FACT-FINDING DEFRA officials attended the annual Dartmoor drift at Merrivale on Monday and had follow-up talks the next day.

Heavy mist may have been the cause of fewer ponies than usual being rounded-up in the first of the annual drifts on Monday. The DEFRA officials attended to observe the difficulties in the process.

Farmers and horsemen from that area of the moor helped each other bring their ponies to Merrivale, near Princetown. It was past 2pm before the bulk of the 150 ponies were in the paddock behind the Dartmoor Inn, where they were held until their owners claimed them.

Further drifts were due to be carried out, and the same area was to be scoured again due to the initial fog.

Dartmoor commoners, who have rights to graze ponies and other animals on the moor, took part in the drift which culminates in sales of the surplus animals at Tavistock tomorrow (Friday) and at Chagford next week.

There have been fears that the number of ponies on Dartmoor may decline if new rules requiring every ?equine animal? to have an official passport is applied to the semi-feral ponies. The passports would vary in price depending on breed, but would cost £10 for Dartmoor ponies.

Chairman of Dartmoor Commoners Council, Ian Mercer, said he chaired a workshop on Tuesday with the DEFRA officials, commoners from Dartmoor and other moors, pony and horse society representatives, vets and other relevant bodies.

?We hope the DEFRA representatives have gone away with a lot of information to resolve the issue,? Mr Mercer said.

Auctioneer Chris Clapham of Ward and Chowen said there were nearly 500 entries for the Tavistock sale, comprising mainly foals, but also including stallions, mares and yearlings. Although the passport issue may have led to a few extra ponies being put up for sale, by and large farmers were selling what they had sold every other year.

?There?s not a lot of difference. Last year there were 400,? he said.

As last year, there will be a reserve price of eight guineas at the Friday auction, thereby avoiding the situation in previous years where ponies have been sold for as little as 50p.