Dartmoor hill ponies turned into sausages

The Dartmoor hill pony has roamed and grazed the moors of Devon for thousands of years, but its future is in danger.

Although the ponies wander freely, they are owned by individual farmers and landowners.

The problem is that there is very little market for them so there is no incentive for farmers to keep them.

In an attempt to secure their future, Charlotte Faulkner, from Dartmoor Hill Pony Association, has come up with a solution.

Reluctantly, she has teamed up with local restaurants to create a Dartmoor pony sausage and other specialist meats which it is hoped will create a genuine market for the animals as high-quality food.

But the idea is not popular with everyone including Dawn Westcott, from the Exmoor Pony Club, who believes there are other options.

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