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Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Depending on location, some wild horses are still truly wild, while others are feral horses - those whose ancestors were domesticated, but were set free or broke free in the past - now living freely. The main difference being the changes in biology over time through artificial breeding, and potential new behaviors. For example it is hard for scientists to tell if the (relatively) newly introduced Spanish-introduced horses in North America graze or otherwise behave like the now-extinct wild horses that disappeared before European settlers came on the scene.
It is these types of questions and noticeable damage to certain ecosystems which can make the difference between a beneficial wild horse population vs invasive feral horse populations in an environment.
Some conservationists have used close relatives, or artificially bred recreations of extinct horse species to try to repair landscapes. For example the Konik horse, which is used frequently for rewilding, but which in fact shares less genetics with tarpans than some of the other available breeds of horses.
Name and Etymology
Name and Etymology
"Over the past decades there has been semantic confusion about the use of the words Konik and Tarpan. Konik horses are not direct descendants from the Tarpan, the European wild horse, as is often stated. The last Tarpan in the wild was killed in 1879 in Western Russia, while the last captive Tarpan died in Moscow zoo in 1905 (photo left). In the 1930s a new breed called Konik emerged in Poland. The official local name for Konik horses is “Konik Polski”, literally “little Polish horse”. Konik horses are imported to European countries for rewilding purposes, however since the term Konik is not immediately clear for the general public, the word “horse” was added. In that way this farmers’ horse from Poland became the Konik horse, which means “little horse horse”.
Just like the Konik horse is not a Tarpan, the Tarpan is not “the” European wild horse. The name Tarpan was derived from a Turkic language by Russian Zoologist Peter Simon Pallas in 1780 (literally meaning “wild horse”) to describe the wild horses discovered on the steppes of Eastern Europe in the 18th century. Considering the tarpan to be “the” European primitive wild horse which emerged at the beginning of the Holocene period, is scientifically not correct. Polymorphism, including geographical variation and subspecies, was certain in this vast and ecologically varied bio-geographical region. This variability within the wild ancestors of the horse paved the way for the variety of domestic breeds that currently exist.
There are many so-called primitive, “forgotten” horse breeds that are genetically closer to the original European wild horse, like the Exmoor ponies in the UK, the Fjord horse in Norway, or the Sorraia, Pottoka, Asturcón, the Losino, the Galician, the Landais and Monchino horses in Spain." - Rewilding Academy: Konik horses are Not Tarpans
Reasons to Use Native Equine Breeds for Rewilding
Reasons to Use Native Equine Breeds for Rewilding
"The Konik is sometimes said to have descended directly from the wild Tarpan, an ancient wild horse that was naturally well-adapted for survival in multiple habitats. While the hardy and versatile Konik demonstrates some wild trait characteristics, morphological and skull analysis have suggested the Konik is actually not closely related to the Tarpan. By unravelling one ancient horse genome, knowledge on this subject has increased enormously. Nevertheless, there is much still to be studied and clarified.
One common reason for choosing Koniks is the belief that moorland specialists such as the Exmoor pony would not thrive in wetland habitats, eschewing water and mud in the depths of winter. But this doesn’t bear scrutiny. There are many sites currently using Exmoors successfully to graze wetland habitats including St Marys Island, Grange Bog and Druridge Wetland Reserve.
The Exmoor is a prime example of how British native ponies can provide grazing and management solutions for multiple habitats, often thriving in areas considered dissimilar to their traditional home range. Small and able to survive almost anywhere, the Exmoor is an extremely hardy breed tolerant of most weather conditions due to their double winter coat. They are intelligent and adaptable, seen to exhibit problem solving behaviour in semi-feral situations such as breaking ice on frozen water. Their varied diet willingly includes a variety of grasses including rank Tor grass, sedges, course herbs some browse. This diet changes with the seasons avoiding environmental pressure.
Using equines on softer ground can create bare patches which in moderation benefits various species. Smaller native breed ponies are suitable for grazing on softer soils as their foot size and agility helps to reduce poaching making them ideal where larger breeds or species may not be viable." - Wildlife & Countryside: Why You Should be Using Native Ponies for Conservation Grazing
"Though strongly grass based, native equines are highly adaptable foragers and adjust their intake dependant on environment. One example is the New Forest ponies which have been seen to consume large quantities of bracken once the toxicity decreases with no apparent ill effects.
