Via the Horse & Hound, 3 Jan 2020
ENGLAND. A trust that rescues unwanted Exmoor ponies has stepped in to save six purebreds who were destined for the slaughterhouse.
The Moorland Mousie Trust, whose work has given a future to more than 500 of the endangered breed, was alerted to the plight of the group, which included pregnant mares, foals, youngsters and a stallion.
The herd was no longer wanted by its owner and was at a dealer’s yard awaiting transport to an equine slaughterhouse.
Although the charity has already taken in nine moor-bred foals this year, it agreed to try and help as many of the ponies as its resources would allow.
After making a tough decision about which ponies it could afford to save, the trust discovered several of the group were already dead.
The 20-year-old charity bought six of the remaining ponies, transporting four foals to its Exmoor Pony Centre to be cared for, while two older mares travelled to Northumberland to join a conservation herd.
Juliet Rogers, trustee of the Moorland Mousie Trust said:
“It was a fraught situation with very little time to arrange the ponies being taken into the charity’s care.
“We are pleased that we could help and look forward to offering these ponies a safe and secure future.”
The two mares, who may be in foal, will be able to live out their days in the Northumberland herd, grazing with other older mares.
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Source link: https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/six-pure-bred-exmoors-destined-slaughter-saved-704262
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