Pony With Overgrown Hoof Near Cherry Brook Bridge

We have received a number of calls regarding this pony who has overgrown hooves, her front are particularly bad with one being so long it is starting to curl up. Feral ponies hooves will usually break off when they get to long, however some; like this one need assistance. She is a very friendly pony so this would make the job a little easier for her owner; who is inevitably responsible for their ponies health and well being. This pony is walking on her heels and this will not be doing her any favours.

We have reported this pony to it's owners twice and we are still receiving calls from walkers.

Pony With Broken Leg Near Dartmeet

We received a call from the RSPCA to inform us a pony was suffering with a broken leg near Dartmeet.

Underweight Pony Near Princetown



We were alerted to an underweight pony near Princetown, the caller was worried as she had been on her own for a few days. Our welfare assistant attended and and quickly found the pony who was a fair distance from a herd of ponies nearer the mast. The pony was underweight and her backbone and hips were prominent, the mare was grazing happily and moving around with ease. She was also inquisitive when our member of welfare staff approached her for a closer look.

We contacted the owner who assured us they would go out and check on the mare, we have a number of people in the area who will keep an eye on this pony.

* Two weeks later and two more phone calls this pony was still on the moor and looking much worse. We had no alternative but to report it to an Animal health vet who has now contacted this poor ponies owner. However no one has seen this poor pony for a few days, we are hoping she has joined a herd. But we know the outcome may not be so happy.

 2 weeks later

Pony walking with Difficulty Near Lee Moor

We received a call from a lady driving through Lee Moor who had seen a pony that was walking very strangely. Her initial thought was that it had been hit by a car and it's leg was broken, she called us immediately to report.

Our welfare assistant went straight out to check on the mare; who was walking very strangely indeed. There were no visible signs of impact or injury and the mare was happily grazing and did not seem at all distressed. The welfare assistant got her to move on and it became apparent she had string halt in one hind leg and a sticky stifle in the other hind leg. She was heavily pregnant and our welfare assistant was a little worried these conditions combined may cause her problems when birthing so she alerted the ponies owner. The owner was quite a distance away however they took all the details and assured our welfare assistant that they would go and assess the pony on their way back through.

We will be going back out to check on this mare.

Mare with Afterbirth Still Attatched

We received a call from a worried horse rider who had come across a mare with afterbirth still attached. Our welfare assistant went out to check on her. On arrival the mare was no longer in the place she had been reported as being and whilst looking for her our welfare assistant came across another mare who had just given birth. She sat and watched mare and foal for a while to ensure baby was ok and that mum cleansed, which she did within half an hour. Foal was up on his feet and very wobbly but once he'd had his first drink our welfare officer left them be, she contacted the ponies owner to report the new foal.

Our welfare assistant carried on with the search for the mare who hadn't cleansed and eventually found her with her new foal, by the time she had found her the mare had cleansed. Mare and foal looked well.