These harrowing images of emaciated and unmarked ponies which died in Cornwall – two of which perished while giving birth – reveal the shocking extent of a growing animal welfare problem.
And it could be a glimpse of the fate of many more unwanted wild horses if the Government goes ahead with plans to outlaw hot branding, owners have said.
Just two weeks ago, the WMN reported how welfare charities and government agencies had worked together to remove five ponies from Bodmin Moor amid serious concerns for their welfare.
It is believed that the starving animals, which suddenly appeared wandering around Davidstow Airfield, had been dumped by owners unable or unwilling to put them down.
Those mares, three of which were also thought to be pregnant, were legally seized under the Animal Welfare Act by Dartmoor-based charity South West Equine Protection (SWEP) and later reported to be "doing OK".
These three were not so lucky, and it has now emerged that more than 20 ponies have died or been put down due to neglect during just one week, according to the Bodmin Moor Commoners' Association said.
A further 30 animals have been identified and are due to be inspected on the moor in the coming, the group added.
Julie Dowton, a spokesman for the commoners' association, said there were hundreds of well-fed healthy ponies across the moor but admitted the affected animals had been a "horrific sight".
"It was neglect, and the farming community is distraught," she added.
"Some [ponies] were put down because government vets said they were too weak to come off the moor [for treatment].
"This should not have happened and should not be allowed to happen again.
"It is unfortunate that there are 1,800 acres on East Moor where fewer people go and these ponies have been missed – it is embarrassing for Bodmin Moor, it's embarrassing for Cornwall."
The association said the difficult economic climate was forcing some owners to dump ponies rather than face having them put down.
Mrs Dowton added: "Nobody will end up in court for this because the ponies were unmarked. Dartmoor, Exmoor and the New Forest will be watching this as they are putting forward a paper to tell the Government how important branding is to them."
