FEEDING THE MOORLAND
PONIES – PLEASE DON’T!
South West Equine Protection were
this weekend (26/04/2014) called out by Devon and Cornwall Police to 3 pony
deaths on Bodmin moor, It is suspected to be as a result of garden waste being
dumped up on the moorland and the ponies consuming toxic plant waste.
Due to equines having a complex
digestive system, they are unable to vomit to reduce the toxic waste in their
stomach. Equines have a one way valve from the oesophagus down into the stomach
which does not allow anything to pass back through to the mouth. When a pony
eats toxic waste such as garden waste the pony’s stomach will start to bloat
and the pony is unable to release the pressure so the stomach ruptures and the
horse will die……
A pony which has digested toxic plant waste can show many symptoms, these may include Colic like symptoms, loss of muscle control, disorientation, dilated pupils and eventually become a fatality. Toxic plant waste can include things such as Garden produce, tomato and potato leaves, grass cuttings, laurel and rhododendron bushes etc….. The best idea is not to dump anything at all on the moorland and instead stick it in garden waste bags and dispose of it in the correct manor. Ponies grazing on Bodmin moor are all owned ponies, therefore the owners of the ponies should be acting responsibly to feed the ponies to ensure there condition is meeting welfare standards, if you have any concerns about a pony on the moor please contact SWEP and we can assist, our website provides an anonymous facility for you to report any concerns should you wish to report anonymously otherwise you can contact me on welfare@swep.org.uk or 07717311251
Fly tipping is an offence - please do
not discard any waste on the moor as it is a hazard to all the stock, should
you get caught this could land you with a heavy fine and conviction. If you see
anyone carrying out this act please contact the police on 101 with as much
information as possible.
If you would like to receive any
further information about poisonous plants and equine welfare please contact
South West Equine Protection. SWEP is a registered charity and was formed due
to the demand for a locally based society to follow up concerns about equine
welfare, whether moorland, privately owned or abandoned, please check out the
work we do on our website www.swep.org.uk
.
