People4ponies Welcomes Research Recommending Stallion Removal From Dartmoor

Many hundreds of unwanted foals are born each year on Dartmoor.  

It's so good to see an article in the Western Morning News showing movement on Dartmoor in an effort to stop the mass overbreeding problem.  Robyn Petrie Ritchie who is a biologist and also farms on the moor has undertaken a research project studying the ponies and looking to find a solution to the overbreeding problem.  As those who follow our blog will know - the majority of the farmers do want to remove the stallions from the moor but it's just a small selection of farmers on the Commoner's Council that refuse to take part and stop this from happening.  The research helps to dispel some of the myths that have surrounded pony keeping on the moor, such as proving that it is the mares that control where the herds go, not the stallions.  Removing stallions is not as catastrophic as many on the moor had traditionally believed. The study also suggests bringing selected mares off the moor to breed with a stallion that is kept on enclosed land on an owner's holding.

What's really important is that the study confirmed that the vast majority of the farmers want the stallions removed...but the Commoner's Council aren't listening...let's hope that this will help them start to take notice.  We are in the middle of an equine crisis and continually breeding unwanted animals is irresponsible.

The final quotes in the article shows the sorts of attitudes they are up against - in order for this to work, everyone needs to be on-board.  Whilst it works in the interests of a few individuals to force others to breed so they feel they have little option but to take part in a meat production system (that presumably makes money for the few) this might also need to be exposed to make a change.  If people have invested sums of money into this already, are they really going to want to take part in a system that massively reduces the benefit of the investment they have made?  Whilst key players are only prepared to do the bare minimum - any change cannot be fully successful.  You need to remove ALL stallions and colts and only allow vasectomised males or geldings out on the moor.  If colts are found they need to be removed and everyone needs to work together to do that.  Removing mares for just 3 weeks isn't going to make enough of a difference.

On Dartmoor, any discussions with resistant key players, often results in them saying "this won't work because...." but lets hope the voices of the majority will be heard and we will see a change.  If a scientist who is living on the moor and is part of the community can bring about that change, that will be fantastic...!

Here's the link to the article:  http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Research-suggests-taking-stallions-Dartmoor-help/story-21656972-detail/story.html#LoPOwiGPkZbmDpiF.99

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