For three years, Bransby Horses, alongside various other equine welfare charities, has been involved in a collaborative effort to improve the lives of herds at the Gelligaer and Merthyr common in Wales. This ongoing project relieves the pressure on available resources, before the cold winter months arrive, creating a more stable environment for the remaining equines.
In 2025, a total of 182 ponies were counted using drone footage and 38 youngsters were identified as suitable for removal. These 38 included a group of five, who were taken in by Bransby Horses and arrived on the 23rd of October.
Nic de Brauwere MRCVS, Head of Welfare and Behaviour from Redwings said: “As part of the project we are removing youngsters, over a year old, who are becoming independent of their mums as the process of weaning would naturally begin. These ponies are less likely to have negative associations with people and are yet to have developed deeply ingrained habits of semi-feral life. Therefore, they are most likely to adapt to domesticated life and go on to be rehomed as loved companions or ridden ponies. It also means that we remove breeding stock of the future, helping to break the cycle of indiscriminate breeding.”
A New Start
Boo, Binxs, Buffy, Blair and Bonnie, aptly named during the spooky season, were part of a semi-feral herd and were yet to experience any handling by humans. Since their arrival, the team at the Animal Reception Centre have been giving them the space to adjust to their new environment, keeping any handling to a minimum as they settle in.
However, Equine Welfare Deputy Team Leader Mia Miller explained how this Welsh group have been quicker to interact with the team than previous ponies from the common, and that they seem more curious about people.
The next steps of their journey will see the Halloween ponies graduating to the Peter Hunt Training & Rehabilitation Yard, where our expert team will start introducing them to all different aspects of equine life.
Huw Williams, Chairman of the Gelligaer & Merthyr Commoners Association said: “The Commoners Association is pleased to continue our work with the charities to protect the ponies on the common, and work towards a future where there will be sustainable numbers of healthy ponies.”
Help us, help them
You can help us give more ponies like Bonnie, Boo, Blair, Binxs and Buffy a chance to thrive, by clicking the donation button below. Thank you.
