Visitors to a Welsh beauty spot have been warned not to go close to ponies to take selfies after a newborn foal fell to its death from a cliff.
In another incident a woman was injured when she was kicked by a gypsy cob pony on the Gower peninsula in south-west Wales, while ponies have also been injured or killed by cars and disturbed by drones.
The National Coastwatch Institution, which has a base at Worm’s Head at Rhossili, urged people to maintain a respectful distance if they wanted to take pictures.
It posted on Facebook: “Almost every day, whilst driving to and from our hut we see members of the public trying to stroke or take selfies with the horses. We do stop when we see it happening and explain that the horses are semi-feral or wild. A newborn foal was lost over the cliffs because it panicked when a group of people tried to get selfies with it.
“It was only recently we had to transport a young lady up to the car park after she had been kicked by a stallion near our hut. We did what we could first aid wise but she found walking difficult. Obviously we will always do what we can in these situations, but we wish people would keep their distance from the horses. Keep your distance and use the zoom facility to get close-ups. Stay safe around horses.”
Nicky Beynon, a farmer, and his family have cared for the ponies for years but he said they were being put under huge stress by visitors. He told the BBC how the foal died in April. “All of a sudden the newborn is staggering to its feet, trying to learn how to stand up, and trips over the edge,” he said. Beynon added the mare that gave birth to the foal was “going ballistic” when he found her. “She knew the foal had just vanished.”
In 2022 Beynon was forced to remove the ponies from the headland because someone had flown a drone a few metres above a pony’s head. The pony “couldn’t make out where this noise was coming from and she was sort of spinning around”, he said.
The Countryside Alliance called for the Countryside Code to include a specific warning to amateur photographers taking snaps for social media to show care and respect following the death of the foal.
Mo Metcalf-Fisher, its director of external affairs, said: “This is an incredibly sad report, which demonstrates how selfish behaviour can lead to totally avoidable tragedy. The countryside code makes it clear that people visiting the countryside should keep a safe distance from animals.
“This should be perfectly obvious, but time and time again there are people that think they know better. Putting your urge to take an up-close snap or selfie for social media before the welfare of animals such as ponies is highly dangerous.
“The countryside is not a theme park, it’s a full-time place of work for many and home to both humans and animals. In light of incidents like this, the Countryside Code should include a specific reference to amateur photographers, making it clear selfies shouldn’t come before respecting an animal’s space.”
The National Trust, which manages land along the Gower coast, said the area was home to livestock that grazed freely across the common land and meadows.
A spokesperson for National Trust Cymru said: “We ask everyone that visits Rhosili to follow the countryside code and observe a few simple guidelines: be mindful of all the creatures here, including the horses, ponies and sheep, by giving them space and taking pictures from a distance using a zoom function to minimise any disruption and stress caused to them. Please do not approach them. Help us protect this place for everyone to enjoy by also keeping dogs on short leads around animals, closing gates and taking your litter home with you.”
