THE founder of a Monmouth-based horse hospital has warned that the problem of abandoned horses and ponies has become increasingly worse since the charity was set up ten years ago.

Jenny MacGregor MBE, chairwoman of the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies at St Maughan’s, voiced her concerns following the rescue of a fivemonth- old foal, Wellie, who was found abandoned in a field with no food and riddled with worms.

“These poor horses are unwanted, unloved and have no future,” said Mrs MacGregor.

“They are left in fields to die slow, agonising deaths through disease and starvation.

It’s a heartbreaking situation and should not be happening in the 21st century in a civilized country.

“These horses are also posing great risk to humans when they wander on to the highway and it is sadly only a matter of time before there is a human tragedy,” she added.