Exmoor Ponies

The Trust currently owns two herds of ‘wild’ (free living) Exmoor ponies which are available to farmers and landowners to graze degraded areas of chalk grassland on the South Downs and heathland habitats in Ashdown Forest.

An Old Breed For a New Situation

The Exmoor Pony is probably an indigenous member of the wild fauna of the British Isles but it is now classed as an endangered breed. Probably the hardiest of British Ponies, it is highly suitable for low-quality grazing, able to maintain body condition well. The care of the ponies is undertaken by some fifty-plus volunteer members of the Trust (lookerers) who have been trained in the daily inspection of the ponies. They work under the supervision of our Grazing Co-ordinator and Equine Stockman, who between them have over 70 years professional experience in animal handling and conservation. Specialist veterinary skills are obtained when needed.

Ponies generally winter-graze the chalk grassland of the South Downs and summer-graze heathland on parts of Ashdown Forest, although this year (2009), the Trust has begun grazing a 103 hectare (one mile in length) block of heathland on a year-round basis. Extensive use is sometimes made of electric fencing to focus grazing on areas most in need or to limit the amount of fodder available to avoid health issues and to strengthen existing but poor farm fencing.

Major livestock movements take place generally in the April/May and September/October periods. To avoid introducing additional nutrients to these nutrient-poor habitats, the ponies are rarely fed. However, the ponies do thrive on the tough tor grass found on the South Downs and the similiar purple moor grass that is now so extensive on Ashdown. They will also to a degree, browse on shrubs, young trees and take bracken; they are able to graze very close to the ground.