The Moorland Gelding Project

Aim

Keeping Ponies on the moor and off the menu!

Gelding Clinic Q&A

Can you tell us what a ‘Gelding Clinic’ is?

A Gelding Clinic is a day where the farmers (Pony Keepers) who keep semi-feral pony herds on Dartmoor, can access free gelding operations, microchip implantation and have passports issued for their colts or stallions as well as health checks and dentistry if required. All this at no cost to the farmer.

Will there be more clinics in the future?

SWEP held the first clinic on May 25th 2017 and will be following this up due to high demand with an autumn clinic; this is something we would like to continue annually if we can produce enough funds. We definitely have the interest and there is most definitely a need.

Why was it necessary to set up them up?

It is absolutely vital to introduce this breeding management option to Dartmoor - every year so many foals dont live out their first year before being destroyed on the farm when just a few months old, or sent for zoo meat or older unwanted ponies going for sausages.  Rescue centres are bursting at the seams, charities devoted purely to trying to find homes for these unwanted foals (and older ponies) are struggling harder every year to cope, we constantly read and hear how more donations are desperately needed to care for these ponies which dont have homes. And they are the lucky ones, the majority of foals don’t even make it that far.

There is absolutely no need for this at all, if breeding is managed and numbers reduced to a manageable level, the colts gelded, all ponies identifiable and passported, they are instantly of higher value to the farmer.

For farms wishing to only breed foals to the demand that’s available,  they can keep a quality breeding stallion on the farm, as is already done by several farmers on Dartmoor, some other farms run vasectomised stallions, some just have a mix of geldings and mares.

Currently, with a huge number of unwanted foals every year, the ponies are often worth less than the price of a passport and microchip, therefore helping farmers is helping to maintain a steady number of mares and geldings grazing the commons, and conserving the moor as we know and love it.

What are the benefits of gelding moorland ponies?

There are many benefits of gelding moorland ponies, it saves their lives!

Colts from 6 months of age are not allowed under Commoners Council laws to be out on the moor, gelding allows them to return to the moor as part of the herd to mature without adding to the number of foals born annually.

Colts who do not get drifted in during their first year can be an absolute menace, but we can help with that as well, and once they are in they can be brought to the clinic which gives them a future but removes the risk of them breeding with mares.

How are the gelding days being funded?

I was granted funds from the IVO Trust after telling them about the project, they were very keen to help. I am aiming to raise the amount of funds I currently have so I have enough to help all the ponies I have on my waiting list already. Calweton Equine are amazing and have given us  a great deal to ensure we can do as many ponies as possible and SWEP is  launching this fundraiser to ask the public to sponsor a gelding or contribute to his future.

Who is eligible to use the clinic?

Many pony keepers have either removed or vasectomised their stallion in an attempt to reduce the numbers of foals born each year, and these are the ones we are reaching out to help, the ones who are trying so hard but whos efforts are being compromised by neighbouring stallions covering their mares. Its desperatley unfair for them to have to eith find homes for, or destroy foals which they took every step to avoid being born. We will support them to keep their ponies on the moor, as many of them currently see the situation as so desperate they are giving up keeping their herd altogether.

What do you hope the future holds for the herds of semiferal herds on Dartmoor?

I would absolutely love to see an enforced, responsible breeding management plan for the pony herds on Dartmoor, where every foal born is a planned foal with a future. I want to see the foals have the chance to grow up on such a wonderful place such as Dartmoor, controlling breeding and improving their quality which in turn will improve their value; let’s not forget that these ponies make incredible children’s riding ponies (we have three at home!)

If anyone would like more information, who can they speak to?

Pony Keepers please call me, Becky Treeby, for a chat on 01822 854823 even if you would just like more information.

I would also be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to get involved, fundraise or raise awareness of our campaign for the Moorland Gelding Project, Keeping Ponies on the Moor.

This project successfully funded on 26th September 2017