An injured pony with a “nasty untreated abscess on his hoof” has been rescued from Gelligaer Common.
The skewbald stallion had to be sedated with a tranquilliser dart before being taken away for treatment on July 28.
RSPCA Cymru have since launched an appeal to find out how the injured pony, who wasn’t microchipped, came to be left on the common.
The charity worked alongside Redwings Horse Sanctuary, the British Horse Society and Caerphilly County Borough Council to rescue the animal.
RSPCA inspector Christine McNeil said: “This skewbald stallion has a very nasty untreated abscess on his hoof, which required urgent attention.
“Safely taking this stallion from Gelligaer Common was a complex, multi-agency operation, and we’re grateful to Redwings, The British Horse Society and Caerphilly Council for their support.
“If anyone has any information about this pony, we urge them to contact us on 0300 123 8018.
“We’re hopeful information may help detect an owner, or explain why this equine was found on the common with an abscess in such urgent need of treatment.”
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These ponies are not belonging to anyone they are wild ponies not abandoned by people they live freely upon the mountain yes some volunteers are trying to give them a better life help them but they are and always will be FREE please publish the truth yes this pony had problems as many of them do suffer from worms lack of food in winter etc but lot of kind people give to local rescue ie horse pony aid and hungry hurds to help these ponies
There is no native herd on Gelligaer and Merthyr Common. 95% of them dumped on the common by foolish, irresponsible owners who no longer want them and won’t go to the expense of either trying to re home them or have then euthanized. They are NOT FREE!!!!
Surely this pony belongs to the wild herds of Welsh mountain ponies and probably doesn’t have an actual owner. I hope he will be returned to his herd once his foot is better. It’s nice that the various charities have helped him by giving him medical treatment. I think it’s an eye opener that these ponies need support and I believe that there are indeed a group of volunteers who have been looking out for them. Maybe you could highlight the fact that some locals have actually been harassing these poor ponies and driving them away from their watering holes. The ponies are part of Wales heritage and should be protected in living their natural wild existence.
The pony was never abandoned, he was born and lived there until taken off, he is a feral pony as no owner of which they all know, and are going to dispose of him in three days, and very sadly will never return back to his herd and place of birth of home and his ancestors before him, our Welsh horse and Ponys need to be protected and saved for future generations, they are being persecute up there daily, being driven away from drinking holes purposely, the gentle beasts they are, which grace our commons as they have done for generations are up against lot, all because of a sad minority, live and let live, they harm no one and do a for biodiversity of the land, they grace the commons and make it a wonderful place, give peace of mind and solice in these troubled times too, save the ponys not drive them.
The local charity that looks out for these ponies 24/7 has been trying to find out if this boy is safe but unfortunately none of the three agencies mentioned will confirm he has not been euthanised. Are you able to obtain any current information for us @caerphillyobservor ?
Think you have got your facts wrong here. Picasso is not an abandoned horse he is a feral stallion who was born on the common as the RSPCA well know. They are only trying to hide the fact that the local charities had they been informed would have caught him and treated him without such a mob-handed… . approach and waste of peoples donations .The poor pony is now on death row because no owner can claim him….he is owned by the Welsh people and as such I call on the RSPCA to return him to the local charities where a home awaits him
Picasso the feral pony is one of many feral ponys born on the Gelliager Commons, from Ancient times gone by. There is no owner as all in question know. We all want him returned back to his herd family there where he belongs, but alas it will never happen so we all want to be told of his outcome, as soon the deadline of the Athourities of keeping and caring for Picasso will soon be up and he will be disposed, we ask to know his fate wether it be good or bad, he deserves to live free where he belongs in nature and in his homeland. “Save Picasso Please”
I dont understand why there has been such a huge
Operation to get one ponys abcess sorted ,
And so many vehicles for one pony ,
Surely thos could have been resolved with much less organisations and so much money been used ,
The pony picasso is loved by so many people it would be lovley to see his abscess drained and if not returned to his home ,
A charity could castrate and he could become a conservative grazer or re homed ,
Yours sincerely Sharon Underwood
The pony is called “Picasso” by thousands of us and he came to be on the commons because that’s his homelands and born there. He lives with his herd from the area seized and he has old welsh pony bloodlines in his ancestry however like many in this region some coloured ponies have been introduced and kept by graziers . Picasso is a small hardy welsh hill pony loved by so many of us in Wales ??????? in fact he is even known overseas as far as Australia Canada America and beyond . Our WHPA volunteers and supporters give their time free and raise funds every year to help Picasso his herd and many other herds in winter and help watch over them . We all want Picasso to be helped and given sanctuary to save his life he is def NOT ABANDONED HE IS MUCH LOVED BY THOUSANDS OF US AND MANY IN OTHER LOCAL VOLUNTARY CHARITIES #SavePicasso #homelands #OurWales #Landofmyfathers ##biodiversity #LoveWales #conservationgrazer
This piece is very misleading, as the pony who is known by many as Picasso was actually born on Gelligaer Common and has lead his own herd for a number of years now. He is a native pony but colored because the breed has crossed with colored ponies put on the commons by graziers over the years.
Picasso was not abandoned he and the many herds on the welsh hills and commons in this area are devotedly fed every day all winter, and watered in the summer by volunteers in WHPA often at their own expense.
Legislative law, does not permit him to be allowed to return to his homelands to look after his herd. The very best he can hope for is to be allowed to go to a sanctuary, at worst and he only has days left, he will be euthanized.
WHPA was at the scene when Picasso was treated and removed and offered help using their expertise and knowledge of the commons and its ponies. They also asked to be kept informed regarding Piccasso but unfortunately, the RSPCA and Redwings have not been very forthcoming.
The thin bay pony also in the article was removed by the RSPCA in January and they left her young 8-month-old filly to fend for herself. The mare was called Anna, I wonder what was her fate.
Praying for Picasso.