Both Fell and Highland ponies have been observed consuming reed and rush throughout the year, with the Highland known to develop additional hair on the top lip if browsing gorse. Both breeds thrive on rough grazing and have been used on extensive conservation sites. Where available, sedges can become important as autumn and winter forage; rushes, particularly Soft Rush, can be consumed in large amounts. The uprooting of plants such as nettles may occur during winter.
These examples show the resourcefulness and versatility of our native breeds. Equine breeds which evolved in the British climate and have adapted to a variety of British habitats can be used to great effect to conserve, maintain, manage and solve a multitude of conservation conundrums. Utilising native breeds in this way enables the conservation and maintenance of the sites they are grazing but also the conservation and distribution of our rare and native equines.
The possibility of additional grazing allows breeders to run on stock that may not have been possible and it allows our native equines to prove themselves in habitats with which they may not have been associated previously, increasing their reputation for versatility. Eriskay ponies have been used for conservation grazing in Cumbria, a breed traditionally associated with their Scottish island home. Conservation grazing provides an outlet for ponies who may not be suited to a ridden or driven career as well as youngsters and breeding individuals.
British native equines graze a myriad of habitats the length and breadth of the country. From Dartmoor ponies on the cliffs of Dover, Eriskays in Cumbria, Exmoors in Yorkshire, Fells in the Lake district and Highlands in the Highlands, whether in their native range or miles from home they perform important roles. They maintain condition easily, can withstand the worst of British weather and survive and thrive in various habitats." - Wildlife & Countryside: Why You Should be Using Native Ponies for Conservation Grazing
Rewilding with Horses
Rewilding with Horses
North America
North America
USA
USA
"Another reason given by the BLM for the continued removal of wild horses from public rangelands is their status as a non-native species. There are three dominant theories of the native classification of wild horses;
(1) That the species originated in North America, spread to Europe, then went extinct in its homeland before being reintroduced as a domestic species in the 1400s and is therefore a genetically native species reoccupying the vacant niches of the North American prairie;
(2) That the species originated in North America, spread to Europe, then went extinct in its homeland before being reintroduced as a domestic species in the 1400s and is therefore an invasive species;
(3) That the species originated in North America, spread to Europe, and continued to exist in the Americas in reduced numbers well past the end of the Pleistocene era, then interbred and hybridized with domestic horses which were brought over by colonists in the 1400s, increasing their numbers."
"In all of these theories, there is no debate that horses originated in North America between 4 and 4.5 million years ago. There is a saying amongst several plains First Nation tribes; “The grass remembers the horses.” As a keystone species in the grassland ecology of the prehistoric continent, horses thrived and spread from North America to other continents. According to the dominant Western historical perspective, horses eventually died out in their homeland near the end of the Pleistocene along with much of the other megafauna of the American plains. This major extinction was allegedly triggered by early human hunting and climatic changes. In contrast to this widely accepted history, several first nation tribes allege that the aboriginal North American horse survived through the end of the Pleistocene and were integral to the pre-colonial contact culture of Great Plains tribes. This claim is backed up by petroglyphs of wild horses dated hundreds of years prior to Columbus’s arrival and the more commonly accepted time that horses were reintroduced to the continent between 1493 and 1540.
Still, in mainstream science, the arrival of horses back to their ancestral homeland is attributed to Columbus and other Spanish explorers, who bred horses in their missions and colonies, spreading the species across the plains. Today, the United States subscribes to the theory that considers mustangs to be an invasive species, rather than a native species returning home to fill a vacant niche, and their management and status within the regulatory bodies of the government is indicative of this classification." - Rewilding: Rewilding with Wild Horses
Types of Wild Horse
Types of Wild Horse
Breeds Adapted or Bred for Rewilding
Breeds Adapted or Bred for Rewilding
Fell Ponies
Fell Ponies
"‘At Risk’ breed from the Cumbrian fells that is hardy and versatile – well suited to upland and open landscape projects. Successfully employed on a number of sites. Large size." - Ruth on the Hoof: Grazing Directory
Grayson Highlands Ponies
Grayson Highlands Ponies
These carefree equines are the descendants of 50 (supposedly) Assateague and Chincoteague ponies, released into Grayson Highlands State Park, Virginia, in 1975.
