Marion Saunders lived in Surrey and worked in London but came down to Hillbridge Farm to a holiday with Mrs. Ivey who ran a holiday Riding Centre at the farm.  Marion then took time off work to help Mrs. Ivey with her summer guests; her parents expected her to return home, but that was thirty seven years ago and she never went back to Surrey.

    Being able to ride nurtured her interest in horses and she then became a committee member of the Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society.  In 1980 the farm did fewer riding holidays and concentrated more on rescue and welfare of animals.  The DLPS was formed in 1962/3 during the exceptionally bad winter when animals became trapped in the snow on the moors.  Unfortunately attitudes were very different then and some animal were left to die, there was little  interest in animal welfare, and numerous animals were neglected.  Now the Dartmoor Commoners Act 1985 places responsibility on the Commoners’ Council to ensure good standards of animal welfare and the Society works with the farmers and the Commoners’ Council.    The aim is still the same today as when the Society was formed, animal welfare, and they also support the work of Compassion in Farming who care for animals going abroad.
    The public have to be the ‘eyes’ on the moors as the farmers are very busy and do not always see what is happening to every one of their animals.  The Society publish a yellow card giving details of who to contact if you come across an injured/dead animal.  The Society will pay for a Vet to give immediate treatment.  Cards can be obtained from Dartmoor Visitor Centres, some pubs and Post Offices.  If you do find an animal that needs help please phone as soon as possible, this is so important.  You will be required to give as much information as possible, identification is very important, ear tag numbers, marks and of course location, a grid reference if possible.  The Society will then ring the farmer, if he cannot be contacted a Society Member will then go to check up on the animal, to see if it is ill or injured.  The person who makes the call will be called back to let them know what the outcome was.  The Society would rather receive several calls regarding one

animal than none at all.
    The Society receives around 300-400 calls a year, although some are for the same animal, most are for sheep.  The worst road accidents cause the death of  ponies on the road.  Visitors do not expect to find the moorland animals on the road, often driving too fast to avoid them, and some local motorists who become over familiar with the roads and the animals crossing the roads, also drive too fast.
    Some house owners whose homes back onto moorland put grass cuttings over their fences; this can be lethal as the cuttings heat up and ferment and hedge trimmings may be poisonous.  If the ponies eat these it causes colic which is bad news for horses.  Rubbish left on the moors is of course another hazard for the animals.  Sometimes ponies get their legs caught in gaps in granite slab bridges over leats and break their legs.
    Ticks attack all moor animals and this is on the increase with more plant growth.  There is a big increase in tick fever and Louping Ill, which is frequently fatal to sheep and sometimes cattle and horses too.  There is a vaccine for Louping Ill but it is  expensive.  This disease started in Scotland, was carried to the south of the moor and is now in the west.  It is thought it came after the foot and mouth epidemic when farmers were restocking with animals from an infected area when the ticks came on the animals.  Farmers face more problems now with all the regulations, limited stock, more visitors, more cars, more litter.
    The Society paid for two speed monitors in the hope that these will cut speed and cause less accidents.  A combined effort by The Society and the Dartmoor Society persuaded the Highways Department and the Dartmoor National Park that these speed visors were necessary.
    Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society is not an animal sanctuary, their aim is to help sick and injured animals on the moor and return them to their owners.   Marion has twelve horses at her farm, some are her own, others have been foals either abandoned by their mothers or found beside their dead mothers.  One taken to

the Tavistock Sales was so small it could not be included in the sale, and was to be given away, Marion was the person who agreed to take it home.
    Marion’s farm is in a wonderful location,  the only sounds being the stream going by the garden, birds singing and the horses neighing.  She also has a herd of South Devon cattle.  Living close to the River Tavy and having wonderful views from the paddocks, Marion says this is her favourite place, she also enjoys entertaining her friends at home.

As with all these organisations, Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society are always grateful for new members and donations - donations to be made to Miss. B. Murch, Charlecombe, Combeinteignhead, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 4RE

For road casualties please call the nearest vet and DLPS:  
Okehampton: Okeford Veterinary Centre 01837-52148.  
Okehampton/Sticklepath - North Park Veterinary Group 01837-82327.  
Moretonhampstead - Moorgate Veterinary Group 01647 440441.  
Bovey Tracey - Moorgate Veterinary Group 01626 833023.  or Kingsteignton Vets 01626 354260.
Ashburton - Dart Vale Vets 01364 652376.  
Ivybridge - Gabriel, Grills & Associates 01752 892700 or South Moor Vets 01752 892390.  
Callington - Calweton Vet Group 01579 383231.

Distress/Injury:  ponies, sheep or cattle collapsed, sick, trapped, live lamb by dead ewe etc; or if in any doubt please phone DLPS.  South Brent 01364 73121 or 72174.  Buckfastleigh 01364 643411.  Shaugh Prior 01752 839376.  Mary Tavy 01822 810303 or 07976446263 with as much information as possible, type of animal, colour, dye marks, brand letters, ear marks, and any special features.

I would like to thank Marion for giving up so much of her time to talk to me.