Cornwall pony rescue charity seeks homes for animals

Mary Houghton said running costs have increased but donations have fallen

A charity that rescues Dartmoor hill ponies is appealing for more people to come forward to offer them homes.

Hill Pony Resources in Callington has so far rescued more than 120 ponies.

However, it said rising costs and the impact of recent wet weather were now threatening the day-to-day running of the charity.

Owner Mary Houghton said they have run out of grazing and are struggling with the increased cost of providing extra food, hay and bedding.

"We don't want them out on the mud so they're spending a lot of time in the yard, and as a result we've had to buy in more bedding and more hay because we can't let them go out on the grass."

Wet weather means the ponies cannot graze in the fields

Ms Houghton said there has also been a noticeable drop in donations in recent years, and fewer people are coming forward to rehome the ponies.

"Homes would make a difference as it would free up space so we could take ponies back.

"Ideally we need to have that space available at all times." she said.

Volunteer Amy Main said the charity's work helped to restore the ponies' trust in humans

Amy Main has been a volunteer at Hill Pony Resources for six months.

She said the work the charity does in taking in feral ponies, has transformed the animals.

"They were extremely nervous, I couldn't get anywhere near them - even looking at them, they would run away."

"Now, they're quite happy for you to approach without them going in the opposite direction."

"Finally, we're starting to see a little bit of their personalities coming through." she added.