"To control the growth of brush along the balds, which are a man-made landscape forged by extensive logging operations in the late 19th century. The balds maintained a clear-cut appearance through the first half of the 20th century due to cattle ranching, but after the area was transformed into a state park in 1965, there were no more cows to keep the brush in check." - Tree Hugger: Meet the Wild Ponies of Grayson Highlands State Park
Hucul Horses
Hucul Horses
"The Hucul horse’s history is deeply rooted in the Carpathian Mountains, spanning regions of Poland, Ukraine, Romania, and Slovakia. Its origins can be traced back to the primitive forest horse, and through centuries of natural selection and selective breeding, the Hucul evolved into a distinct and hardy breed. The first mentions trace back to the 15th century, when influences from Mongolian horses brought by invading Tatars. Named after the Hutsul people of the Carpathians, these horses have been selectively bred for centuries to adapt to the difficult mountainous life, resulting in a breed known for its robust health, longevity, and gentle temperament."
...
"Traditionally, Huculs have been used for light draft and pack work in their mountainous homeland, capable of carrying heavy loads over difficult terrain. Today, they are also popular for leisure riding, therapeutic riding programs, and as a breed for preserving biodiversity in mountain ecosystems." - The Pixel Nomad: Hucul Horse
New Forest Ponies
New Forest Ponies
"The New Forest ponies will usually eat grass, especially during the spring and summer when it is plentiful. Their constant grass grazing is incredibly important to the landscape of the New Forest as, without it, the open forest and heathland would soon turn to scrubland.
During the winter, once most of the grass has been eaten and doesn’t grow back as quickly, the ponies may also eat holly and gorse to help supplement their diet. Some ponies also choose to eat acorns, despite the fact that they are poisonous to them due to the high levels of tannin inside. There are however a few ponies who seem to have a higher tolerance of acorns, and usually eating a few acorns is harmless. The problem comes when they are eaten in large quantities, which can cause problems for the ponies’ digestive system and kidneys.
Fortunately, the forest’s ecosystem has a way of taking care of the poisonous acorn problem. Every autumn, during a time of year known as the Pannage season, Commoners release their pigs, who are immune to the acorns, to gorge on them. Not only will the ponies be less susceptible to acorn poisoning but the New Forest’s pigs get fed too!" - New Forest Living: New Forest Ponies
"The New Forest Pony is a recognised British Isles breed but has an unusual background for a native pony breed. The earliest record of horses in the New Forest dates back to 1016 when rights of common pasture were granted to the people living in what was a royal hunting ground. Since then, either as specific attempts to improve the breed or just as part of the normal life and trade in the New Forest, many outside breeds were introduced. Notable blood lines were Welsh, Thoroughbred, Arab and Hackney. Later, another concerted effort was made to improve the New Forest blood and other British Isles pony blood-lines were introduced to achieve this, including Fell Ponies, Dales, Highlands, Dartmoor and Exmoor." - New Forest Pony Breeding & Cattle Society
Welsh Mountain Ponies
Welsh Mountain Ponies
"Welsh Mountain ponies are just one member of a larger group of closely related equines known as the Welsh Pony and Cob. All of these breeds originate in Wales long before the rise of the Roman Empire.
The Welsh Mountain Pony (Section A of the breed group) likely descended from a prehistoric Celtic pony, and while many have been domesticated, there is still a herd of nearly 200 individuals roaming the Carneddau hills of Snowdonia, Wales." - TreeHugger: Feral Horse Colonies from Around the World
Feral Horses
Feral Horses
These are generally descended from horses or ponies who have escaped or been set free. When living in environments unsuited to them, these animals can cause serious ecological harm.
