Letters: Support for Royal Mail postie swerving New Forest pony

SIR – There has been a lot of coverage showing a Royal Mail van driving carefully around a New Forest pony which has been stubborn to move out of the way (A&T, 25th November).

I personally (and I strongly suspect most New Forest residents have done over many decades, if not a lifetime) just carefully slow down and avoid any animal. That is what we do!

Ponies are very aware of traffic. They will stand fast when they feel like it. Should their owners not like that, then don’t turn them out. It is their choice.

We are all now realising home deliveries are by far an everyday experience. We should be supporting, for example, Royal Mail and, indeed, the supermarkets who are now providing deliveries.

These people are out there in all weathers, usually on time. More importantly, they are genuinely nice people.

Richard Grant,
Burley

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SIR – I wonder if I could pitch in with my own observations based on the still taken from a dash cam video (A&T, 25th November).

First of all, the car with the dashcam seems to have pulled up rather a long way short from the pony (20-30 metres?). I think the driver of the van could have thought that the dashcam driver had pulled up because he/she wanted to observe the pony’s actions from a safe distance.

Were hazard warning lights used?

I feel that the van driver’s actions were both safe and appropriate in this instance and this is why.

Looking at the angle the pony is standing in relation to the verge, and the angle that the van is driving, I would say the gap between the two would be 2-3ft.

Note the actual stance of the pony, front legs parallel, head drooping slightly, ears vertical and most importantly its rear right leg (furthest away from the camera) is actually bent with only the tip of its hoof in contact with the road.

I have seen this classic stance many times and upon passing a pony, it is evident it is resting and in a catatonic state even though its eyes may be open. It’s a sort of “hey man, I’m not asleep, just chilling”.

As long as one passes slowly and as quietly as possible, there is no danger of the animal taking fright.

It is aware of your presence but they are used to cars passing close and in this kind of situation know there is no threat.

This is not a licence to go tearing past animals in this state, due care and attention must be observed at all times. Observation and awareness are key.

John Walsh,
Address supplied