A NEW voluntary organisation has been set up to take on Dartmoor ponies left unsold at annual pony markets. Natalie Torr and volunteer Kathryn Hulland put together Dartmoor Pony Rescue Centre (DPRC) in September last year at Bovey Tracey. This year it collected four unsold ponies from Tavistock Market. After moving here from Kent, Natalie spent much time on Dartmoor and thought something had to be done to help. She said: ?I wanted to do something to help, instead of sitting around thinking, poor little things.? She said that every year the ponies were rounded up and the farmers sorted out which ones belonged to them. They were then inspected for health. The market value of the ponies has been low and foals have been known to sell for as little as 10p. Markets have now introduced a reserve price of eight guineas, which could mean some of the ponies may not even sell. Natalie said that if the foals were not sold their future did not look promising as the farmers could not put them back onto the moor. This is where the DPRC comes in ? they take on the ponies left unsold at markets and work with the animals, getting them used to being around people. Eight ponies were taken on this year, four of which it is hoped to re-home. The other four will form a base herd and stay with the DPRC throughout their lives. Having a base herd will help any new ponies taken in to get over the stress they have suffered. There are five people working for DPRC but Natalie and Kathryn,the fundraising officer, are the main workers. Natalie said: ?As DPRC needs funding to get insurance we are not able to take on volunteers in case one of the ponies gets uncontrollable and injures that person.? Natalie and Kathryn have spent much time with the ponies. When the ponies first arrived they would run away to the corner of the field to hide, now every day they get more inquisitive ? now at the sight of people they come over. All eight ponies are happy to wear headcollars. Kathryn and Natalie are working on getting them used to being led around, groomed and having their feet picked up. Every year the DPRC will take on more unsold foals, but its eventual aim is that by promoting them, there will no longer be ponies which do not sell at market. Natalie is looking for people who could keep a pony. She said it would be better for them to have a local home they could be in permanently. If anyone is interested in sponsoring a pony or wishes to make a donation contact Natalie Torr on 01364 654609 or email [email protected]">[email protected]
