The post you are reporting:
While on the face of it these ponies are lovely creatures and I do not wish to be a killjoy, I really need to share my concerns since they have been moved back on to High Meadow in the last few weeks.
1. Newborn pony:
While this is a remarkable event it initially meant that dog walkers had a very tough time coping with a lot of leftover horse afterbirth, which remained on the field for several days, attracted flies and bugs, and was a hugely unpleasant health risk for the dogs that kept ripping at the meat. It did appear that nobody responsible for these horses was in a great rush to clear up this horrible mess. Because dog walkers use this Meadow so often, and children regularly play ball games on the Meadow, this really concerned me as a public health issue.
2. Aggressive horses:
I have heard of several incidents in which one or more horses charged at dogs or people, and this happen to us and a female dog walker just last week. It was terrifying. We had been what we thought was a safe distance away but three horses ran towards us and our dogs before changing direction. Our dogs were not causing any problems for the horses and were nowhere near them at the time. I always keep my dogs at a safe distance from them, but no distance feels safe any more. My next door neighbour, also a regular dog walker that uses High Meadow, had his 6-month old puppy physically attacked by one of the horses and the dog had to receive vet treatment as a result. I cannot single out any particular horse but some have observed that one of the stallions is particularly hostile, perhaps because of the newborn or the pregnant mares. It is only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.
3. Excessive horse poo:
Dogs are fairly basic in their habits and they do like to eat horse poo. While this is not regarded as high risk to the health of the dog it can spread intestinal parasites and we (and, I suspect, many other dog owners) are having to de-worm our dogs more often than we normally would. Aside from the risk factors, this is also hugely unpleasant for dog owners who have to return home with dogs that smell of horse poo.
There is a crude printed sign at the entrance of High Meadow requesting that people respect the horses and in particular dog owners need to take care. In fact it is the horses that are causing most of the problems, not dog owners or their dogs.
There is also a dog poo bin and sign warning of a financial fine for leaving dog poo on the path leading to High Meadow, and poo bins are provided on the Meadow itself. Most of the dog owners that I know that use the Meadow do use this bin, but what is the point when the horses are leaving huge mounds of excrement all over the field? Who fines the horse owners? Why is there one rule for dogs and another rule for horses? Even the dog poo that isn't picked up is sparse but the horse poo is difficult to miss.
4. Was there any period of consultation carried out before the horses were put into the Meadow and if so who with? Surely, the most obvious people to consult would be the dog owners that use the Meadow and yet not one of the dog owners I know of has ever been consulted.
5. The horses can spread out over a very wide distance so it is impossible to keep away from them. In order for my dogs to get the exercise they need to stay healthy it is important that they have time off the lead to run around. With the horses literally anywhere across the meadow they are in danger all the time. It is not fair that they not be allowed off the lead when they used the area long before the horses came along.
It might be a suitable idea to fence the horses off in one part of the Meadow and leave the main flat area for the dog walkers. The Meadow is certainly big enough for this to work, without the horses being cramped or dog owners being left out. At the moment, High Meadow is no longer a pleasant, relaxing place to exercise dogs but a stressful, dirty, and at times dangerous place. I am considering moving to new locations such as Elms Vale recreation ground or Kearsney Abbey, but my question is why should I when I have been safely walking my dogs there for years and it is by far the closest location. I no longer feel safe there. Many children including my own, and other dog walkers go there and they are not safe either. The speed these horses can run at and the distance they can quickly cover is frightening.
Does anyone know who do I need to write to?