A LANDOWNER is urging ramblers to always shut gates in the countryside after a Shetland Pony nearly died in a cattle grid.

It took a four-hour struggle by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue’s specialist Animal Rescue Team and Abbey Vets to finally free 21-year-old Shetland stallion Teifi.

However, it could have all been avoided if the person responsible had closed the gate after walking through the private field in the foothills of the Black Mountains, where Teifi and two other Shetlands are kept.

Katy Stepto of Wern Watkin Bunkhouse in Llangattock near Crickhowell, where the incident occurred, said, “Finding the gate left open is a weekly occurrence.

“Our house is right by the field, so you’d think it would be common courtesy for people using the right of way to shut the gate. Their failure to follow the most basic rules of the countryside almost led to an innocent animal’s death!”

Katy added: “It’s not the local ramblers that are the problem, it’s more the careless element in the huge influx of visitors we get to the Brecon Beacons Park.

“I’m a keen walker and mountain biker myself and respect everyone’s right to roam, but with that freedom comes respect, and whoever walked throughout my field that day didn’t have any.”

Katy said it was around 7am when she looked out of the window and saw Teifi stuck in the cattle grid.

“All her legs were stuck and there was blood all over her face where she had smashed it when falling. She was really quiet, and trembling, but the blood was quite fresh so thankfully I don’t think she had been there long.

“The specialist team the fire service sent arrived within 40 minutes and they were outstanding. They tried all options to lift her out but in the end, they decided to cut her out and asked me to call a vet.”

Teifi’s owner Beth said: “He received enough sedative to floor an elephant and tolerated hours of curating equipment but he’s now safe and warm in his stable. We can’t thank Amber from Abbey Vets and the emergency services enough for their amazing support.”