wildponies.info
Markets
http://www.wildponies.info/markets.html
Dedicated to the wild ponies on Bodmin, Dartmoor and Exmoor. Every year, wild ponies are sent to markets to be sold. Most go to seasonal autumn sales, although on Dartmoor there are 2 extra sales - one in June, and one in December. This year, the total number of entries in the autumn seasonal sales in Devon and Cornwall was 1501. Most were foals, only recently separated from their mothers. If you witness breaches of the Welfare of Horses at Markets Order whilst you are attending a market, you can go to t...
wildponies.info
Inbreeding
http://www.wildponies.info/inbreeding.html
Dedicated to the wild ponies on Bodmin, Dartmoor and Exmoor. Lack of proper herd management has led to inbreeding problems on Dartmoor. Some cases are reported to local charities because foals are suffering out on moorland. Other foals with problems and deformities turn up at markets. Problems include physical deformities, mis-shapen heads, undershot jaws and blindness. As this continues, ponies out on the moor suffer unnecessarily, and the quality of the breeding herds is reduced. Exmoor ponies have a r...
wildponies.info
The Unwanted
http://www.wildponies.info/unwanted.html
Dedicated to the wild ponies on Bodmin, Dartmoor and Exmoor. The huge scale of overbreeding in the South West means that each year there are wild ponies unwanted by breeders and unwanted by the horse owning public. There are far too many to be saved by local charities. Most will be colts (young male ponies). This is what we know happens to the unwanted. During the annual roundups on Dartmoor, ponies gathered from off the moor are sorted. Those ponies whose owners cannot be identified are culled:. Http:/ ...
wildponies.info
Ear Mutilations
http://www.wildponies.info/earmutilations.html
Dedicated to the wild ponies on Bodmin, Dartmoor and Exmoor. EAR NOTCHING, EAR CUTTING and EAR TAGGING. Ear notching, ear cutting and ear tagging have been routinely carried out as identification methods on wild ponies on Bodmin and Dartmoor moors. Some Exmoor ponies have also been subjected to these mutilations, despite also having been hot branded. All text and images property of Wild Ponies South West - 2010.
wildponies.info
Overbreeding
http://www.wildponies.info/overbreeding.html
Dedicated to the wild ponies on Bodmin, Dartmoor and Exmoor. It should be remembered that there is no such thing as a truly "wild" pony in the UK. Ponies on areas of moorland are owned by breeders who are responsible for ensuring their health and welfare. It appears that there has been no regard for controlling the numbers of foals being bred on Dartmoor. Breeders continue to produce large numbers of foals and have not planned for, or responded to market conditions. A plan to remove stallions from the mo...
wildponies.info
Hot Branding
http://www.wildponies.info/hotbranding.html
Dedicated to the wild ponies on Bodmin,. Hot branding is an identification method used by breeders on Exmoor and Dartmoor. It involves heating metal irons to high temperatures, and then using them to burn marks into a pony's skin to cause scarring. This procedure is carried out without administering any anaesthetic or pain relief. On Dartmoor, ponies are given one brand mark to denote ownership. The Dartmoor Commoners' Council meeting on 6th October recommended that ". Opponents of equine hot branding ar...
