Rounding up the Carneddau ponies

Once a year the farmers at Llanfairfechan take to the Carneddau hills (on foot, quad bikes or horseback or anything that moves!) to round up the wild ponies and bring them down to the village.

Last updated: 22 November 2009

Country Focus - Sunday 22nd November at 07.30am presented by Melanie Doel

The Carneddau ponies have been on the mountains since Celtic times and for generations the farmers would gather them down to check them over for any sign of illness, and also sort out which ones will be sold. Mel Doel joins them and witnesses the spectacular ...and even, unexpectedly, turns cowboy herself - albeit in a landrover!

Since micro chipping was introduced it has become difficult to sell this historic breed of ponies to buyers outside the area and the market for horse meat has also diminished but this year a new option has opened up and there will be an auction. Country Focus will be finding out how the sale goes at Tynllyfan Farm, Llanfairrchan on Saturday December 5th.