NEARLY 50% of Dartmoor ponies at Tavistock's second pony sale of the year were left unsold and facing an uncertain future last Friday.

Market staff and breeders blamed legislation, Government red tape and the credit crunch for the disappointing trade at the sale, where prices averaged at £20 — last year the average was around £60.

It has led to fears that farmers could stop breeding ponies and they could start to disappear from the moor.

Market manager at Tavistock Livestock Centre, David Landick, said it was not good: 'Ponies will definitely be in decline if these prices continue especially the common black and white and brown and white ponies.

'What with £10 for a pony passport and transport legislation which means you can only carry four ponies in a compartment in this country, as opposed to eight or nine before, and only one for export, people just cannot afford the cost.'

Mr Landick said the market for riding ponies had dropped as the cost of looking after a pony was vast compared with other pets.

'There is a minimum price of 10 guineas which means if any don't make that price, they remain unsold, and 83 out of 182 were unsold on Friday. Fillies make more than colts because the cost of gelding a colt is between £70 and £100 which is an extra expense.'

A year ago only seven ponies of the 175 in the sale went home again:

'Dartmoor ponies are an important part of the ecology of Dartmoor,' added the market manager.

'They are on the national park's emblem and they prevent the moor turning into a wilderness plus people like to see them. There is always someone taking a picture of the Dartmoor ponies.'

Yelverton farmer Neil Cole said he only sold one pony at the market for the minimum of ten guineas, which did not even cover diesel costs.

A spokesperson for the Dartmoor Hill Pony Society said ponies were badly needed on the moor but the society did not want ponies to stand in the market, not sell and be shot.

'I'm asking farmers not to give up yet — it's hell at the moment but it's hell for everyone and we mustn't stop keeping ponies,' said the spokesperson.