AS a local resident I am constantly seeing people bringing their children on to Dartmoor to see the ponies. It is one thing to view the ponies from a distance but recently I have been seeing people allowing their children to get 'up close' to these wild animals and their foals — teaching the animals that people and cars are friends! But it is not only children — the other day I saw a group of people, old enough to know better, taking 'selfies' with the animals. These are wild animals, not fluffy pets, when will people learn? These people who are 'socialising' with these beautiful wild animals should feel responsible for taming them and resulting in their deaths as the animals then think humans and cars are safe, which they are not as people still don't observe the 40mph speed limit on Dartmoor — but that is another issue in itself! When will people learn that Dartmoor ponies are not toys. They are beautiful and should be admired from a distance. Louise Street Tavistock