Huge operation underway to rid Dartmoor ponies of highly infectious disease
Teams are working together to eradicate the recent outbreak of strangles
A massive operation is underway on Dartmoor in an attempt to rid a Dartmoor pony herd of the highly infectious disease of strangles.
Since June, horse riders have been requested to stay away from Bellever near Postbridge by the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, with walkers urged to steer clear of the native ponies graze there.
Now the DPHT - a registered charity which works to protect the future of Dartmoor’s native ponies - has teamed up with equine welfare leaders to eradicate the recent outbreak.
The DPHT will work alongside the charities the Mare and Foal Sanctuary, Redwings and the Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society to bring the ponies in and treat them.
They will also have their feet trimmed, and this year’s foals will be allocated passports and be microchipped, which is mandatory for all equines.
They will also be working with its pony keepers in affected areas to make sure they’re clear of infection.
Strangles is a highly infectious disease which causes equines to suffer respiratory problems, snotty noses and abscesses around their throats which burst and discharge pus.
Dru Butterfield from the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust said: "We were completely devastated when our entire herd of 27 ponies went down with strangles.
"We are so grateful to our partners as we could not have pulled this off without their kind and generous support in time, resource and funds.
"Our brilliant vet Hayden Webb and his team at Equus Equine Vets and the strangles expert Nic de Brauwere, Head of Welfare and Behaviour at Redwings Horse Sanctuary, have been guiding us through the maze.
"Karla McKechnie, the Dartmoor Livestock Protection Officer, has been in touch daily too. Thanks to their amazing support and dedication, and that of our team who’ve worked around the clock every day, we’re finally beating the infection.
"We also owe the public a huge vote of thanks for keeping their distance, caring for the herd, and helping us locate our native Dartmoor ponies across the enormous expanse of land at Bellever where we keep them."
Dru Butterfield - Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust