Kirsty calls for derogation for Hill Ponies (Kirsty Williams AM )

Cymraeg
English

Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

Kirsty calls for derogation for Hill Ponies

January 22, 2009 12:00 AM

Kirsty Williams AM for Brecon & Radnorshire has called upon the Minister for rural Affairs to seek derogation for Hill ponies from Equine identification.

An EU directive which will require the Assembly Government to regulate on Equine identification could have negative impacts upon the iconic semi-feral Section A Welsh Mountain Pony.

Kirsty said: "The 'hill ponies' play an essential role in the biodiversity and genetic variability of equines in Wales. They are an iconic cultural symbol as well as being important for tourism and the maintenance of upland areas. This breed of pony is already on the Rare Breeds 'Vulnerable' list, so is in clear need of protection.

"Although the introduction of electronic identification and chipping may have some benefits with regard to animal welfare, there is a great deal of fear in my constituency that the cost of such a scheme will outweigh the value of the ponies that would be chipped.

"Potentially, we could see a large drop in the number of semi feral ponies on the Welsh uplands.

"The Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling upon the Minister to look at a similar derogation to that which has been granted to New Forest and Dartmoor Ponies, to secure a sustainable future for this breed."