Lame Pony on Dartmoor

SWEP officers responded to a report of a lame pony out on the moor.  They assessed the pony.  It is most likely that the pony had been a victim of a road traffic collision. 

The owner of the pony was contacted and the pony was removed from the moor.

Dead Pony Bodmin Moor - Carbilly Tor

This dead pony was discovered by dog walkers on Bodmin Moor.  The pony had an identification mark to link it to an owner and this was reported to the authorities.  This was a young mare, who was 2.5-3 years old based on ageing her teeth.  Our assessment showed there was not much condition on her neck, so we believe that this mare was in poor condition before she died.

Pregnant Pony in Poor Condition near Pensilva, Bodmin Moor

A member of the public was concerned about the condition of a pregnant mare in the Pensilva area of Bodmin Moor.  As well as being thin, it had been seen with its yearling, consuming large quantities of a mineral lick put out for the sheep.  The weather was so bad when we visited the site, the mare was not in her usual location and must have been hiding in the gorse.  The informant monitored the mare over the following weeks, and her condition picked up as the grass quality improved.

Yeoland Down Pony Drift

The ponies on Yeoland Down were drifted to near by farm where they were sorted and moved by their owners.

Condition of Pony on Bodmin Common know as "Little Mare" Now Critical

SWEP is highly frustrated by the authorities' lack of action and concern about the situation on Bodmin Moor.  When SWEP reported their evidence and concerns to the authorities, and asked for a round-up, the authorities said they had "no concerns" over the welfare of the ponies on this common. 

This mare is now having trouble walking due to the extent of her muscle loss.  SWEP releases the plight of these ponies to the media and the story is covered by BBC Spotlight (http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cornwall/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_9398000/9398134.stm), the Western Morning News, and the Daily Mail as well as other media companies.

For what seems like forever, there continues to be a lack of action by the authorities.  We had offered to care for the ponies whilst the authorities made enquiries into who owned them, so at least they could start getting treatment, but this offer was not accepted.  SWEP would face prosecution by the authorities if we took the ponies from the common.

Action came just in time for these ponies - on 23rd February, Redwings (along with the authorities) removed 19 ponies from this common - incredibly "Little Mare" did survive long enough to be included in this rescue and now has a life-long home at Redwings.

5th Dead Pony discovered on the Bodmin Common

The teeth on the skull of this pony aged it to between 6-9 months old.

Dartmoor Hill Pony Left To Die As Owner With-holds Treatment

Our vets reported this case to SWEP - they were contacted by a dog walker on the morning of 05/05/11.  The dog walker said they had pulled a collapsed pony out of the gorse on Yennadon Down on Friday night. On returning on Saturday morning, the dog walker found the pony still lying where it had been left the previous evening and contacted the veterinary surgery. 

A SWEP officer attended and took the photos above - the pony is alive in these photos.  The mare had actually been reported to the Commoners on 03/02/11 after she had suffered a miscarriage.  The owner did not attend the pony, and left it without any sort of antibiotic treatment.  When SWEP attended the pony on the morning of the 5th, septicaemia was already well set in, and the mare was close to death.  Three farmers eventually attended the scene and intimidated our equine officer.  "We will deal with it...Who the hell notified you about it".  Our officer ensured that prompt arrangements were made to have the pony put down and we recorded evidence of the incident. 

The owner of this pony was reported to the authorities for causing unnecessary suffering, which is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act.  Whilst they considered it to be a serious case, we have not heard of any action being taken against the owner.  The hay in the photos was put down by our officer.

4th Dead Pony reported on the Bodmin Common

This mare had a miscarriage and died because she was left without treatment by her owner.  The pony had an ear-notch, which links it to an owner.

2 More Emaciated Mares found on the Bodmin Common

Over the following weeks, our welfare officer monitored these ponies.  Wild ponies have particular areas that their herds will tend to roam in, so our officer is able to find them each time a visit is made to the moor.  Both mares are pregnant and feature in SWEPs media campaign to get action for the ponies on the moor.  Their condition deteriorates over the coming weeks and they separate off from their main herd and graze in separate areas.  Both are rescued on 18th January when action finally starts to be taken by the authorities. 

Illegally Eartagged Dartmoor "Hill" Pony Foal

Ear tagging of equines is illegal under the Permitted Mutilations Regulations 2007, part of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.  The cow tag in this youngster's ear is so large it has folded the pony's ear over.  This breach of the law has been reported to the authorities.

Update 14/07/11 - We have had an update from the authorities to say that the owner of this Dartmoor Hill Pony is going to have the tag removed from this pony's ear.  It has been ensured that this must be done by a vet and the procedure must be done with the welfare of the pony as a priority.

Dartmoor "Hill" Ponies in Poor Condition at Long Ash

A member of the public reported a herd of Dartmoor "Hill" ponies in poor condition at Long Ash on Dartmoor.  The ponies here are struggling after the tough winter.  After SWEP attending these ponies, the owner started feeding hay out on the moor.  The mare in this photo was removed from the moor but we have not seen her since.