Pony found choking on carrots in New Forest dies
The food was left on the roadside in an apparent act of kindness
Last updated 25th Feb 2021
The pony was found in distress at Hilltop near Beaulieu on January 24th.
Chopped carrots had been left by the roadside which the mare had eaten.
Park ranger Erika Dovey was called to the scene;
"The pony had lots of white froth from her mouth and snot. She had her head down and ears back and was looking severely distressed. She was making lots of strange noises from her windpipe. On the ground next to her was some carrots chopped into large chunks and she had bits of carrot coming out in the foam from her mouth. It was clear that she was choking and it was really distressing to see that."
The pony was taken off the forest and received veterinary attention but the feeding had caused irreparable damage to her throat and she had to be put to sleep.
The New Forest Commoners Defence Association confirmed the sad update on social media.
ANOTHER PONY LEFT SERIOUSLY ILL
Meanwhile a pony needed emergency treatment after it choked on a pie at the cricket ground in Cadnam.
WHY FEEDING LIVESTOCK IS SO DANGEROUS
In this case it caused a condition called 'Choke', where the pony's oesophagus, which is the tube that takes food from the back of the mouth to the stomach, got blocked.
Ponies can also get colic, a form of tummy ache, which can be fatal.
Throwing or dropping carrots or apples on the verge also encourages ponies and donkeys to the roadside which puts them more at risk of being involved in accidents.
It can also encourage aggression which in turn can lead to the owner having to remove the pony from the New Forest.
The New Forest Commoners Defence Association says there's no need to offer livestock treats.
"The ponies have plenty of natural food they browse and graze all day. They are specially adapted for life out in the New Forest."