Manipuri Pony Society conducts Pony Health Camp

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 21: The Manipuri Pony Society today organised a one-day Pony Health Camp at the Manipuri Pony Breeding Farm, Lamphelpat, under the aegis of the Directorate of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Services.
The camp was organised in collaboration with the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association and the Manipur Equestrian Association.
It aimed to provide general medical check-ups and raise basic awareness among pony owners about common and monsoon-specific ailments.
Speaking on the sidelines, Dr Romi Maibam, Medicine Specialist at the State Veterinary Hospital, Sanjenthong, said that the camp will surely help State ponies fight monsoon and other ailments.
"The timely camp will also help State ponies maintain health and fitness to perform their best in upcoming polo tournaments," Dr Romi said, expressing confidence that such camps will be held at regular intervals.
He added that the camp records various health parameters and vital information to provide treatment accordingly. He also stressed the need for regular deworming to fight various ailments, especially those prevalent during the monsoon season.
Furthermore, Dr Romi highlighted the thoughtful gestures of foreign players, noting that they refuse to mount ponies with even minor injuries or scratches during past tournaments hosted in the State.
L Bedamani, general secretary of the Manipuri Pony Society, also spoke on the importance of the camp and the timely treatment of medical conditions in ponies.
The camp not only studies and provides treatment to ponies but also educates owners on various ailments and preventive measures, Bedamani said.
Meanwhile, Ningthoukhongjam Ibungochoubi, a member of the Manipuri Pony Society, highlighted the dwindling population of the rare pony species over the years.
The population of the Manipuri Pony dropped from 1,893 in the 2003 Quinquennial Livestock Census to 1,218 in 2007. The figure further dropped to around 1,000 in the following census, and the current population is expected to remain around the same level, he said. Maintaining that providing timely medical healthcare is key to preserving the pony population, he called upon all sections of society to join the cause.