NATIONWIDE overproduction of ponies and horses and indiscriminate breeding have come under fire from the British Horse Society.

They have been identified by the society as core issues which need to be addressed after receiving dozens of calls from people concerned about a proposed cull of ponies on Dartmoor.

The BHS, together with other equine welfare organisations, is calling for a responsibility strategy to combat problems caused by indiscriminate breeding.

It supports the long-term strategy adopted by the National Park Authority and Commoners Council in Dartmoor's case. The BHS said culling did not necessarily mean slaughter and that many of the Dartmoor ponies would go to good homes.

Its main concern was that no unnecessary suffering should be caused to animals.

All the ponies could face welfare problems if there were too many eating the limited grazing on the moor, says the BHS. Kay Driver, BHS chief executive, said: "The BHS is often called in to rescue the rescued where a pony has been bought out of pity by someone without the knowledge, experience or resources to care for a wild young animal."