Banker Horses
Banker Horses
"The Banker horse is a breed[1] of semi-feral or feral horse (Equus ferus caballus) living on barrier islands in North Carolina's Outer Banks. It is small, hardy, and has a docile temperament, and is genetically related to the Carolina Marsh Tacky of South Carolina and Florida Cracker Horse breeds through their shared Colonial Spanish horse and Iberian horse descent. The current population of wild Banker horses is estimated to be about 400.
Bankers are allowed to remain on the islands due to their historical significance even though they can trample plants and ground-nesting animals and are not considered to be indigenous. They survive by grazing on marsh grasses, which supply them with water as well as food, supplemented by temporary freshwater pools.
To prevent overpopulation and inbreeding, and to protect their habitat from being overgrazed, the horses are managed by the National Park Service, the state of North Carolina, and several private organizations. The horses are monitored for diseases, such as equine infectious anemia, an outbreak of which was discovered and subsequently eliminated on Shackleford in 1996. They are safeguarded from traffic on North Carolina Highway 12. Island populations are limited by adoptions and by birth control. Bankers taken from the wild and trained have been used for trail riding, driving, and occasionally for mounted patrols." - Wikipedia: Banker Horse
Brumbies
Brumbies
"Brumbies are feral horses that roam free in Australia. Although bands of brumbies are found throughout the continent, the most well-known populations are found in the Northern Territory and Queensland.
Like many invasive species in Australia, brumbies are the descendents of escaped, released or lost animals that date back to the time of the first European settlements on the continent.
Due to the serious ecological threats they pose to native plants and wildlife, they are generally considered pests. But as with any population control methods for invasive species, the subject of brumby management is mired in controversy." - TreeHugger: Feral Horse Colonies from Around the World
Chincoteague Ponies
Chincoteague Ponies
"Chincoteague ponies are one of the most well-known feral equines on the East Coast.
While they are often referred to as "ponies" due to their appearance, they are actually more genotypically similar to horses.
The term "Chincoteague" also leads to confusion because the horses technically live on Assateague Island, which is split in half by the border of Maryland and Virginia. The ponies on the Maryland side live in Assateague Island National Seashore while the Virginia ponies live within Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge."
Cumberland Island Horses
"Descended from a stock brought over to the island from mainland Georgia in the 19th century, Cumberland's feral horses number between 150 to 200 individuals. They are treated as any other wild creature and are not provided any assistance. While they're quite lovely to look at from afar, they can be quite physically defensive when approached too closely." - TreeHugger: Feral Horse Colonies from Around the World
Danube Delta Horses
Danube Delta Horses
"These picturesque creatures live among the wetlands and forests of Romania's Danube Delta region.
While there has been a feral horse presence in this area for centuries, the number of individuals has ballooned to 4,000 since the 1990s as a result of humans closing their farms and releasing their livestock into the wild.
Though the horses are an obvious subject of inspiration and curiosity, their unchecked numbers pose serious threats to indigenous plant life." - TreeHugger: Feral Horse Colonies from Around the World
Mustangs
Mustangs
Namib Desert Horses
Namib Desert Horses
"These exceedingly rare feral horses are found in the Namib Desert of Namibia, Africa. The story behind their introduction into this harsh terrain remains unclear, though there are some theories that their ancestors were former German cavalry horses brought to the area during World War I.
They currently roam the desert's Garub Plains, where they're allowed to remain as a tourist draw and historical oddity. To protect them, their grazing lands were incorporated into Namib-Naukluft Park in 1986." - TreeHugger: Feral Horse Colonies from Around the World
Benefits of Wild Horses & Ponies
Benefits of Wild Horses & Ponies
Ecological Impacts
Ecological Impacts
Wild horses and ponies in their natural habitats act as keystone species. Not only do they forage for species that others such as sheep wont touch, but they help boost population numbers of rare butterflies, frogs, lizards, and a variety of flies and beetles. Even birds and bees benefit from wild horses and ponies. - Friends of the Dartmoor Hill Pony: A Keystone Species
Conservation Grazing and Invasive Suppression
Conservation Grazing and Invasive Suppression
Dartmoor ponies are known to eat plants that other grazing animals avoid, including some invasive species. This may provide communities with low-impact land management, year round since Dartmoor ponies are hardy enough to subsist of low-quality forage and extreme weather.
