Pony Auction - Tavistock Market

As usual a SWEP representative was in attendence who, as the auction progressed became aware of three mares whose foals at foot who were to young to be allowed to go through the auction ring. The auctioneers were notified, but in the confusion two of the mares and foals (pictured left and centre above) had been sold. They had, thank goodness, been brought by private individuals rather than by dealers for the meat market.
The auction ring is a terrifying experience for wild moorland ponies and, fortunately the liver chestnut mare and her foal (pictured right above) were spared that ordeal. SWEP purchased them on behalf of a cameraman who was filming the auction for a local TV programme.

For those three mares and their foals the day had a happy ending. Not so the 250 to 300 ponies that were literally herded into two lorries by meat dealers to be taken to an abbatoir in the Midlands. Our volunteer, who had witnessed their barbaric treatment of the ponies and was determined to take them to task, followed them all the way!
It was about 11.30pm when the lorries turned off the motorway. Once they were onto country lanes a four wheel drive vehicle pulled out in front of Maureen, put all its rear lights on -- hazard warining lights, fog lamping lights, top bar hazard lights,slowed down to about 5 mph and sat in the middle of the road for approximately 2 miles. Unable to pass and under threat, she had to give up and drive back home.

It's hard for those who love horses to think of their carcases being sent to the Continent and their skins being used for accessories and furniture, and harder still to think of the fear and misery these ponies underwent before their slaughter.

"Who said what a lovely life the ponies have on Dartmoor?"

Several of our current rescues come from horse sales. Lucky's story, in particular, highlights the fact that the officals whose job it is to protect their welfare do not always act in the ponies' best interests.