Foal Involved in RTC Near Princetown

Our charity manager noticed a police car near the side of the road and a group of people near a ditch. On closer inspection it noted a farmer, police officer and vet were present with a mare and foal. The foal was on the floor due to being hit by a car. The vet put the foal to sleep and the mare was left with the foal for some time after. The foal was then removed from the sight.

Hallworthy Market

This was a new sale for Kivells at Hallworthy, which included cattle, poultry and tack. The conditions were much better than the pony sales of previous years, with clean straw bedding in all of the pens. There was a large consignment of cobs from the South East. This consignment pushed the prices high and many of the main dealers were priced out.

We are hoping that the current standards continue at Hallworthy, especially when it comes to the pony auctions in the autumn.

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Hatherleigh Market

Our welfare officer attended Hatherligh market today. The sale was very small with only a few entries and not many sales. Most were selling from one vendor who took all the horses and ponies back to her property after the sale.

(Photos to follow)

Pony Leaking Milk With No Foal

We received a call from a worried walker who had seen this pony on three consecutive mornings in the same spot. She was slightly hunched and was leaking milk from her udder. She was on her own and a herd was not close by, on the third morning the walker called us to report.
Our welfare assistant went to assess, however by the time she arrived the pony was no longer in the spot. After a short search the pony was found with a group of mares, she was clearly agitated but was managing to graze. She did indeed have milk residue coming from her udder, although the udder was not overly swollen. The ponies owner was informed and came out straight away, he assessed the pony and concluded that she did not look pregnant but could be experiencing a phantom pregnancy. He agreed to monitor the pony over the coming week, as did the welfare assistant.

By chance a few days later our welfare assistant spotted the pony again, her belly had dropped a little and she did not look so hunched up. She was alot calmer and was happily grazing with a small herd. She was not leaking.

Again by chance on 2nd July this pony was spotted near Long Ash garden centre with two other ponies. Her belly looked rounder and she had a yellow waxy looking residue covering her udder. The three ponies were then chased off by a group of ponies.

Another chance meeting with this pony occurred on 4th July whilst looking for another pony reported in the Long Ash area. The bay mare again had a waxy residue, Our welfare officer came to assess. She concluded that the mare did look pregnant but could indeed be a phantom. Both welfare staff have agreed to monitor this mare as she could be having a problem foaling, however it could well be a phantom pregnancy and it will settle in time.

Foal With Deformed Legs Near Samford Spinney

Our welfare officer was called out today by a worried walker who had noticed a foal with what he thought may be rickets. We were soon on the scene and the foal did have deformed legs. The foals owner was contacted and they were aware of the foal along with the other pony owners in the area and the livestock protection officer. Our welfare officer asked for the foal to be removed from the moor and its condition to be assessed. The owner has agreed to do this.
We do not think this foal has rickets but it does have an obvious problem. Many foals are born with weaknesses in their legs, some rectify themselves naturally others with veterinary intervention. Sadly some are not so fortunate.





Collapsed Foal in Drakes Leat

Our welfare officer received a call early on a Saturday morning reporting a young foal that had collapsed in Drakes leat near Clearbrook. On arrival she found the foal, its mother was present and she was nudging the baby in an attempt to get it to stand. She assessed the situation and it was concluded the foal was more than likely sick and the owner was traced and called. He arrived shortly after along with his trailer. Initially he said the foal was just tired because of the amount of crab flies and the heat, however our welfare officer disagreed and asked the owner to remove the mare and foal and treat it accordingly. The farmer finally agreed to do this and between them the pair were loaded onto the trailer and taken away.

The mare has since been seen on the down minus its foal.

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.