TOUGH economic times and equally tough winter climates are to blame for a worrying rise in the number of abandoned ponies on Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor, according to animal charity South West Equine Protection (SWEP).

The West Devon-based charity is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating wild moorland ponies, including those in an emaciated condition.

SWEP is currently full to capacity with 50 rescued ponies — but hopes are high that a new base will put the organisation on a more secure footing.

SWEP was recently granted planning consent for a new rehabilitation yard, to be constructed at Yelverton. It means consolidation for the charity, which currently operates from three separate sites.

Fundraiser Laura Head said: 'It will be so much easier for us to be on one site, better for the ponies, and will make us much more accessible to the public. It also means we won't need to rent a separate office.'

Looking after such a large amount of ponies does not come cheap. Vet fees alone can top £1,500 a month — a huge burden for a very small charity.

Yet the ponies are still arriving, in increasing numbers.

Laura said: 'A lot of the time they are just abandoned by their owners; sometimes foals get left behind in the drifts and we end up with the stragglers, and sometimes people just ring and say they just can't keep their ponies any longer — the tough economy is a huge factor.

'As far as the moor is concerned most of the problem is the stallions are constantly running with the mares. They are breeding every year, there are more and more ponies and their condition gets worse and worse.

'We see an increasing number with deformities now, because their breeding condition is so bad. Ideally, the stallions should be taken off the moor to give the mares a break.'

SWEP received an influx of 15 ponies from Bodmin Moor this winter — bad enough in itself, but the problem increased when it was discovered that several of the rescued mares were in foal.

Laura said ponies rescued from Bodmin tended to be more feral than Dartmoor ponies, which were a little more used to human contact, but in this instance, they were severely traumatised, in addition to being completely emaciated.

'One of our Bodmin ponies had watched her whole herd being shot by a marksman. She's very neurotic and has lost loads of coat because of stress — she was actually marked to be shot herself,' said Laura.

'They did it for the right reasons, they were dying. As grim as it sounds, provided it's a clean shot they don't know anything about it, so it's the least amount of suffering, but ponies are very sensitive, they are herd animals.'

Helen Tuck, loan pony co-ordinator, said: 'We feel like we have a duty of care to these ponies for the trauma they have been through. We want to make sure they have a happy life, they have every right to that, as they've certainly been through a lot.

'There's a horrific side to what we are doing, but we also have the really nice, positive side when the ponies are re-homed — we get such fantastic stories coming in.

Helen said SWEP worked closely with farmers and commoners in the course of its work, but educating the public was also important.

'If a member of the public sees a mare in foal they may not realise what is a normal thing to see, and also many people don't realise that most moorland ponies are actually owned by someone.

'We are often the first point of contact though — we try and get our welfare officer out to check and often locating the pony is the first hurdle — the details of the pony and where it was seen can be incredibly vague!

'Then there can be legal battles — even if the animal is in a horrendous state, we can't just take them. We sometimes have to get the police involved, and we work with other agencies, such as the RSPCA.'

Rehabilitating the ponies is a long process, not just physically, but mentally. Some take years to trust humans enough to even let them touch them. Others will come along in leaps and bounds — and the real success stories are heartwarming, with rescued ponies going on to become loved family members, and prize winners at shows, such as Arnie, a rescued moorland pony who this year won the Prince Philip Cup.

Last year, SWEP took in five ponies which had been abandoned on Yelverton roundabout. Three of them have been re-homed, but two remain — one a real character.

Laura said: 'Quinn, the stallion, is very, very clever! If Disney was to draw a stallion, it would look like Quinn. He still won't even accept contact, doesn't want to look at you, but he will make somebody a fabulous pony one day.'

The rescued ponies are worked with by SWEP until they are confident enough to be loaded into a box, be handled by the farrier, and caught from the field. At this point they are placed on SWEP's 'green' list.

People offering to re-home the ponies have to have a home inspection, and they pay a £100 deposit for the new member of their family. However, the pony remains in the ownership of SWEP for the rest of its life and six monthly checks are made to ensure the requirements of the scheme are being met. And SWEP will always take a pony back if the loanee is no longer able to care for them.

SWEP is completely reliant for its funding through its members and supporters and through moneyraising events.

The charity runs an adoption scheme, through which you can adopt a SWEP pony for £15 — without the need to muck it out or pay vet bills! Horse shows are run several times a year at the Tall Trees Arena in Davidstow in Cornwall and supporters run charity stalls, undertake skydives and a variety of sponsored events in order to keep the funds coming in.

Donations of goods are also very much welcomed, whether it's sub-standard hay or fodder or items which can be re-sold to raise money. A fundraising ball is also being organised for next year.

SWEP relies heavily on a committed band of volunteers that help in all aspects of its work, whether in the office, the yard or with fundraising.

Anyone who would like to learn more about SWEP, volunteering opportunities or events can go to the website at http://www.swep.org.uk">www.swep.org.uk