Wild to Wonderful notes that "conservation grazing by Dartmoor Hill Ponies leads to greater biodiversity, particularly supporting habitats for the rare Marsh Fritillary Butterfly and suppressing invasive Molinia. Because of their rare alleles, they can conservation graze, even at high altitudes, year-round."
"Molinia is an aggressive and dominant grass which overwhelms less robust species, and managing it sustainably presents a serious challenge. Changes in management and climate have favoured Molinia and it is now a major issue for many upland areas across the UK. It creates a poor habitat and is very prone to wildfire, but at locations where we placed the salt blocks, the increased grazing and trampling activity of the ponies led to a reduction in sward height and Molinia cover. This facilitated increased germination and establishment of Calluna seedlings and plant species diversity." - Univerity of Plymouth: Research Suggests Dartmoors Ponies Could Play a Critical Role in its Future Health
Carbon Sequestration
Carbon Sequestration
Problems with Feral Horses & Ponies
Problems with Feral Horses & Ponies
Ecological Impacts
Ecological Impacts
Overgrazing
Overgrazing
"The National Park Service (NPS) is concerned about the impact of Bankers on the environmental health of North Carolina's barrier islands. Initially, the NPS believed that the introduced Banker horses would completely consume the Spartina alterniflora grasses and the maritime forests, as both were thought to be essential to their survival.[22] Research in 1987 provided information on the horses' diet that suggested otherwise. Half of their diet consisted of Spartina, while only 4% of their nutrients came from the maritime forest. The study concluded that sufficient nutrients were replenished with each ocean tide to prevent a decline in vegetative growth from overgrazing.[23]" - Wikipedia: Banker Horse
Trampling
Trampling
"A 2004 study declared that the greatest impact on plant life was not from grazing, but from the damage plants sustained when trampled by the horses' hooves.[20] Banker horses - an introduced species - pose a threat to native ground-nesting animals, such as sea turtles and shorebirds. Feral horses interrupt nesting activities[24] and can crush the young.[22]" - Wikipedia: Banker Horse
Horses and Ponies are Water Hogs
Horses and Ponies are Water Hogs
Wild animals may need supplemental water, especially in summer and during droughts.
Feral horses may cause damage when too many animals use the same watering hole, trampling plants, stirring up mud (which can hurt or suffocate aquatic organisms), and in severe cases horses may lower local water security.
Projects & Programs
Projects & Programs
Asia
Asia
Mongolia
Mongolia
"Tracking the movement of each reintroduced group has also been decisive in the reintroduction actions. For instance, knowing precisely where the horses were going led to actions to prevent horses living in the Kalamaii nature reserve (China) from going too far North during each winter4. Harsh climatic conditions combined with competition with other species could have been fatal to the Przewalski’s population. Besides, correlations between location of reintroductions and their success revealed which projects were the most successful and thus what were the most favourable conditions for reintroductions. In the end, most reintroduction projects were successful, and today, the global population of Przewalski’shorses counts approximately 1,900 individuals in zoos and reintroduction reserves." - Past Present and Future of an Endangered Species the Przewalskis Horse
UK
UK
Grazing Directory "a list of contacts for a range of UK & Ireland native pony breeds. Arrangements are bespoke, with some organisations offering permanent long-term loan (and welfare checking), short-term grazing, and even permanent sale & adoption. It is important to find the arrangement that is most suitable and viable, along with the right breed, for the habitat (each breed comes from a different region and is suited to the grazing and habitats found there). In the directory you will find contacts and organisations for each breed. Each listing will be able to source varying amounts of ponies over varying timescales and locations. The idea of this Directory is to help get connected with ponies across the UK."
Dartmoor Pony Conservation: Conservation Grazing "Our comprehensive conservation grazing service is perfect for those managing land for nature.
Because our ponies are handled to Conservation Grazing level, day-to-day herd management is safe and easy. We provide training courses for wardens, rangers and volunteers involved in the herd’s daily care and welfare. We’re always delighted to recommend the most suitable stock for your situation and we’ll even deliver the ponies to your grazing site."
