Alan Davies AM, Minister for Natural Resources and Food
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
The issues of abandonment of ponies and non-compliance with identification requirements allied to considerable welfare concerns have been long standing problems on common land across Wales. I have recently seen for myself the conditions that some of the horses and ponies involved have had to suffer, especially during prolonged periods of severe weather, and have set in train a piece of work to establish what should be done to address these problems and to secure the future of indigenous pony populations across Wales. I have asked Angela Burns AM with her extensive knowledge of the subject and in her capacity as Chair of the All Party Group on the Horse, to undertake an independent review of the situation and report her findings and recommendations to me during the summer of 2014.
This important work will sit alongside the Control of Horses (Wales) Bill and the associated Action Plan that I issued on 14 October 2013.
I have published the terms of reference for Angela’s independent review in the library and on the Welsh Government website.
My aim in undertaking this work is simple; it is to secure a sustainable future for our indigenous pony populations through effective management and support. I shall provide a further report to the Assembly following the 2014 Summer Recess on how Angela’s recommendations will be taken forward by this governmen