Endangered breed’s new role in conservation
Four Exmoor ponies have been introduced to 60 acres of land in Carmarthenshire, Wales, in order to enhance the area’s biodiversity.
Adam and Louise Bourns took on the once intensively farmed land in 2013, intending to rewild the site and maximise its wildlife but without it becoming overgrown.
“Our aim for the land is to increase biodiversity in line with the ethics of our Under Starry Skies eco-business,” said Adam, whose land is a mix of woodland, meadow and wetland on the edge of the Brecon Beacons Dark Sky Reserve.
“The ponies are a great asset; they fit so well in the landscape and warm our hearts. They’re doing a wonderful job foraging many different vegetation types and supporting the ecosystem.”
The Exmoor is a hardy breed that can exist without human interaction. They grow thick coats for warmth and are astute foragers, surviving on gorse when there is little grass in winter. This makes them a good choice for conservation and rewilding projects, but they are also a popular family pony type.
The breed is classed as endangered by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, with only 50 ponies surviving the war. Thanks to the Exmoor Pony Society’s work there are now over 500 ponies in 20 free-roaming herds in Exmoor National Park, plus more than 3,500 registered elsewhere in the UK and abroad.