Rhossili’s community council says it never pushed for the famous cliff horses to leave, insisting the decision was the grazier’s own, as South Wales Police are told about abuse aimed at two village residents.
The statement follows the removal of the herd last week, announced in a video posted on the Rhossili Sunflowers Facebook page.
Owners Nicky Beynon and Robert Morgan said 18 months of pressure from some residents, the National Trust, a local horse action group and the community council had made staying impossible.
Rhossili Community Council’s response is direct: “It is not within our power as a community council to make any decisions over grazing rights or the presence or removal of grazing ponies.”
The council says it has made no public comments critical of landowners or graziers, “neither have we exerted any pressure for the removal of the ponies”.
“Any decision to remove the ponies has been made by the grazier themselves, at a time when the extreme weather and arid ground is making feeding a challenge,” the statement says.
“There have been local concerns for the welfare and safety of the ponies for some time, given the natural dangers a clifftop location poses and the risks to ponies which are caused for example by dogs being off their leads,” the statement says.
“Whilst the large majority of tourists and visitors follow the advisory signage and keep their distance from the ponies, and keep dogs under control and close supervision, a small minority are irresponsible. Regrettably, there has been a number of pony fatalities, and a small number of incidents where walkers have been injured when coming into contact with ponies.”
The council facilitated an open meeting on the issue in January, which it says explored the issues in depth, with cooperation and compromise the underlying theme, and the National Trust and Natural Resources Wales working with landowners and graziers on a land management plan.
But the sharpest words are reserved for the video itself, in which two residents were named and criticised.
Both are current or former community councillors, the statement says, describing them as “longstanding and respected” residents who have since faced “a number of abusive personal attacks which are offensive, and are not based on any knowledge of the history of this issue”.
“These residents have been exposed to the risks of harassment and intimidation. It was irresponsible to make comments of this type in the video,” the council says, adding that similar posts have spread to other platforms.
It asks the owners of the social media pages involved to “take full responsibility for the oversight of their sites” and to edit or remove content to calm the situation. “We ask people to act responsibly and to stop this victimisation.”
“Such is the level of concern, South Wales Police have been informed.”
The statement ends with a reminder that “an important community is the community of residents of Rhossili itself, the very community that welcomes you to share their village when you visit”.
The National Trust said last week it had “at no stage” asked for the horses to be removed and that the owner’s decision was “entirely his”, an account that sits alongside the letter reported last October giving the herd a December deadline to leave.
Mr Morgan has since told his followers he will give a further update on the horses soon, saying more information has become available, and thanking people for their support.
The horses had grazed the cliffs above Rhossili Bay for generations.
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At last some reporting that gives the other side of the story (with actual facts). Well done Kit.
Most people have relied on Facebook posts for their info on this and only from those interested in furthering their businesses. Interestingly the main business involved here (Rhossili Sunflowers) has recently applied for a development of the Rhossili enterprise, extended the period it operates and with more paraphernalia on its cliff side fields). This is in Britains First Area of Outstanding Beauty and alongside a sensitive and already highly pressurised Site of Special Scientific Interest. Whoever reads this must take what they see on social media with a large pinch of salt, ask themselves why a person who has only owned land in Rhossili for a few years, is masquerading as a local who is part of the village community. They have o my become interested in Rhossili since smelling money there. I’m hoping more facts will emerge that tells the full story of manipulation and untruths in this saga.
This statement from friends of Gower Commons helps people understand that common land is not a free for all. You can’t put a load of stock on the cliffs commons or hills without the rights…..
Grazing Rights on Gower’s Commons explained!
Grazing rights grant individuals the legal entitlement to graze a specified number of animals on areas of common land. These rights are typically attached to ownership or tenancy of specific parcels of land or property, and they define the number and type of livestock permitted as supplementary grazing beyond the holder’s own land.
Across Gower, common land is subject to grazing rights and associated regulations. These rules can vary between commons. Some restrict the presence of entire males such as stallions or bulls, while others permit them. Gower also includes areas designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which impose additional statutory protections. For example, livestock feeding on the commons is prohibited except in cases of severe welfare need, such as heavy snowfall. If feed must be provided and animals cannot be moved to better ground, the feed must be dispersed in a manner that minimizes environmental impact, including scattering hay in different locations and over bushes or trees. This helps preserve the landscape and is only permitted as an emergency measure. Where feeding becomes necessary, livestock should normally be removed from the commons to improved grazing.
Several commons also enforce seasonal restrictions, including winter grazing bans or limits on the types of animals allowed during certain periods. These measures protect the ecological condition of the commons and support the welfare of livestock, ensuring sustainable grazing levels for future years.
It is standard practice for land management authorities or landowners to verify that the correct number of animals is present on the commons and to request proof of grazing rights. These checks help prevent overgrazing and unauthorised use of the land.
Landowners and authorised agencies may require the removal of animals if they pose a danger to the public or if welfare concerns are identified. Although landowners play a role in enforcement and protection of the commons, they cannot prevent lawful grazing where a person holds valid grazing rights for that land.
We hope this information helps Rhossili’s horses