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All the United Kingdom England Devon Hollowcombe Bottom

Hollowcombe Bottom

The site of a mysterious pony massacre is rich with extraterrestrial conspiracy theories.

Devon, England

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Neil Armstrong
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Dartmoor   Herry Lawford/CC BY 2.0
A Dartmoor Pony   Andrew Wilkinson/CC BY 2.0
Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park   Andrea Vail/CC BY 2.0
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About

When Alan Hicks and his family decided to take a stroll through Dartmoor National Park in April of 1977, they never could have anticipated the mysterious and tragic scene they would find.

As they made their way through Hollowcombe Bottom, a part of the park just outside Postbridge, they approached a herd of about 15 Dartmoor ponies that appeared to be sleeping. Except upon closer examination, the family soon realized they weren’t intruding on a massive pony slumber party. Every equine was dead.

Dartmoor Ponies are commonly found in the park—after all, they’re native to the area and even inspired the park’s logo. It’s even possible to stumble upon an occasional dead pony. However, it’s unusual to find an entire deceased herd.

No one knows for sure what happened to the animals. They were found with broken limbs and bloodied flesh. It's said their bodies decomposed at an unnaturally fast rate. Theories range from parasites to lightning strikes to flash floods to satanic rituals.

Some people even blame aliens, saying the most plausible explanation is that a low-flying UFO swooped in and created a vortex that doomed the ponies. Extraterrestrial enthusiasts are convinced otherworldly beings are behind the curious deaths, though their motives remain unclear.

Related Tags

Nature History Horses Aliens Mystery Death Animals Ufos Landscapes Conspiracy Theories Parks National Parks

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Added By

Brainfreeze

Edited By

Kerry Wolfe

  • Kerry Wolfe

Published

July 6, 2017

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Sources
  • http://mysteriousuniverse.org/2012/10/mutilations-on-the-moor/
  • http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/ufo_ponies.htm
  • http://www.devonlive.com/author-blames-aliens-deaths-moor-ponies/story-12781026-detail/story.html
  • https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4333V_dartmoor-myths-legends-no-11-postbridge-ponies
Hollowcombe Bottom
Devon, England
United Kingdom
50.5971, -3.947039

Nearby Places

William Donaghy Memorial

Dartmoor National Park, England

miles away

Wistman's Wood

Devon, England

miles away

Postbridge Clapper Bridge

Postbridge, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Devon

Devon

England

Places 14
Stories 2

Nearby Places

William Donaghy Memorial

Dartmoor National Park, England

miles away

Wistman's Wood

Devon, England

miles away

Postbridge Clapper Bridge

Postbridge, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Devon

Devon

England

Places 14
Stories 2

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