Oh right! No-one has EVER done this before of course. Horses in herds.

Enfys

Enfys

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"We have pioneered the barn system of managing horses, where in winter they live as a herd with unlimited access to socialise, feed and move about."

A quote by Ross and Heather Simpson. It's those zebras in Wales again, I don't have a problem with that, with that arrogant comment above I do. Who says they have pioneered it?
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Grr, sorry, but that really annoys me. 30 years ago my Aunt was overwintering herds of donkeys (for the sanctuary) in huge barns and yards, it is common practise isn't it? Surely I have misunderstood the quote.

ANIMAL UNIVERSITY'S BID FOR ZEBRAS IN COUNTY

09:00 - 21 August 2007
Zebras could soon be spotted roaming the hills and valleys around Carmarthen in what could be the world's first practical animal university.The zebras are likely to be brought over from South Africa as part of a multi-million pound project.

The Natural Animal Centre (NAC), in Cwmduad, has started taking students from across the world to study animal behaviour.

Ross Simpson who runs the scheme with his wife Heather said: "We looked for a suitable location in West Wales for a site to establish the NAC with an extensive family of animals, and chose Penhill, Trawsmawr.

"We have pioneered the barn system of managing horses, where in winter they live as a herd with unlimited access to socialise, feed and move about."[/b]

Heather and Ross Simpson are responsible for the centre which has just received a £67,500 grant from the Carmarthenshire Council to help with a £264,500 conversion of a farm building into a bed and breakfast facility for students attending NAC courses.

Opening on to an approximate additional 200-acres of Forestry Commission land, students are able to follow walks along the river and through forest, meadow and gorse banks owned by the NAC.

Mr Simpson added: "We are one step closer to achieving the first practical animal university in the world, right here in Carmarthenshire."

He also said the centre would be taking on working students who can exchange work for courses, rather than pay cash.

He said there has been enormous interest in the centre.

"It's a Born Free existence for our animals and a chance to see how they truly behave," he added.

Ross and Heather both have extensive experience with animals and animal behaviour.

They have started to use unique positive reinforcement techniques for training horses.

Executive board member for regeneration Clive Scourfield said: "I never cease to be amazed at the ingenuity of people and the versatility of our county.

"Here we have another first - not only in Wales but in the world."

Web link:

www.naturalanimalcentre.com
 
Mmmmm!!!! Are there lions, cheetahs and hyaenas roaming wild too? That would surely be better for studying the natural behaviour of zebras! Not sure the people of Carmarthen would want that though!
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We keep our horses in a barn with an sand outdoor coral to roam and socialise - we've done this since we got rid of the cattle and I took over the barn - am I a pioneer too???
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Fraid not Cotswold, was keeping Arabs like that 25 years ago in Germany. Blimey, more than a Pioneer, I must be a blooming Time Traveller.
Surely it's Welsh Ponies who would live naturally in the hills of Wales. Or is that oversimplifying?
Same old same old, they can do what they like, but MUST they create an untrue contrast? Next thing you know they'll be saying all the rest of us throw our zebras to the ground and brand them with fire ....
... go to say, though, my zebra prefers to be clipped out and stabled. He finds it hard going out hunting, otherwise.....
 
Jeez, i feel sorry for the poor zebra, who are going to be freezing their nuts off in Wales!
I agree with you about the "pioneered the barn system" part - lots of people have done this for a very long time. it's just the same as overwintering cattle in barns... hardly a new thing.
seriously though, if Carmarthenshire council have £67,500 to give away, couldn't they give it to S.W.H.P. so that the poor welsh ponies up on the commons, who SWHP work so hard to help, stop starving to death every winter.
and as for the pony owners who deliberately pour away the water which volunteers lug all the way up there for desperately thirsty ponies... words fail me.
 
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Jeez, i feel sorry for the poor zebra, who are going to be freezing their nuts off in Wales!

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That was my first thought too. Poor little devils, they'll be well impressed - NOT. Sounds like cruelty to me . . . .
 
Should they be carting these zebra over from Africa, in the first place? Surely that's against nature/conservation adds to global pollution, use of fossil fuel, etc
 
I definitely agree pioneered is the wrong word - promoted might be more appropriate and I do feel that they produce some good work even if some if seems to be stating the obvious.

Back in the 70's(!!!!) I remember the riding schools smaller ponies sharing a barn quite happily and even two of the heavy horse crosses shared a huge old farm stable.

Presumably imported zebras will face the same problems as donkeys in the UK i.e. they don't have waterproof coats. Of course I have practically zilch knowledge of zebras.

p.s. yippee! I'm not a stranger any more.
 
Gosh, I dared not say what I thought about bringing a herd of Zebras to Wales before, thought I would be lynched, seems not. Why bring a herd of zebras to Wales to study???

And what is unique about their methods?? isn't it much the same as other NH systems?
 
In support of Zebras coming to Wales, if they are bringing over Mountain Zebras, my OH had a farm in the same range of mountains as the zebra and it gets so cold there that the toliets freeze over in the winter - inside the house. Deep snow etc. Not all zebras are native to the plains - not that they are necessarily bringing that type over. Apparently the cold won't get them but the disease will.
 
Blimey! These people are nothing to do with NH! They are rabid clicker/positive reinforcement trainers. They USED to run the UK Parelli agency, but then must have had some road to Damascus moment because overnight they turned "positive" and all NH became the work of the devil. They promote their system, which is called Positive Horse Magic.
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As for:
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He also said the centre would be taking on working students who can exchange work for courses, rather than pay cash.


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Good luck those lucky, lucky working students, working their nuts off from dawn to dusk in return for "courses"... I' ve been there and got that T Shirt.
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Edited to add - amazing what people can get grants for! You've got carers, some of whom are children, struggling to cope and desperate for respite help, elderly people living in isolation... and the grant goes to importing zebras to Wales! The world's gone mad!
 
Are they accredited to give out qualifications? I know riding schools can't without teaming up with a college...as they govt LSC doesn't consider them appropriate.
S
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PS Zebras in Wales ha ha ha ...
 
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