A MOORLAND pony died in agony after eating garden rubbish dumped on Whitchurch Down.

The tragic incident last week has led to a warning for people not to dump hedge clippings and garden waste on the moor.

The pony?s owner, Chris Cole, said the animals were particularly susceptible to colic, which was difficult to deal with once it had occurred.

Mr Cole said: ?There have been problems up there before ? it?s not always my ponies. It certainly happens more at this time of the year,?

And Mr Cole, who has about 25 ponies, plus sheep grazing on Whitchurch Down, issued a plea to householders in the area: ?Please take the rubbish to the dump ? that?s what it?s there for.?

Pony owner Mary Alford has also lost animals to colic after they ate garden waste.

She said: ?The trouble is, ponies are inquisitive and they will have a nibble at things that have been left out.

?This time of year people are tidying up their gardens and to put this type of thing out is just a death sentence. Even grass cuttings are bad because they ferment ? they?re a killer.?

Vet Margaret Cass from Merrivale went to Whitchurch Down to try and help the mare, after a member of the public reported its distressed state to police in Tavistock.

Mrs Cass, a member of the Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society, said it was evident from her examination of the mare that she had not died from ?normal? colic.

?You wouldn?t expect to find foodstuffs in the mouth and in this pony, it didn?t look like anything that it should normally be grazing on ? it was very strange,? said Mrs Cass.

She said it was difficult to tell how long the pony had been suffering but thought it had been ?a horrid way to go?.

?The trouble is we have lovely gardens these days with lovely plants from the garden centre but nowadays we just can?t always say what?s toxic and what isn?t,? said Mrs Cass.

?I am sure people don?t have any idea, but really, all garden rubbish should be regarded as poisonous to animals,? she added.

Tom Anderson, of the Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society, said: ?This type of action is totally thoughtless and people must avoid dumping garden rubbish on the open moor where animals can suffer as a result of eating it.

?Unfortunately, all these things like privet, yew and various garden weeds can produce tremendous agony and it?s really an appalling sight.?

Mr Anderson added that anyone leaving kitchen waste like cabbage leaves and carrots for moorland ponies should make sure carrots were left whole or chopped lengthwise, so the animals did not choke.

Members of the public who find sick or injured animals on the moor can call the West Devon DLPS contact member on 01822 810303. They should try and give a clear description of the location, type of animal with distinguishing marks, brands or any special features.

l The annual meeting of the Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society will be held at the Cherrybrook Hotel at Two Bridges on Saturday at 2pm. Anyone interested in joining the society should contact treasurer Bettine Murch at Charlecombe, Combeinteignhead, Newton Abbot TQ12 4RE.