SWEP received a phone call from a member of the public to report a Dartmoor Hill Pony Foal in trouble at "The Pimple", in the area of Tavistock Golf Club. The walker had seen the foal in the morning and was concerned about it, so went back to check on it in the afternoon. Two of our officers attend. The foal is not able to stand up properly and is described as "walking on its ankles", rather than its hooves. It also has an undershot jaw. The owner of the foal is called out, and explains that the reason for the foal being like this is because the mare is a first time mother. He agrees to let SWEP take the foal but wants to keep the mare.
SWEPs vet was called out to our yard to assess the foal. The problem did not appear to be a tendon problem which is sometimes seen in larger horses. At first the vets felt that we should try corrective splints to see if that would solve the problem of her legs...but some time later the foal starting fitting and the decision was made to have her humanely put to sleep.
This is the third deformed Dartmoor Hill Pony foal to be brought to our yard this year - these problems are caused by inbreeding of ponies on the moor.
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| The pony was walking on it's front legs rather than on its front hooves |
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