jrp204
Well-Known Member
The ponies are an important part of the moorland ecology and maybe as part of the Hill Farm Subsidy that most of the farmers who run the ponies will be getting, and quite rightly too, there should be an element of responsible breeding brought in. There could be a points system as used by the stewardship scheme, points for vasectomising stallions, reducing mare numbers etc. The farmers are working on selling a lot of cheap ponies as opposed to selling less good ones for more money. The only way of getting them out of this mindset is with financial incentive, to improve things is going to take a few years so the little income the farmers receive from the sales must not be reduced and in the mean time should be matched through the scheme until the improved breeding starts coming through.
Mind you, these ponies do provide a service, ok distasteful to some. Take these out of the equation and zoos will have to find meat from somewhere so there will be a knock on.
Mind you, these ponies do provide a service, ok distasteful to some. Take these out of the equation and zoos will have to find meat from somewhere so there will be a knock on.