It is thought that the moor is home to more than 500 semi-tame ponies, many of which are suffering with ill health and malnutrition.

Charities collaborate to address major equine welfare issue
 
Animal welfare charity, Blue Cross, has joined forces with Bodmin Moor Commons Council and Redwings Horse Sanctuary, in a new scheme to help neglected ponies on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall.
 
It is thought that the moor is home to more than 500 semi-tame ponies, many of which are suffering with ill health and malnutrition. Numbers have rapidly increased over the years due to uncontrolled breeding and abandonment, leading to the collaboration and establishment of the initiative.
 
During the autumn of 2016, the team gathered 169 of the Bodmin ponies, including mares, in-foal mares, colts, stallions and foals. For the first couple of weeks, the ponies were kept together in a large field, to avoid instability and stress within the herd. Feed was gradually introduced by trainers and for many of the terrified ponies, this was the first human interaction they had ever had.
 
Once the ponies were more settled, the team began tracing owners and administering health checks, microchips, castrations and passports. Unfortunately, over a hundred of the ponies were unclaimed, including a number of the in-foal mares. Thankfully, those leading the initiative have agreed to take care of the abandoned ponies, with Blue Cross taking in 26 ponies, Redwings taking 16 and the Mare and Foal Sanctuary taking 23. World Horse Welfare and the RSPCA have also promised homes.
 
Nicolas de Brauwere, head of welfare and behaviour at Redwings and leader of the operation, said: “This was a huge task but one with a real impact as the ponies now remaining on that part of the Moor are all microchipped, health checked and most importantly they all have an owner who is responsible for their care. Meanwhile those that were abandoned to their fate will not have to go through yet another winter without the proper care and management they need. We are so thankful to the Bodmin Moor Commons Council, Blue Cross and all the charities, both those who assisted with the operation itself and those who have offered homes to these poor ponies.”
 
Vicki Alford, horse manager at Blue Cross, Burford, said: “The ponies were in a dreadful state when they arrived. Most were very weak and underweight and terrified. We put them all in one large field as a group for a couple of weeks, to give them security and stability within their own herd before moving them into stables for castration, microchipping and passports.”
 
The ongoing project continues to be funded by the Blue Cross, but at a huge cost. The welfare of the ponies is an ongoing concern and Redwings, along with Blue Cross, Bodmin Moor Commons Council, the Animal Health and Plant Agency (APHA), Bransby Horses, the British Horse Society, the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare will continue to work together to secure a better future for these ponies.

Image courtesy of Blue Cross