LAND is vitally needed to carry out a contraception programme for Dartmoor ponies to prevent a cull of animals in the autumn.

Some 25 acres of land, ideally in one place, or pockets of land near to each other, are needed for five weeks from April 1 to implement the programme.

One hundred mares are in the scheme but currently there is only enough land available for 50 mares.

Joss Hibbs, who is working for the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association which is in charge of the contraception programme, said most of the land on Dartmoor was being used for environmental operations and could not be used for grazing at this time of the year.

'We have to inject the mares, once at the beginning of April and once at the end,' she said: 'We have to get the vet around so we would like to have the ponies all together or on land close to each other.

'In order to prevent a cull of foals in the autumn it is essential that these animals receive the contraception. It is not easy for farmers to agree to this programme as it is not natural for a farmer not to breed their animals.

'This is an historical moment and it is not an exaggeration to say that the future of Dartmoor ponies rests on this programme. They will disappear if we do not act now.

'We have had to put down a dreadful number of animals. Until we find a new market for these animals the only thing we can do is to stop the mares having foals in the first place.'

The ponies will be given a booster jab at the pony drift at the end of the summer which will cover them for a year.

If you have land available please contact Charlotte Faulkner on 01364 631036 as soon as possible.