End in sight for painful branding of semi-wild moorland ponies

For decades the semi-wild #ponies found roaming across some of Britain's most beautiful moorland have been identified by the branding on their flanks made with red-hot irons. The practice involves the application of very hot metal to the skin for several seconds until the hide turns a light tan colour.

But now the use of irons is on the way out, following a sustained campaign by #animal welfare organisations that claim the practice harms the #horses. The British Veterinary Association, which supports a ban, has noted that "hot branding is generally carried out without analgesia and is undoubtedly a painful process".

Moorland #pony societies have agreed a code of practice on hot branding and have agreed to use the method of identification only when strictly necessary. The move follows a decision to ban the use of branding in Scotland and is seen as the beginning of the end for hot branding of moorland #ponies.

Surfing dogs in California

The seventh annual Loews Coronado Bay resort surf dog competition has taken place at Imperial beach, California. Proceeds go to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to #Animals.

#Dogs compete in 10-minute heats and are scored on their best two waves.

There are three categories in the competition: small dogs, large dogs and tandem dogs.

Some dogs clearly have excellent sea legs …

Michael Uy holds his Australian Kelpie Abbie Girl, 

who won in the small dog category for the third time.