WITH only 50 of the 160 ponies sold at last month's autumn sale in Chagford and plummeting values, further doubt has been cast over the future of the Dartmoor pony.

The breed has been present on the moor for 3,500 years but experts are warning it could soon become all but extinct unless radical change is contemplated in the light of low sale values.

The latest debate has been sparked by Princess Anne who, as president of World Horse Welfare, said last week that if horsemeat became a regular supermarket line welfare could improve as owners would value them more.

The Horse Trust responded by saying that with an estimated 7,000 British horses and ponies likely to suffer neglect this winter the question of equine meat was 'an interesting one'.

Auctioneer Peter Farmer said: 'Historically ponies were wanted for transport, then mining and at one time there was an export market to Europe.

'That is no longer viable as welfare restrictions allow just four animals to each container so it's too expensive.

'The market for pets has also collapsed; Dartmoor ponies aren't the easiest animals to work with, they're wild and tend to bite and kick.

'There were approximately 25,000 ponies on the moor in the 1930s, we're now down to about 1,000.

'The problem is that even if we sold one for £10.50 there's VAT and the auction premium to add, plus the £25 fee to have it chipped.'

He said if it was a stallion there was a cost of about £120 for the gelding.

'Although farmers worry the moor is becoming overgrown, and people argue that the ponies can help with grazing, unless the animals have a market value who's going to want them?

'It's a no brainer really. As it is many farmers aren't bothering to bring them to the drift sales now, they're having them shot on farm and the carcasses sent off for zoo meat or pet food.

'Unless something changes I can see the Dartmoor pony heading towards extinction with perhaps a small herd kept as a symbol by the National Park Authority.'