Ponies shot by gov vets on Bodmin moor

We holidayed in the area, summer 2011 and even in July the ponies looked dreadful. There should have been intervention long before they got to this state.
 
I actually think the pictures are essential. This is a direct result of the ridiculous, induscriminate breeding that goes on, With luck, maybe just one of the idiots that continue to put their dangerous / conformationally poor / hereditary challenged mare in foal, often to some scrubby stallion, might just think twice. Most wont, but if its just one less foal that must be good.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Would you prefer it not to be brought to the publics attention ?
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The photos in that article are being used in the wrong way - all they will do is incite people to campaign against the horse numbers being controlled, not against the real issue of people indiscriminately breeding and then off loading their no longer wanted stock on the moors.
 
Norfolk Pie said:
I actually think the pictures are essential. This is a direct result of the ridiculous, induscriminate breeding that goes on, With luck, maybe just one of the idiots that continue to put their dangerous / conformationally poor / hereditary challenged mare in foal, often to some scrubby stallion, might just think twice. Most wont, but if its just one less foal that must be good.
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Absolutely plus in the hope that their friends and neighbours learn how they've treated their ponies and act as disgusted as we are, nothing like local attitude to bring things home in close knit communities.
This needs bringing to public knowledge, no use sweeping it under the carpet because they're not nice to see. Let the public know how bad those ponies got before the authorities stepped in to stop their misery. All of those owners should be banned from keeping ponies ever again.
 
Maesfen said:
Absolutely plus in the hope that their friends and neighbours learn how they've treated their ponies and act as disgusted as we are, nothing like local attitude to bring things home in close knit communities.
This needs bringing to public knowledge, no use sweeping it under the carpet because they're not nice to see. Let the public know how bad those ponies got before the authorities stepped in to stop their misery. All of those owners should be banned from keeping ponies ever again.
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I would hope the police already have local intelligence to get a prosecution started.

Having seen the Bodmin and Dartmoor ponies close up recently, it was evident none of them were of any use. Tiny, crooked limbed runts, the moor was nothing better than a dumping ground for live rubbish.

Who actually legislates and controls livestock on the moors, or is that a silly question ?
 
AdorableAlice said:
I would hope the police already have local intelligence to get a prosecution started.

Having seen the Bodmin and Dartmoor ponies close up recently, it was evident none of them were of any use. Tiny, crooked limbed runts, the moor was nothing better than a dumping ground for live rubbish.

Who actually legislates and controls livestock on the moors, or is that a silly question ?
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Glad I'm not the only one to think they were awful. As to legislation, not sure who over sees the Cornish commons but usually those with registered grazing rights have the right to graze it but they might be restricted as to numbers and species and between certain dates. It doesn't help if all the commoners turn out their limit (if there is one) at the same time either as obviously it won't keep too many for too long. On our small common here, we have rights to graze 6 cattle, another neighbour has rights to graze 2 cattle and sheep, another for 20 cattle; we are also restricted to only grazing between April and October because it's a SBI too so that gives the ground and habitat time to recover. If something like those rules were put in place there, the common could be empty in the winter, better for the animals and the habitat; if it's grazed non-stop all year by maximum numbers it won't have a chance to grow and be healthy; I think that's something the common authorities need to look at closely.

Honeylight said:
I just think it is typical of the Mail to sensationalise a story. look at the ones they show of horses in the Grand National. One of the pictures would have been enough.
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No, for once we need more to shock people that this is actually happening else they'll forget by the time they're wrapping their chips in it. We need to make a stink about this and the ones in Wales too, it's the only way we can get this changed for the better but the local authorities have to play their part too by making and enforcing proper rights and rules to safeguard the ponies and the commons.
 
I personally think it's high time they tackled over breeding. Everywhere I look there are mares in foal, or about to drop. These are bred for an already overflowing market, and will probably end up at market going for pittance. If they're lucky, they'll land on their feet, if not, they'll be destined for Europe.
I usually avoid posting about this subject, as my feeling towards unscrupulous breeding are very strong.
 
Shadeyoak said:
I personally think it's high time they tackled over breeding. Everywhere I look there are mares in foal, or about to drop. These are bred for an already overflowing market, and will probably end up at market going for pittance. If they're lucky, they'll land on their feet, if not, they'll be destined for Europe.
I usually avoid posting about this subject, as my feeling towards unscrupulous breeding are very strong.
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This is one of the lucky ones from Dartmoor. I got her from H.O.P.E Dartmoor Rescue and she's gorgeous.

 
Honeylight said:
I just think it is typical of the Mail to sensationalise a story. look at the ones they show of horses in the Grand National. One of the pictures would have been enough.
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Decides who ?
I am pleased that a newspaper has printed these pictures better people see it as it is no point in brushing such things under the carpet.
 
