Ponies in Burrator Arboretum

It was reported to us that there were some ponies in the Arboretum at Burrator reservoir, this area is managed by South West Lakes Trust and does not have ponies grazing on it. Our welfare officer paid the site a visit and found seven ponies in the area. She contacted SWLT who assured her that they weren't meant to be in the area, earlier in the month some fencing had been removed to allow works to be carried out. SWLT beleive the ponies entered the site then and became trapped when the new fencing was erected. Our welfare officer will work with SWLT to find the ponies owners and have them removed from the area and returned to their herd.

Please Do Not Feed The Ponies!!!

 

Whilst on her way home our welfare assistant noticed these ponies eating whole carrots that had been dropped down next to a busy car park, this car park is close to a cross roads that can get quite busy (you can see from the photo above how close it is to the car park). Feeding moorland ponies so close to roads and car parks encourages them to these areas and desensitises them to road using vehicles, this then leads to road traffic accidents. Feeding them also makes them aggressive towards each other and the bearer of the food, this often results in members of the public being kicked or bitten by ponies. It can also lead to ponies choking or colicing, both can lead to distress and even death. All these ponies belong to someone and when they get hit by vehicles or become sick because people have fed them it costs the owners money. We have already seen a number of RTC's this year, many are due to the ponies being fed close to roads and car parks.

Inujured Stallion on Roborough Down

Whilst out on a follow up check on Roborough Down our welfare assistant came across this little stallion with an injury on his hind hock. It could have been obtained through a fight with a rival stallion or from being hit by a vehicle. He is well known to the welfare assistant who contacted his owner immediately. His owner was concerned and assured us he would find him and see he gets the relevant treatment as soon as possible. There is a possibility this stallion will be gelded and put back on the Down. Our welfare assistant will monitor this stallions condition.

27/03/2012: Our welfare assistant went to check on this little stallion today and is pleased to report his leg has healed well. He has a finger tip size wound on his hind hock that has scabbed over and seems to be healing well, there is no sign of infection and he is no longer stiff in his hind leg. He is, however, still a stallion.

Pregnant Mare Killed in RTA

SWEP received a call from a police officer to report that a pregnant mare had been killed out right in an RTC on the road between Tavistock Golf Club and Warren Cross around 19:00 on 05/03/2012. The owner had been informed and was arranging for the body to be moved. Our welfare officer arrived at the site the following morning and the body was still at the side of the road so she called the owner to find out when it would be removed, he assured her that it was being dealt with and the pony would be removed that day. Our welfare assistant returned to the site at 14:00 and the body was no longer there.

Pony with Over Grown Feet - Goodameavy

Whilst looking for the grey pony in poor condition our welfare assistant came across a little coloured mare with over grown feet. The owner will be informed and asked to trim this ponies feet. 

Pony in Poor Condition at Goodameavy

Our welfare assistant was approached by a worried walker who said she had seen a pony in very poor condition on the Down at Goodameavy. The welfare assistant was on the scene within minutes and located the grey pony quickly, it was apparent the pony was under weight and seemed very stiff in its hind hips. We are trying to locate this ponies owner and will report it asap.

08/03/2012 : We have identified this ponies owner, she is an old mare and we will monitor her condition. At present she is keeping up with the herd so we feel she is better off staying with them. If her condition deteriorates any further we will liase with her owner and act in her best interests.

Pony With Colic on Pensilva Down

SWEP recieved a call about a pony on Pensilva Down who was suffering with colic, she appeared to be in alot of pain and was rolling. She was helped up by a passing walker and horse rider. Our welfare officer attended the scene and found alot of food waste by the side of the road, this included potato peelings, bread and grass cuttings - all of which are potentially lethal if eaten by a pony, other vegetable matter was found. The most alarming find was dry sugar beet pellets, sugar beet MUST be soaked for 24 hours before being fed. If it is fed in its dry state it will swell up in the animals digestive tract and stomach causing severe colic and possibly death.

We are urging people NOT TO FEED THE PONIES on Bodmin moor and Dartmoor, especially near any roads as it encourages them to come down to the roads and enevitably they end up being hit by cars.

Please see link for article in The Cornish Guardian on 28/02/2012:

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Public-warned-feed-ponies-Bodmin-Moor-rise/story-15292291-detail/story.html