North America
North America
USA
USA
BLM: Wild Horse and Burro Program "The Bureau of Land Management manages and protects wild horses and burros on 26.9 million acres of public lands across 10 Western states as part of its mission to administer public lands for a variety of uses. The Wild Horse and Burro Program's goal is to manage healthy wild horses and burros on healthy public rangelands."
Class Materials
Class Materials
BLM: Educational Resources "The history, ecology and management of wild horses and burros on public lands are fascinating topics for all ages. The BLM encourages students, teachers and anybody else interested in learning about wild horses and burros to explore these resources and discover why these living legends are so ingrained in the cultural heritage of the United States, and why management is so important to their wellbeing.
Additional BLM educational resources can be found in Classrooms Investigations."
Horse/Pony Breed Conservation Plans
Horse/Pony Breed Conservation Plans
Handlingsplan for Nasjonale Hesteraser "«Handlingsplan for bevaring og utvikling av de nasjonale hesteraser 2021-2030» ble vedtatt i 2021, og omfatter dølahest, fjordhest, nordlandshest/lyngshest og kaldblodstraver."
Organizations
Organizations
International
International
The Rewilding Institute "We live for the day when Gray Wolves and Grizzly Bears have connected habitat from Mexico to Alaska, when Pumas have reclaimed their homelands East and West, when salmon and other migratory fish swim freely up and down our continents’ rivers, when the oceans are teeming with whales and sharks, and when all native species regain natural patterns of abundance and distribution."
Europe
Europe
Rewilding Europe "is working to bring back free-ranging populations of horses, all across Europe. Currently we are working with six breeds that are fit for rewilding. These horses are grazing under natural conditions in our rewilding landscapes in Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Ukraine and Bulgaria. In 2023, the first release of Przewalski’s horses took place in the Iberian Highlands landscape in Spain. As an endangered subspecies of the wild horse, the Przewalski’s horse is considered the world’s last truly wild horse."
Norway
Norway
Norsk Hestesenter "har hatt ansvar for utarbeidelse av planen, sammen med organisasjonene for de nasjonale hesterasene, representant fra faginstitusjon/forskningsmiljøet på NMBU og representant for det veterinærfaglige."
UK
UK
The Dartmoor Hill Pony Association (DHPA) " is a membership organisation for hill-farmers using their ancient right to graze ponies on the commons of Dartmoor all year round. It is the Breeders’ Association for the Native Semi-wild Dartmoor Hill Pony Population.
To be a member, a Dartmoor hill-farmer must have paid Dues to the Dartmoor Commoners’ Council and be using rights registered at the Dartmoor Commoners’ Council office, grazing their herd all year round. Members pay an annual subscription to the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association to help fund activities and projects for the benefit of pony-keepers."Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust "Our ponies originate from the moor’s ancient herds and are all passported with the Dartmoor Pony Society. They’re tough, robust and surefooted, and they thrive in harsh moorland conditions. The ponies are particularly good at tackling the current environmental challenges the moor faces thanks to their grazing style and behaviour.
Heritage Dartmoor ponies are increasingly rare, however. Over the past seventy years the herds have shrunk and their numbers plummeted. We face a future when Dartmoor has no ponies and our beloved Dartmoor landscape is changed forever."The Eriskay Pony Society "Protecting and Promoting Scotland's Ancient Hebridean Ponies"
Friends of the Dartmoor Hill Pony "Dartmoor needs its ponies to graze the moor effectively and traditional herds, running with a stallion will breed – it’s nature! Though stallions are controlled and quality inspected there is a surplus of foals every year and part of our aim is to work out ways of lessening and dealing with the surplus."
People Ponies "is a pony sanctuary based in Devon specialising in helping wild and traumatised ponies. As well as being home to ponies that are too traumatised by their experiences of people to find "normal homes", we are very pro-active and successful with our campaigning work.
We work to create changes that make a real difference to the ponies - by getting a ban on mutilating identification procedures (such as ear notching and hot branding) and improving welfare standards at markets.
We have also trained others in the special methods we use for working with wild ponies - including the Animal Rescue division of our regional Fire Brigade. Our charity is run entirely by volunteers and every penny we raise goes directly on the ponies and helping with our campaigning work."Rare Breeds Survival Trust "Help us conserve and promote our UK native livestock and equine breeds"
North America
North America
USA
USA
American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) "is the nation's champion for humane, in-the-wild protection of wild horses and burros on our public lands."
