Jenny MacGregor MBE, chairman of the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies (SWHP), was threatened with arrest last week if she did not hand back horses rescued from another animal sanctuary in the south of the county.

It was only four weeks previously that they been called to assist at the premises where a selection of various animals in stages of neglect were found including several equines. SWHP immediately called the police and a veterinary surgeon, RSPCA DEFRA and Trading Standards, who had been previously handling the situation.

SWHP paid for a vet to examine and subsequently put to sleep a critically sick yearling and immediately removed an emaciated mare and a day-old foal to the care of the horse hospital, the latter requiring much care.

SWHP last week were called yet again by a concerned member of the public who had been asked by the owners of the sanctuary to look after seven ponies on a temporary basis. This person subsequently asked them to take these ponies into care as she was concerned for their welfare.

Three Shetlands and a mare in her 20s were removed and brought back to St Maughans, where they received attention from a vet.

One was diagnosed with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the little mare in her 20s was given a body score of two (five being seriously obese and you can draw your own conclusion on the level of one) and suffered a skin condition that required attention, all animals were suffering from lice.

The owner of the ponies and the sanctuary subsequently accused SHWP of theft of the ponies and informed the police that these animals were stolen, and arrived at the horse hospital with a police escort from Monmouth to retrieve them.

Despite the very best of efforts and long discussions by Jenny MacGregor MBE and the police, who were extremely co-operative, SWHP were ordered to hand the ponies back to the owners and they were subsequently loaded into a trailer and driven away.

The only assurance SWHP have from the owners is that they will give them to another knowledgeable person to care for them.

A very disappointed Mrs MacGregor said: "Our prime concern is the welfare of these animals."