The Plight of Ponies

I also recently heard of a yet another breeder with a large herd of Shetland ponies with the mares in foal suffering severe laminitis. Is this ethically acceptable? Why is this allowed to happen without these people being prosecuted? If someone treated a dog like this or even a chicken then they would be accountable in a court of law. Why can someone cause so much pain and suffering to a pony and there is little said about it and no consequences?

A breeders neglect results in laminitis.

The sad story is that a lot of the ponies that reach the RSPCA are then passed on to more negligent homes to repeat a vicious cycle of living in pain and neglect. Just the other day a pony from the RSPCA was passed on to a first time horse owner unaware of the dangers that something as simple as grass can pose a great threat to them.

Are these ponies better off put down once foundered because it takes even more knowledge and care to avoid a repeat episode?

A little giveaway miniature stallion ends up in an inexperienced home. They dream of him being a child’s mounts yet this is a ridiculous fantasy as it is crippled, severely foundered and has behaviour issues, yet it is pretty and amazingly I see it back on the grass as I drive by.

I believe every pony and miniature horse needs to come with an instruction manual and a big warning that they require special care.

My heart aches when I see a lonesome pony in a paddock full of grass, or locked in a small dirt yard with no food. Is there much quality of life for these animals? Why does every horse person I know have a sad tale to tell about their neglect?

Neglect doesn’t always mean starvation. Allowing a pony to be so overweight that it founders, is probably more painful.