Bodmin Pony Registration

There is currently no formal requirement to register either semi feral equines which graze on common land, or domestic horses and ponies. This is unlike cattle or sheep which are required to be tagged and registered within days of their birth.
In order that ponies can be linked with owners most areas of common grazing have implemented formal or semi formal marking systems. The New Forest Act requires all animals to be tagged, whilst Dartmoor commoners mark their ponies with either brands, ear or tail marks. These details are then held on a central register.

Bodmin Moor has no such register and many ponies bear no acquired marks at all whilst others carry " hidden" marks identifying them only to their owners. Unfortunately this makes the task of linking owners to sick or injured animals difficult, if not impossible. Sadly a few unscurpulous owners take advantage of this anonymity and avoid their responsibilites. SWEP has been campaigning for a system of registering these ponies.