‘Ignorant do-gooders’ hacked ponies’ manes
‘THEY DID MORE HARM THAN GOOD’....OUTRAGED BREEDER HITS BACK AT ‘TRESPASSERS’ WHO TRIED TO HELP HIS ANIMALS
AFURIOUS pony breeder has rounded on “ignorant do-gooders” who he alleges trespassed on his land in order to “help” two mares apparently in distress.
Gwyn Berry said two white ponies had part of their manes cut away, which had become matted with burdock seed heads.
Visitors to RSPB Cymru’s Cors Ddyga bird reserve, near Pentre Berw, Anglesey, had raised concerns about the ponies’ condition on Facebook.
However, burdock-matted ponies are not uncommon and Mr Berry strongly dismissed claims they were suffering.
He was backed by World Horse Welfare, the equine charity, which said burr infestations may cause some irritation but were not normally a welfare issue.
Usually the barbed burrs fall out of their own accord and any intervention could damage mane and tail hairs, it said.
Mr Berry, a noted breeder of Section A Welsh Mountain ponies, has since moved the mares to a new paddock and will shortly remove them from the reserve altogether.
“I’m disgusted that people should trespass on my land without being in full possession of the facts,” he fumed.
“Whoever did this had no right to go into my field. How would they like people going into their gardens and cutting down their flowers?
“Burrs can be awful to look at but over time they break down and lose their stickiness.
“Pulling them out can do more harm than good.”
Mr Berry, who runs the Betws Stud in Capel Curig, Conwy, has rented land at Cors Ddyga for 30 years and has over-wintered the same two mares there for the past six years. One is currently in foal.
Both ponies have won titles on the show circuit and one of their male foals featured in last year’s Horse of the Year Show.
“If I had wanted to show them next year, I wouldn’t be able to now that their manes have been cut,” he added.
“This was a criminal act but I don’t want to take action, I just want these do-gooders to stop what they are doing.”
The ponies were reported to RSPCA Cymru by Frank and Pauline Leasor on September 20 but they were unaware of the mane-cutting incident.
“Their tails are so heavy with barbs that they can’t swish away flies,” said Pauline, 62, who used to keep horses at the couple’s home in Pentre Berw.
“I want to know why the RSPCA is not doing anything about it, and why the RSPB allowed its land to be used this way.”
After seeing photos of the ponies posted on Facebook, Gaerwen mum-of-two Leonie Williams also visited the reserve to collect evidence, but was also unaware someone had cut the ponies’ manes.
Leonie said the ponies appeared to be in distress.
“It was heartbreaking, lutely awful,” she said.
“They were shaking their heads, acting weirdly and had drying scabs on their noses and mouth.”
RSPCA Cymru subsequently posted a notice at the reserve requesting more information absoabout owner.
Owners of horses with burr infestations are sometimes advised to dowse manes and tails with a detangler or baby oil before attempting to remove the seed heads.
A World Horse Welfare spokeswoman said the issue was common in all equines but unless it was clear the animals were suffering, intervention was not normally needed.
“It might look dreadful, and cause some discomfort, but unless it is a particularly bad case, burrs are not usually a welfare issue.
“But if anyone has genuine first-hand concerns about these two ponies, they can contact us on 0300 3336000.” the ponies and their