The RSPCA could spend some of their money subsidising castrations for colts like cat and dog owners can get subsidised neutering.
 
they do they ran a scheme in the Teeside area for "travellers " to have their colts gelded. More free vet care for them that shouldnt have them in the first case although at least it meant that they didnt do it them selves this year! and still it wont stop them from breeding "coloureds " to sell to idiots for stupid money.
 
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Norfolk Pie said:
I actually think the pictures are essential. This is a direct result of the ridiculous, induscriminate breeding that goes on, With luck, maybe just one of the idiots that continue to put their dangerous / conformationally poor / hereditary challenged mare in foal, often to some scrubby stallion, might just think twice. Most wont, but if its just one less foal that must be good.
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At the risk of being called a sheep . . . THIS.

Baaaaaaa.

P
 
I'm with you PolarSkye and Norfolk Pie.
In fact, a video of the shooting and subsequent dragging would have had more impact.
It happened, no doubt it will happen again, and people need to see the reality of the situation.

Too many horse keepers and not enough horse lovers around these days.
 
AdorableAlice said:
I would hope the police already have local intelligence to get a prosecution started.

Having seen the Bodmin and Dartmoor ponies close up recently, it was evident none of them were of any use. Tiny, crooked limbed runts, the moor was nothing better than a dumping ground for live rubbish.

Who actually legislates and controls livestock on the moors, or is that a silly question ?
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I grew up in Cornwall and actually learned to ride on a Bodmin Moor pony - they were basically Dartmoors then. These days when I drive over the moors I'm struck by how many of the "wild" ponies are coloured. You just didn't see them 30+ years ago. I have a book from the 1970s that states catagorically that coloureds are not acceptable in any true native British pony breed. Most of the coloured ponies I see near to roads around my area are bred by travellers and have rubbish conformation. Useful only for meat basically. I therefore can't help but come to a conclusion about where the current Dartmoor/Bodmin ponies have come from. Poor little souls. I have no problem with breeding for the meat industry but this smacks of letting them breed wantonly, live in terrible conditions and be chased, terrifed, off the moors into wagons to be transported for slaughter. Minimum outlay, maximum (although pretty paltry) profit and everything at the animal's expense. And that is WRONG.
 
These aren't a native breed, they are whatever the farmer wants to chuck out (often coloured or spotted to try & get more money at market). They are a cash crop, so they have no interest in culling numbers, castration or the ilke. They want them to breed so they can sell them to make money.

Bottom line is here (I',m between Bodmin & Dartmoor, cross Bodmin every day to work) the grass hasn't grown, so the farmers would need to put out extra feed. As the margins on these ponies (remember they are bred to make money like any other crop like lambs, cattle) are very small, so feeding them would mean they cost the farmers money. As a result they are just left. Some are alright (always a couple of indignant people stand up for the 'breed' bhp), most are just heinz 57's or native pony crosses, small, not well put together. If they were so good as recreational horses people would be beating a path to the sales to buy them. They don't. You'll get a few which are bigger/better, not many. There is no breed standard as they aren't a breed, bhp just means it was born on Bodmin, that's as far as it goes. Even farmers herds differ in type & colours.

SWHP do a cracking job in dealing with hill pony welfare issues with little support. Licensing of breeding stock & control via castration is long overdue. There is nothing more miserable this time of year than driving over the moor & seeing a scrawny, poor mare who's ranged the same area for years with yet another foal at foot. People on here complained bitterly about branding of Exmoors, at least they aren't left to starve & have a future. Know I'd rather cope with a brand than left to starve to death on the moor.
 
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I agree with Pip6. I see these ponies on a regular basis and it is shocking. The farmers regard the ponies as livestock in the same way as cows and sheep - but worse, as they actually feed their cows and sheep. They will carry on allowing indiscriminate breeding if they think they can squeeze a profit out of it at some point. If the ponies meanwhile starve to death, they couldn't care less. They are too tightfisted to pay for them to be destroyed - why do that when DEFRA will do it for free?

Unlike other livestock though, ponies are not regulated in the same way with tagging. The farmers can get away with neglecting and starving them because they will never be identified as owners and therefore never have to take responsibility. They know what is going on, and they don't care. The only solution is compulsory identification - branding. The farmers will be kicking and screaming all the way to their next subsidy cheque .....
 
Lola43 said:
....... The only solution is compulsory identification - branding. .....
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I'd check with the rspca first, if I were you! ;)

For as long as we have Welfare Societies campaign against the commercial aspect of equine abattoirs, so we will have horses which suffer. They have little or no value, in carcass terms, so they are in reality, a liability.

Many of those who would purport to care for our equines are the ones responsible for this mess.

Alec.

ETS, and as a footnote; Hands up all those who've signed the Hillside petition to have Turners closed. You are contributing to, and exacerbating the problem.
 
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