Nine unwanted ponies have been dumped on a Vale Farm Animal Sanctuary in the run up to controversial government legislation.

By December owners will need to have full passport identification for all equines involving costly veterinary fees. This will bring the UK in line with existing EU rules.

Founder of the animal sanctuary in Middle Littleton Janet Taylor believes that the breeders and dealers must be closely monitored first.

She said: "Already I have had nine ponies and foals dropped off here in an appalling condition and I expect the situation to get worse, developing into a national crisis."

She added: "There has been a problem of over-breeding for decades and the market is saturated with horses and ponies with no future. Breeding should be strictly licensed. With the new legislation, dealers are not going to bother with the paper work and are going to dump ponies which are less likely to be sold."

Ms Taylor said she is doing all she can to highlight the situation.

Numerous animal charities also have reservations about the draft scheme, which will be open for comment from the horse industry until June 30.

The International League for the Protection of Horses will be fighting to make the regulations effective for horse welfare.

The RSPCA equine veterinary officer David McDowell said: "I think passports for horses is a good idea as I welcome anything that effectively ties horses to their owners.

"However, I have reservations about how it will be put into practice and at what stage a horse would need to have a passport. I would suggest that a suitable time would be when the horse leaves its birth place or goes to a public market."