Drive through Harlow in Essex, and you may well see ponies, tethered for days on end, on short chains on common land, such as grass verges and even roundabouts.  There is often with no shelter, water buckets frequently  kicked over, these wonderful creatures walking in circles as far as their tethers will allow, grazing on grass cropped by overeating and often fouled. 

The Animal Welfare Act, 2006, Section 9(2), states that animals need:

1. a suitable environment
2. a suitable diet
3. to be allowed to exhibit normal patters of behaviour
4. to be housed with, or apart from, other animals 

The RSPCA recommends that, while tethering ponies is not illegal, it should only be for short periods of time and that they should also have access to roam, find shelter and socialise.  It highlights problems caused by the practice of tethering, such as lack of shelter, limited grazing, lack of company, physical safety issues including injury of entanglement from  the tether, and stopping their natural behaviour, such as the inability to run away from danger or rolling in a safe spot.

The ponies in Harlow, and presumably other towns across the country,  are kept in conditions which contravene the laws and recommendations which have been put in place to protect their welfare, and despite many contacting the local MP and the RSPCA, nothing has been done to stop the practice known as fly grazing from happening.  Laws are made to cover everyone, and there shouldn't be a section of society who are above the law.  People can't pick and choose which of the above, if any, to adhere to; they are all vital for the wellbeing of these animals.

The ponies don't have a voice but we do.  Please sign this petition so that all ponies and horses can be kept in conditions which is their legal right and to ensure that their owners are accountable for their wellbeing.