THE plight of unwanted Dartmoor ponies is set to be helped with the launch of a £200,000 appeal to buy land and stables.

Princetown resident Maureen Rolls, founder of the South West Equine Protection organisation, said the money was needed to buy around 20 acres of land and ten stables for rescued animals.

The organisation was founded six years ago, although Maureen has been rescuing ponies for around 20 years herself. 'We are now so busy we are outgrowing the facilities we have,' she said.

At present SWEP uses stables rented by Maureen for her own horses and a 'kind lady' allows the use of some land, but Maureen said there was a limit to how much they could use the goodwill of landowners.

'The desired facility will be in the Yelverton area, as we need to be on hand to help with the local moorland ponies.

'We are often called out to road traffic accidents involving them, and at this time of year until April we will be getting a lot of calls from walkers about ponies that are in trouble and not doing well in the winter.'

Maureen said they hoped people might help them raise the money by fund-raising or sponsoring on a donation basis. Show jumping organised at Stoke Climsland has been one of the money raisers.

Although the majority of ponies rescued are from Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor is also covered. There are also private rescues from Devon, Cornwall and a part of Somerset.

At the recent market in Tavistock the organisation took in three animals which a farmer had not sold. 'He was going to have them shot and taken to feed the lions at Sparkwell,' said Maureen.

They had already taken in 13 Dartmoor ponies from a sale near Camelford in the previous month.

SWEP currently owns 79 ponies, with 14 in their personal care. The others have been rehoused on a loan scheme, whereby the ponies are put into the care of people — with twice-yearly checks — but ownership remains with the organisation.

'The youngsters we have are mainly 2001 colt foals and we are getting them halter broken. They are not tame, but certainly well on their way,' said Maureen.

Ponies cannot be ridden until about four years old.

Anyone interested in helping with the appeal or who would like a companion for their pony or horse is asked to contact Maureen on 01822 890668. Further details are also available at http://www.swep.org.uk">www.swep.org.uk.