Twelve piebald ponies have been dumped on a wildflower meadow in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, and the local authority is searching to find their owners before they eat all the grass.
The cobs were found fly-grazing at Blaydon Burn nature reserve in Blaydon. A council officer attended the site on Tuesday 12 August and served a notice to the horses’ owners by attaching it to a water butt, but so far no-one has come forward to claim them.
A spokesperson for Gateshead Council explained: “To protect the area’s rare and protected wildflowers during their growing season, grazing is restricted in spring and summer, with access resuming from autumn.
“Grazing in autumn is carried out under licence and at carefully managed levels to support conservation aims.
“Our objective is to ensure the horses are safely removed from the meadow, allowing the grass and wildflowers to recover in time for the planned use of the field in the autumn.
“We are urging the owner to come forward promptly so the horses can be returned to a safe and secure environment.”
To claim the horses, please call 0191 433 7225. Alternatively, you can email enforcement@gateshead.gov.uk for further information.
Illegal practice
Fly grazing is a problem on public and private land across the country.
It is the illegal practice of grazing horses on land without the owner’s permission and can involve horses being deliberately placed on land without consent or remaining after an agreement has ended.
The Control of Horses Act 2015 was brought in to address this issue by allowing for quicker removal and rehoming of fly-grazed horses.
Owners have a limited time (usually four days) to claim their horses and prove ownership.
If an owner doesn’t claim their horse within the specified time, they may lose ownership, and the landowner can take action to sell, rehome, or even euthanise the horse.
Main image © Gateshead Council