American Wild Horse Foundation "our Mission is to create a responsible and sustainable model that will preserve wild horses for generations to come. Inherent in our Mission is our belief that the magnificence and wonder of our wild horses belongs to all Americans.
Each of us should have the ability to access, learn about and interact with our national treasure. Moreover, we suspect that every American may find that their own cultural heritage is carried in a wild horse herd roaming free on America’s range."BLM: Wild Horse and Burro Program "The Bureau of Land Management manages and protects wild horses and burros on 26.9 million acres of public lands across 10 Western states as part of its mission to administer public lands for a variety of uses. The Wild Horse and Burro Program's goal is to manage healthy wild horses and burros on healthy public rangelands."
Virginia
Wilburn Ridge Pony Association "To maintain a balance between the ponies and the environment, the Wilburn Ridge Pony Association was established in 1975 to monitor the herd and facilitate an annual auction of any excess colts. The proceeds of the auctions, sometimes as much as $500,000 go toward supporting the remaining herd; some of the earnings are earmarked for two local fire departments as well."
Maps
Maps
Asia
Asia
China
China
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Mongolia
Mongolia
Europe
Europe
Rewilding Europe: Rewildable Horses in Europe Map "The European wild horse is officially extinct, but at the same time still present in many different types of feral horses. From Exmoor ponies in Western Europe to Hucul in the Eastern parts of the continent, several primitive horse breeds still have many characteristics of the original wild horse and are suitable for rewilding and regaining their place in European ecosystems. Horses used to live in the wild and in natural social groups are preferred above other breeds.
The horse breeds suitable for rewilding are strong, robust and pony-sized animals with little human intervention in their breeding or selection. Some of them may have ancient, wild genetic traits and many have a feral history. Very often it is a mixture of those two aspects that make them adequate for rewilding.
After a process of rewilding, the founding mix of breeds will no longer be purebred, but will gradually change to rewilded horse types. Rewilding Europe is using these horse breeds in their rewilding areas across Europe."
Belarus & Ukraine
Belarus & Ukraine
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory: Rare Wild Horses are Seen Living Among Abandoned Homes in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone After Scientists Set Up Hidden Cameras "Przewalski’s horses, which are native to Mongolia, have been seen living in buildings in Belarus deserted following the nuclear power plant accident that killed 42 people at the time and led to the deaths of nearly 100 in the years that followed.
Motion-activated cameras set up by scientists captured more than 11,000 photographs of the stocky endangered species sheltering in empty barns and homes in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) over the course of a year.
A total of 36 Przewalski’s horses were brought to the border of Belarus and Ukraine 15 years ago to increase biodiversity in the fall-out area.
Researchers at the University of Georgia found rare Przewalski’s horses using the abandoned structures near the Ukraine/Belarus border for cover for hours on end
More than 11,000 pictures of rare Przewalski’s horses were taken showing the equine species using barns as shelters in the Exclusion Zone (CEZ) in Belarus
Within four years, the population almost doubled – and now scientists have discovered the horses are taking advantage of the abandoned buildings in the CEZ, which stretches over Ukraine and Belarus."
Grants & Funding
Grants & Funding
Europe
Europe
UK
UK
The Eriskay Pony Society: Breeding Grant "As with any breed, breeding from your Eriskay pony can be costly. To help with this we can offer the possibility of a breeding grant, supported by a number of generous benefactors, to help with breeding registered Eriskay ponies. Please note that applications must be received by the Society before the end of July each year.
In common with most breed societies we are required to prove ancestry in our stud book and we do this by DNA sampling of all breeding stock. For this reason, before you send your mare to a stallion, it is vitally important that you check that the stallion you are intending to use to has been DNA tested.
To qualify for an Eriskay Pony Society Breeding Grant, you must be a current member of the Society and your pony should be registered with EPS. To protect the long term viability of the breed and minimise inbreeding, the mare and stallion should also be an appropriate match as identified by SPARKS(Explanation) which gives a recommended breeding profile for every registered Eriskay pony."
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