Conservation grazing with Koniks

Konik ponies (Equus caballus) are a breed of pony that have been bred for their close resemblance of the extinct wild horse, the Tarpan.

The use of ponies as conservation grazers fills a different ecological niche, to that of cattle grazers, in a number of ways.

One such example is that ponies have top and bottom incisors. This means they can graze closer to the ground, creating bare patches of ground. In addition, they are selective grazers, meaning some areas within the reserves may be left untouched. This mosaic of habitats encourages a wider variety of plants and invertebrates.

Wildwood has provided Konik ponies to a number of nature reserves throughout the UK as part of conservation grazing and habitat restoration projects.