What's that place just north of Dartford...?

[Angelbones]

Does anyone know what the place is that has the fields on the inside of the M25 just north of the Dartford Crossing?

There are masses of horses / ponies and cattle grazing one minute, and by the time I've done Bluewater and come home they are all gone.

My heart sinks to see them all there, and to wonder what their future holds

Prompted to ask by the thread asking if there are less foals around this year - there were too many to count in the Dartford fields on Sunday

 

[Crazy Friesian]

Anyone... cos I'm curious too...

 

[Angelbones]

Someone did tell me it was a leerage (sp? wot?) but I couldn't find anything on google so got no further

 

[zoon]

My 2 year old pony escaped/was dumped from there (we assume - he was picked up by police when seen wandering right next to the tolls)

 

[City Mare]

On the Essex side? That's the borough of Thurrock. You're right, there's a huge horsey population courtesy of the local travellers (contradiction in terms I know). Been a problem with welfare cases for years. So sad isn't it, and even worse when the fields flood in winter.

 

[Angelbones]

On the Essex side? That's the borough of Thurrock. You're right, there's a huge horsey population courtesy of the local travellers (contradiction in terms I know). Been a problem with welfare cases for years. So sad isn't it, and even worse when the fields flood in winter.

Yes it is on the Essex side but this isn't some local people / travellers just grazing their horses there, its some sort of business. I am not exaggerating if I say that sometimes there can be 100 horses there, and they are gone a few hours later. I think its is some sort of holding place for horses / cattle going to slaughter, but would love to be proved wrong.

 

[zoon]

oh ok, My little lad came from the Dartford side - there is a very large field of gypsy horses there

 

[Tinypony]

As you go towards the tolls from Essex, the places on the left are travellers I think. On the right, the big fields with cattle and horses are, unfortunately, animals waiting for slaughter. When you get further on and you see them under the bridge where there is a little river, I think they are again traveller horses.

 

[City Mare]

Yes it is on the Essex side but this isn't some local people / travellers just grazing their horses there, its some sort of business. I am not exaggerating if I say that sometimes there can be 100 horses there, and they are gone a few hours later. I think its is some sort of holding place for horses / cattle going to slaughter, but would love to be proved wrong.

Hmmm - I wouldn't disagree with you on the business side; in a lot of cases this is a business some of the "static travellers" are into.

But in all fairness, there is a hell of a lot of land running along there, stretching to various parts of essex /east london (you just can't nessesarily see all of that from the road there's all possibility they simply move around in the few hours your at b/water (I hope).

 

[miss_bird]

If i remember right there is a large slaughter house in that area somewhere, not sure if it is attached to the fields you are on about but it does seem likely.

 

[City Mare]

If i remember right there is a large slaughter house in that area somewhere, not sure if it is attached to the fields you are on about but it does seem likely.

aw - is there really? How sad.

 

[Angelbones]

As you go towards the tolls from Essex, the places on the left are travellers I think. On the right, the big fields with cattle and horses are, unfortunately, animals waiting for slaughter. When you get further on and you see them under the bridge where there is a little river, I think they are again traveller horses.

Oh god, how awful (me being fluffy) that's what I was dreading. When the traffic is stationary I have a good look at the horses / foals there. So many seem to be in good condition, and the foals break my heart, I just wish I'd be given the chance to walk around and just pick one to take home, although I'd never be able to choose. My mind says 'oh that one's some child's pony' etc etc and I get quite upset. I know this stuff goes on, and I know we have an overpopulation of horses, but knowing it and seeing them awaiting their fate is something else

 

[City Mare]

Oh god, how awful (me being fluffy) that's what I was dreading. When the traffic is stationary I have a good look at the horses / foals there. So many seem to be in good condition, and the foals break my heart, I just wish I'd be given the chance to walk around and just pick one to take home, although I'd never be able to choose. My mind says 'oh that one's some child's pony' etc etc and I get quite upset. I know this stuff goes on, and I know we have an overpopulation of horses, but knowing it and seeing them awaiting their fate is something else

Ditto

 

[missieh]

It sounds like whoever owns this does so as a business. In that case, just offer a few more quid than the slaughterhouse and you could probably pick up a nice horse. It makes me sad, as there are probably some horses there that should not be for the chop. Once again, I wish I had more land and could have more than just the one.