay.
South West Equine Protection is a registered charity based on Dartmoor. We respond to wild pony emergency callouts on Dartmoor and Bodmin moors. Donations from the public enable us to respond to callouts and get veterinary help for ponies in distress. All the "wild" ponies on the moors are owned, but sadly many owners try to avoid their duty of care...
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
RTA on Lynch Common
We were informed by the Dartmoor Livestock Protection Officer that a pony had been involved in a road traffic accident near Lynch Common on the way to Sheepstor, the pony died from it's injuries.
Long Ash, Copperfield & Yelverton Aerodrome Ponies
We have been receiving numerous calls regarding thin ponies in the Long Ash, Copperfield and Yelverton Aerodrome areas. We do respond to all calls and monitor the ponies in these areas on a regular basis.
We are seeing more thin ponies this year and we are sure it is due to the exceptionally long and wet winter we experienced, we are almost in May and the spring growth still hasn't started. The grass has been grazed right down and any new growth is being eaten away quickly.
Any ponies we have concerns about are reported to their owners, one owner in particular will remove any very poor looking ponies we report to him and this same owner is out feeding the ponies of these areas, along with Roborough Down and Burrator Rock, a number of times each day. Our welfare assistant came across one of these feeding areas and whilst a group of 28 ponies were munching away on the hay the farmer arrived with another load of hay. This owner was not aware a member of our staff was out there but was happy to stop and chat. They explained that not only do they feed their ponies, but they end up feeding all the ponies in these areas; ponies that are owned by other people. This particular owner does not get paid by the other owners and he pays for all his own diesel.
We are seeing more thin ponies this year and we are sure it is due to the exceptionally long and wet winter we experienced, we are almost in May and the spring growth still hasn't started. The grass has been grazed right down and any new growth is being eaten away quickly.
Any ponies we have concerns about are reported to their owners, one owner in particular will remove any very poor looking ponies we report to him and this same owner is out feeding the ponies of these areas, along with Roborough Down and Burrator Rock, a number of times each day. Our welfare assistant came across one of these feeding areas and whilst a group of 28 ponies were munching away on the hay the farmer arrived with another load of hay. This owner was not aware a member of our staff was out there but was happy to stop and chat. They explained that not only do they feed their ponies, but they end up feeding all the ponies in these areas; ponies that are owned by other people. This particular owner does not get paid by the other owners and he pays for all his own diesel.
We will, of course, carry on monitoring the ponies and with luck the spring grass will come through and the ponies will start filling out. Please do not hesitate to call us with any concerns, however please be assured we are continuously monitoring the situation and in regular contact with the owners.
Monday, 29 April 2013
Davidstow Rescue Mare Gives Birth at SWEP Sanctuary
The first of the Davidstow rescue mares has given birth to a gorgeous filly foal. Staff arrived at the fields to find the little bundle wobbling along with mum, she was still damp so not long born. We are expecting at least two more foals from the Davidstow group and three more from other ponies rescued after the Dartmoor drifts late last year. We will keep you all upto date on their progress and any new births.
Four members of our staff are taking part in a sponsered skydive to raise funds, any sponsership money will go towards feed for all our mums to be and new mums, the Davidstow ponies came in emaciated so will need more care and extra feed than most new mums to ensure they can provide enough milk for their foals.
Here are the links to the Justgiving pages our staff have set up:
Saturday, 27 April 2013
Very Thin Pony Near Long Ash
We received a call in regards to a very thin piebald mare near Long Ash. Whilst out looking for the pony our welfare assistant met the ponies owner who confirmed that this pony had already been removed and was being fed extra forage at their farm.
Friday, 26 April 2013
Thin Mare on Plaster Down
Our welfare assistant came across this little mare whilst dealing with a separate issue, although the mare was in good spirits she was very underweight and heavily pregnant. The owner was alerted and later that day he took her in. She is now on the farm being fed supplementary hay, she will stay there until she has had her foal and gained some weight.
Saturday, 20 April 2013
Mare Having Difficulty Foaling at Minions
Early Saturday evening we received a call from a lady walking in the Minions area, she had come across a very thin mare who was having difficulty foaling. The lady had broken the birthing sac and helped the mare to give birth, however once the foal was out the mare showed no interest in her new born. By this time a member of SWEP staff had arrived and called a vet who gave the foal some colostrum and assessed the mare. The vet agreed that the mare was not interested in the foal and if it was left it would die within hours, the mare had no milk in her udder.
