Pony With Overgrown Feet Near St Breward

We were called out by worried members of the public in regards to a pony with extremely overgrown front feet. The pony was in a group of three, one person who reported them believed they had been abandoned as they were very friendly. On arrival the two older mares were indeed very tame and let us handle them and check their feet, teeth and condition. The young colt was timid and would not allow us near to him. He was, however, in an acceptable condition and his feet were OK. Whilst in attendance a local farmer passed us and assisted us with our enquiries. We had a conversation with the Bodmin moor livestock protection officer who assured us the ponies would be removed from the moor. The owners of these ponies could not be identified so the local farmer who helped with our enquiries offered to take the ponies in and see to their feet.

Abandoned Stallion Injured in Fight Near Pondworthy

Our welfare officer was called out to assess a stallion who is believed to have been abandoned and who was involved in fights with moorland stallions. He was covered in bite and kick marks, his hoof was cracked and he had an abscess on his side and he was very frightened. He was drifted into a near by field, with permission of the land owner, and loaded onto a box and moved to a safe haven where he was treated by a vet and given food and water. He will stay at this safe haven to recover and build some strength, he is very underweight and timid. Once he is ready he will castrated and moved to our rehabilitation yard, where we will work on him in preparation for re homing.

UPDATE - We have named this stallion Raven, his abscess has now drained and is healing well. He has been wormed and his other wounds are looking much better. He is eating well and responding to humans.

Abandoned Pony Near Roborough Village

On April 7th of this year we received a report of a pony who had possibly been abandoned on council owned land near Plymouth. A welfare officer visited the field and could see there was a single pony present, as we could not be sure at that time the pony had been abandoned our officer noted her findings and contacted the relevant office on the next working day. The council clarified that the previous tenant had been given notice and it was understood they had removed all their horses and ponies. They sent an inspector to assess the situation and an abandonment notice was left on the gates stating the owner had 14 days to remove the pony, after the 14 days the council would become rightful owners. We can report that the previous owners did not come forward and that this pony now has a new owner and this has been arranged through the council with our assistance. The council gave SWEP staff permission to access there land in order to attend to the ponies needs, she was checked daily and was given access to clean water and food. Her new owners are thrilled to be in a position to offer her a loving forever home, and we are happy that this home is a responsible and knowledgeable one.

Long Ash Mare With Over Grown Feet

Whilst out on a routine check our welfare assistant came across this mare. She was drawn to her initially due to her general condition and on closer inspection it was obvious her feet were overgrown. Once established the ponies owner will be contacted to discuss.


UPDATE : This mare was seen on 10th August, 2012 looking healthy. Her feet are shorter and she has filled out, her coat is glossy.

Dog Attack on Yennadon Down

We were called out to a mare and foal who had been attacked by a Labrador cross dog. Some passers by heard shouting and as they got closer could see the dog latched onto the foal and the owner trying to get the dog off, the mother had run away and was calling to her foal. The dog was eventually separated from the foal and the owners loaded it into the car and drove away. The gentleman who called us said he ushered the foal back to the mare and once closer could see she had also been attacked. Members of SWEP staff attended the scene and with assistance from a group of our volunteers and local pony owner the mare and foal were drifted to a nearby small holding, which the land owner very kindly let us use. We contacted the mare and foals owner who was with us within 10 minutes. He signed the pair over to SWEPs care, we immediately called our vets. On arrival the vet made the decision to put the foal to sleep as its injuries were so severe, this was done quietly and quickly and the mare was able to smell and lick her foal. The pair were then taken to our rehabilitation yard.

Soon after we received a call from the owners wife who explained the mare was one of a small group of ponies she had been given by her mother and she was a much loved mare. We agreed that the pony should  be returned to her owners and she was collected soon after. It was clear when the ladies arrived that the mare knew them and that she would be much better off going back home. We were assured that she would never be bred from again due to her injuries.

This again raises the issue of out of control dogs on Dartmoor and why it is so important to keep dogs under constant control and preferably on a lead. A dog may behave impeccably at home or on its usual walks, but anything can happen without warning.

UPDATE - The dog involved in this incident has been put to sleep.

Some of these pictures may be distressing, but we feel they need to be published in order to highlight the damage dogs can do