A herd of grazing Exmoor ponies has had to be moved from Southwick Hill after complaints from dog walkers and concerns over children getting too close.
The herd, which is managed by the Sussex Pony and Grazing Conservation Trust, had been at the National Trust owned fields next to Mile Oak since last Thursday.
But after a series of concerning incidents, they were moved yesterday afternoon.
Grazing coordinator Anna Bogg said: “Our decision to remove the herd is not one that has been taken lightly and is definitely NOT in reaction to any one specific incident or to a few complaints, as seems to be the impression.
“We were very excited to be asked to help in the conservation management of this important part of the South Downs and it is a great disappointment to us that we will not fulfil the job of grazing this site that is in such desperate need.
“However, our priority always ultimately has to be to the welfare of the animals in our care. It has become apparent very quickly that such a busy thoroughfare of people and dog walkers such as Southwick Hill poses far too high a risk to all.
“These are ‘wild’ ponies, not handled, tame and ‘friendly’ animals that so many here seem to perceive them to be and they must be treated with the same caution and respect as any loose livestock on farmland.
“We have been seriously concerned by some of the irresponsible behaviour we have witnessed from dog owners, parents of young children and adults simply for themselves in this short time period and are further worried by other evidence and stories we have been given of incidents past and present, concerning the treatment of livestock on this site.
“We have also had signs removed and gates left open and feel the ignorance and intent these behaviours display leave us with no other option than to move the ponies.
“We fully acknowledge that these people and events are in the minority and that it is a great unfairness to all of you who have so enjoyed seeing our Exmoors doing their work but it is our duty of care to the organisation as a whole and to all 81 ponies in our trust to ensure the sustainability of our work for the future.”
Sounds to me it was a big mistake bringing the ponies to Southwick Hill in the first place.
In fact, has anyone actually checked the suitability of the sites that the council has planned to let sheep and ponies graze in the city – see http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/sheep-and-pony-grazing-map
It sounds to me yet another badly thought out scheme. How does allowing sheep and ponies to graze on downland “improve the open spaces for wildlife and people”?
There was talk of returning the land to grassland as a result of the grazing, but many thousands of years ago the Downs were covered with trees, so perhaps getting rid of grazing animals and allowing trees to grow would be a better approach.
That would end the “problem” of irresponsible dog walkers. Without grazing the land will first become a morass of brambles and eventually an impenetrable forest.
It was the specific location that was the problem. Further up, past the style into the downs, there are a lot less walkers and families. Placing the horses near the housing and fields was Ill thought out.
Maybe the wrong sort of people are getting dogs – not only is it “All about the kids” seems like now it’s also “all about the dogs” – selfish attitude I reckon – what happens in the New Forest? The ponies don’t have to be removed due to careless dog owners and parents. The comment about letting trees come back on the downs is irrelevant as the whole of southern England was once forest just like the north of France still is but land use has changed to allow livestock as well as arable use! If the forest returned so would wild boar and they would sort out stray kids and loose dogs!!