ANIMAL lovers could be responsible for an outbreak of anti-social behaviour from the ponies on Quantock Common.
There have been several incidents recently of ponies that have been fed by visitors becoming a nuisance to other members of the public.
The Quantock Pony Commoners Association secretary Sue Hobbs the ponies have started to congregate in car parks in the hope of getting some titbits.
The behaviour has led to one pony breaking a person’s leg, biting and causing damage to vehicles.
Ms Hobbs said: “Although it is lovely for people to see ponies on the Quantock Common, we ask that visitors to the hills refrain from feeding them.
“Not only does it put other visitors at risk having the ponies so close, but it also puts the ponies in danger by encouraging them to stay near the roads and car parks.
“A failure to do as requested could put the future of the Quantock Hill Ponies at risk.”
The ponies are owned by the Quantock Pony Commoners and provide valuable grazing for the hilltops helping to manage the vegetation.
Around 50 ponies graze on the Quantock Hilltop, 30 mares on the Quantock Common and 20 on Aisholt Common, while 11 farmers graze their ponies on the Quantocks and are members of the agri-environment scheme which is there to protect and enhance the special habitats of the Quantock Common.
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