Headley intruders cut off ponies' manes and tails

Palominos affected in night raid at children's farm

INTRUDERS cut off the hair from manes and tails of Palomino ponies at a Headley children’s farm in a night raid.

Darren Lamb, owner of the 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park and Family Farm, situated off the A339 in Newbury Road, described the incident, which happened overnight on Sunday, as horrendous.

The shorn ponies – Winnie and Heidi – were discovered on Monday morning by one of the farm’s animal keepers.

Mr Lamb said the “pretty and bright” ponies were upset and became skittish after their ordeal.

“Winnie has previously been through an awful experience.

“She was rescued from Spindles Farm in Amersham in 2008.

“She was in foal and had Strangles [an unpleasant horse disease] during that experience.

“The RSPCA rescued her along with another 115 horses, ponies and donkeys.

“Thirty two dead horses and ponies were found at the same time.

“The RSPCA spent 18 months nursing her back to recovery.

“So she has had a bit of a torrid time and could do without all this.”

The ponies were being kept in a quiet, secure spot, away from the public and were receiving special “pampering”, he said.

The police had been informed and had paid the farm a visit.

“Police think they may have wanted the hair for [use in] fly fishing,” said Mr Lamb.

It was believed access was gained to the ponies’ paddock across fields at the back of the farm, although residents of a couple of neighbouring farms had not heard anything.

Further fears stem from social media comments that it may have been an attempt to mark the ponies, identifying them to be later stolen, and security has since been stepped up at the farm.

Among a total of 269 enraged comments on the farm’s Facebook page on Tuesday were postings such as: “What despicable human beings” (Lisa Greenaway) and “My god, hope you catch the sick people who have done this to defenceless animals.” (Murial Rice).

Anyone with information should contact either police, on the non- emergency telephone number, 101, or the owner, Mr Lamb, at the 4 Kingdoms Adventure Park, on (01635) 269678.