Horses for conservation

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Cneifiwr

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Hi everyone
I am a horse owner/rider, my wife and I are regular hunters, we are also farmers and i have entered into a conservation scheme that requires grazing by Horses, not ponies as they need to poach some wetter areas with large hoof prints.
Anyone any ideas on were i could get a couple of horses or larger ponies (with big hooves), they would need to be hardy, live out all winter. Feral or semi- feral would be considerd or what we were thinking if there were a couple of nice old mares wanting a new home instead of having to go tothe meat man!
They must be native breeds.

Any ideas people ?
Thanks
 
Thanks, looks as if theres plenty of choice ! But what breeds would suit us? Were thinking Irish Draught, but are there any other breeds we should look into? Any smaller breeds with large hoofs? Highland? Exmoor? How big are these ponies?
 
Cneifiwr said:
Thanks, looks as if theres plenty of choice ! But what breeds would suit us? Were thinking Irish Draught, but are there any other breeds we should look into? Any smaller breeds with large hoofs? Highland? Exmoor? How big are these ponies?
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Highlands could be a good option - they are reasonably heavy for their size, and do have largish feet (comparing to connies and other things their size). They will live out all year, good doers, won't need rugging etc if they aren't decrepit. They come in at 13.2hh-14hh, although the trend is often for the bigger end, and you'll find the odd cheeky 14.3hh that is passported as 14.2 ;).
 
It's not so much what sort of horse you think you need but what sort of horse that would cope with those conditions. Specific breeds have been chosen for their ability to withstand the conditions to graze wetland areas in Suffolk and Norfolk. Small herds graze areas together and I believe, they are moved from area to area. Maybe contact the conservation trusts and see if they can help or give you advice?
http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/reserves/dunwich-forest
http://www.sussexponygrazing.co.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redgrave_and_Lopham_Fen
 
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I'm sure you could argue the point that ponies are a far better option and will still poach the ground. This a specialist subject of mine, pm me if you want more advice.
 
My 14.3 gypsy cob has huge feet, bigger than my friends 16hh horse they care very good doers as well. The smaller pony gypsycobs may well have big feet for their size. We have tiny ponies on the sandstone trail at Bickerton for conservation. They're only 11hh or so and are there to help it remain lowland Heath. Tiny feet thank fully as my silly spaniel got too close and ended up with a kick (she wasn't interested in the pony but just wandered too close!)
 
Please do consider using some cobs/horses from one of the charties, there are so many young native type having to be 'rescued' as they get abandoned that all the charities are struggling to make room for new urgent cases.

I have two native coloured cobs from the Blue Cross, they have grown a lot in the last year and do have large feet. They live out all year with shelter and no rugs at 1000ft, they are doing really well.
 
I have 7 feral Dartmoor hill pony yearlings direct from the moor. They are kept on the country estate I work on and are utilised very successfully by the estate for conservation grazing and by our charity for supported learning and volunteering for NEET and vulnerable/behavioural/disabilities young people.

Whilst small, ranging from 9-13hh currently, they do a marvellous job. These 7 will be sponsored and rehomed in time, after I complete their training. Otherwise they would likely have gone for the zoo meat scheme.

I'd not rule out ponies from our own example, but I'd definitely agree with rehoming some vulnerable equines from charitable organisations.
 
FfionWinnie said:
I'm sure you could argue the point that ponies are a far better option and will still poach the ground. This a specialist subject of mine, pm me if you want more advice.
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I have to disagree. We had ponies, then cobs and two big ISH horses, and the ISH (especially the big 17h chunk) are in another league when it comes to sinking in and poaching... We nickname him the walking rotavator. However ponies would perhaps cope better?
 
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