Ponies abandoned in Wales as prices plummet

Thursday, 3 March 2011 11:04

With the recession ever present in our minds, the effects of the credit crunch can be seen affecting horse owners even more. With feed and veterinary fees rising steadily, many horse owners are finding it difficult; in Gower, Wales, the effects of this can be seen in a terrible way – many horses and ponies are being left to fend for themselves after owners have bought them for as little as £2, then realised that the associated costs of keeping a horse is becoming quite steep. Remember that it is more cost effective to have horse insurance than trying to pay for vet bills by yourself.

The native ponies that are being bought for so cheap are being abandoned as the owners cannot afford to keep them any longer, but as it costs around £200 to put them down and dispose of them, these owners are choosing to release them rather than face the costs. These horses roam the peninsula and commons in large herds, which have local walkers and visitors worried, as many appear to be in a malnourished and weather-beaten state.

An RSPCA spokesman said there was an issue with the volume of horses in Swansea, and that officers had recently been on Fairwood Common. "RSPCA officers have visited the area on several occasions following concerns about animal welfare," he said. "A vet has also attended and the horses are being closely monitored." The charity has removed five horses from the area in the past year. 

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