The foal was bought back to our rehabilitation yard and a feeding regime was started, the foal was fed every two hours. Initially the youngster was feeding well and seemed strong, however by the Monday she took a turn for the worse and the vet was called out. The foal was diagnosed with Equine Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome (Dummy Foal Syndrome), this is a neurological syndrome and is quite common in foals who have been starved of Oxygen at some point during the birthing process, the foal was put to sleep soon after.
The foal was bought back to our rehabilitation yard and a feeding regime was started, the foal was fed every two hours. Initially the youngster was feeding well and seemed strong, however by the Monday she took a turn for the worse and the vet was called out. The foal was diagnosed with Equine Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome (Dummy Foal Syndrome), this is a neurological syndrome and is quite common in foals who have been starved of Oxygen at some point during the birthing process, the foal was put to sleep soon after.
Grey Pony Bought in From Eastmoor
This pony was taken off of Eastmoor as Animal Health officials were concerned about her extremely poor condition. She is a larger pony compared to the other ponies we have taken in from this area of Bodmin Moor and she is very frightened. We will give her time to settle and provide her with a weight gaining diet, she is now safe.
Mare & Foal Bought in From Eastmoor
We were asked by Animal Health Officials if we could take these two mares in from Eastmoor, they were a mare and her yearling foal and the mare was extremely thin. The two mares were with a stallion who did not want to give his girls up. SWEP staff tried to drift the pair in, however the weather was atrocious and the stallion was a hindrance. We knew we needed further help to bring the pair in, a week later we received a call letting us know the pair had been bought in and staff could collect. Staff were there within the hour and the ponies were calmly loaded onto the horse box and driven to the rehabilitation yard.
The pair are now safe and will be looked after by our staff and volunteers. The yearling is in good condition and once settled will be weaned, this will give the mare a better chance of putting on weight and making a full recovery.
Saturday, 13 April 2013
Mare & Foal Rescue on Eastmoor
We received a call from the DEFRA vet asking if we could take in a mare and foal from the Eastmoor area. The mare had been marked to be shot as she was in extremely poor condition, however when the time arrived it was discovered she had given birth. The authorities felt this little mare and her newborn foal deserved a chance so we were called in to help.
The weather was dreadful but our staff went out and after hours of searching we found the mare and foal with a larger group of ponies. They slowly and calmly drifted them towards the horsebox, this plan initially worked until the path was blocked by a boggy mire. The mare did not want to cross, however she did not attempt to escape. Our staff knew they needed help so called around, someone did come and help and eventually we managed to get the mare and foal onto the horsebox.
Once back at the yard a stable was set up with a thick straw bed, fresh hay and water and a heat lamp. The mare and foal were quietly escorted to their new home and left to settle. The mare was very hungry and immediatley tucked into the hay and feed staff had prepared. We will ensure this little mare and her son receive all the care they need over the coming months, mum will have food on tap to ensure she can provide enough milk to sustain her foal as well as building up some weight herself.
We will keep you informed on the pairs progress, if anyone feels they would like to help the Eastmoor ponies we have taken in please call our office on 01822 854823. We are currently desperate for haylage and Just Grass, any donations made will go towards the upkeep of the ponies.
The weather was dreadful but our staff went out and after hours of searching we found the mare and foal with a larger group of ponies. They slowly and calmly drifted them towards the horsebox, this plan initially worked until the path was blocked by a boggy mire. The mare did not want to cross, however she did not attempt to escape. Our staff knew they needed help so called around, someone did come and help and eventually we managed to get the mare and foal onto the horsebox.
Once back at the yard a stable was set up with a thick straw bed, fresh hay and water and a heat lamp. The mare and foal were quietly escorted to their new home and left to settle. The mare was very hungry and immediatley tucked into the hay and feed staff had prepared. We will ensure this little mare and her son receive all the care they need over the coming months, mum will have food on tap to ensure she can provide enough milk to sustain her foal as well as building up some weight herself.
We will keep you informed on the pairs progress, if anyone feels they would like to help the Eastmoor ponies we have taken in please call our office on 01822 854823. We are currently desperate for haylage and Just Grass, any donations made will go towards the upkeep of the ponies.
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Emaciated Mare Rescued From Eastmoor
Our welfare staff came across this mare by chance whilst collecting another pony, she was spotted in the gorse bushes. We could see she was in very poor condition so we phoned the commoners secretary and DEFRA vet immediatley, both agreed that if we had the facilities to take the mare in then we could take her. We arranged to meet the DEFRA vet the following morning so she could sign the pony over under the Animal Welfare Act.
The following morning our welfare officer met the DEFRA vet who agreed this pony needed to be taken to a safe place asap, she was extremley weak and needed urgent vetirenary assistance. Unfortunately by the time the pony arrived at our rehabilitation yard she had collapsed in the horsebox and was unable to get back up, our vet had met us at the yard and it was agreed the kindest thing to do would be to put her to sleep.
Whilst on our way back with the grey mare we received a phone call to say that this mare had a chestnut yearling foal that also looked thin, and could we take this pony in. We felt the grey mares youngster deserved a chance so arranged to collect it within a few days. We returned to the area two days later and collected the grey mares chestnut yearling. The yearling was very thin, however she had some fight in her.
She was calmly loaded onto our horsebox and bought back to our rehabilitation yard, where she had a warm straw filled stable waiting for her. We will do everything we can to help this little pony, she will receive all the veterinary care she needs, we will provide her with food and shelter and when she is strong enough and we have gained her trust we will slowly start to handle her. This will be a long process, however we feel this little pony deserves a chance to survive and live a long and happy life.
The following morning our welfare officer met the DEFRA vet who agreed this pony needed to be taken to a safe place asap, she was extremley weak and needed urgent vetirenary assistance. Unfortunately by the time the pony arrived at our rehabilitation yard she had collapsed in the horsebox and was unable to get back up, our vet had met us at the yard and it was agreed the kindest thing to do would be to put her to sleep.
Whilst on our way back with the grey mare we received a phone call to say that this mare had a chestnut yearling foal that also looked thin, and could we take this pony in. We felt the grey mares youngster deserved a chance so arranged to collect it within a few days. We returned to the area two days later and collected the grey mares chestnut yearling. The yearling was very thin, however she had some fight in her.
She was calmly loaded onto our horsebox and bought back to our rehabilitation yard, where she had a warm straw filled stable waiting for her. We will do everything we can to help this little pony, she will receive all the veterinary care she needs, we will provide her with food and shelter and when she is strong enough and we have gained her trust we will slowly start to handle her. This will be a long process, however we feel this little pony deserves a chance to survive and live a long and happy life.
Tuesday, 9 April 2013
Pony Rescued from Eastmoor
This little pony was bought to the rehabilitation yard after being found alongside its dead mother by a walker, the youngster was so weak it couldn't move away from the crows that had already started pecking at it. Initially the yearling was taken to the walkers paddock, which was near by, the authorities were called as well as SWEP and we arranged for a vet to visit the little pony. She was in a bad way, cold, emaciated and weak. The vet needed to perform a blood transfusion and give the pony fluids through an intravenous drip, she was to weak to transport to the rehabilitation yard so she received further treatment at the paddock.
She initially picked up but suddenly took a turn for the worse so she was rushed to our yard where she was met by our vet and a warm stable. She had a blood test, which showed low white blood cell count, and she was given more fluids. She was unable to drink herself and struggled to eat, she was weak and lethargic. We tried everything to save her, however after further advise from the vet it was decided the kindest thing to do would be put to sleep.
She initially picked up but suddenly took a turn for the worse so she was rushed to our yard where she was met by our vet and a warm stable. She had a blood test, which showed low white blood cell count, and she was given more fluids. She was unable to drink herself and struggled to eat, she was weak and lethargic. We tried everything to save her, however after further advise from the vet it was decided the kindest thing to do would be put to sleep.
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Sponsered Skydive by SWEP Staff
Four of our staff memebers will be taking part in a sky dive to raise funds for SWEP, the crazy foursome are Lisa, Jenny T, Sonia and Rachel. If you would like to sponser them or donate then please visit our justgiving page: http://www.justgiving.com/superswepskydive
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