Plea to not feed ponies over welfare fears

51 minutes ago

John DanksDartmoor

News image — Dartmoor National Park said it was illegal for people to feed the Dartmoor ponies

BBC A large number of ponies on a grass area next to a car park on Dartmoor. The ponies are brown and white, some are standing and others laying down. There is a view of the moor in the distance. — Dartmoor National Park said it was illegal for people to feed the Dartmoor ponies

Visitors are being urged not to feed semi-wild ponies as it is making them unwell and causing "unnecessary issues".

The Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society said the animals were now waiting in car parks in the national park in Devon expecting to be fed, which was leading to health conditions such as colic, which can cause abdominal pain.

Dartmoor National Park said it was illegal for people to feed the animals and if it continued, people could be charged under the Animal Welfare Act.

Karla McKechnie, Dartmoor livestock protection officer, said along with the health issues, ponies being fed by visitors could increase the risk of them being struck by vehicles.

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McKechnie said 25 ponies had been hit on roads this year, resulting in 18 deaths.

"Ponies relate roads to cars, cars to people and people to food," McKechnie said.

"So potentially they're sitting ducks by the side of the road."

McKechnie said "many ponies" had fallen ill over the years due to food they had been given to eat by visitors.

She said she had seen a family feeding ponies ham sandwiches, which she said was food the animals should not eat.

Karla McKechnie looking at the camera. She is wearing a bright blue fleece jumper and has blonde hair. She is stood on Dartmoor. — Karla McKechnie said the ponies were semi-wild and should not be tame

"I explained what the situation could be, the potential problems and they nodded at me as if they agreed with what I was saying," McKechnie said.

But she said after she turned away, the family threw the food on the floor and ran off laughing.

"You just can't compete with that... I don't know how you get the message across," she added.

McKechnie said getting food from visitors could also lead to ponies "turning aggressive" if they stopped being given the items.

A large number of apples scattered on a grass area on the moorland. It is next to a car park. There's a red vehicle parked on the left. — Karla McKechnie said the ponies being fed by visitors was also risking them being struck by vehicles on the side of the road

McKechnie added she had seen pictures and videos on social media of ponies sticking their heads into cars.

She asked people visiting Dartmoor to appreciate the ponies.

"Don't feed them and don't pet them," McKechnie said.

"Otherwise it'll be me that's going out in the middle of the night to have to deal with a pony which potentially has to be put down."

Two signs screwed on to a wooden fence. The signs are bright yellow. One sign has the words 'Don't feed or touch the ponies' with a graphic below. The other one has the words 'take litter home' with a graphic above it. — Karla McKechnie said 25 ponies have been hit by vehicles so far this year

Equine veterinary surgeon Jess MacPhail said horses and ponies had a "sensitive digestive system".

She said any variation from their normal diet could cause ponies serious problems which were "very painful" and could be life-threatening.

"Even something small that you might think is harmless, like a carrot, can lead to colic," she said.

MacPhail said smaller items such as carrots and apples could also cause the animals to choke.

Jess MacPhail smiling at the camera. She is wearing a light blue shirt with a dark blue gilet. She has long brown hair which is plaited. — Equine veterinary surgeon Jess MacPhail said small items such as carrots and apples could cause choking

MacPhail said the costs associated with veterinary fees could also be a "limiting factor" when it comes to the ponies getting treatment.

"The ponies will be assessed by knowledgeable farmers and the livestock ranger, but unfortunately if they don't respond with basic treatment it can often mean the end of the road for them," she said.

Her advice was not to encourage the ponies to interact with humans.

MacPhail said: "Their wariness is what protects them both from vehicles, but also from eating things they shouldn't."

PC Lucy Wyatt smiling at the camera. She is wearing a black uniform, with two devices either side. In the distance, to her left, there are two ponies. She is on Dartmoor. — PC Lucy Wyatt said it was important to protect open spaces and wildlife

In July, Devon and Cornwall Police issued a community protection warning to a man in Tavistock preventing him from feeding livestock and wild animals on Dartmoor.

PC Lucy Wyatt, from the force's rural affairs team, said warnings would be issued to people who persistently flout the by-law.

If illegal feeding continued, Wyatt said people could be charged under the Animal Welfare Act in relation to causing "unnecessary suffering" to the ponies.

"Obviously it's really important that we protect our open spaces, countryside and our animals up here," Wyatt said.

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