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Ministers have confirmed that the current population of Dartmoor ponies will be preserved, alleviating earlier worries about the possibility of a large-scale cull. Concerns had been raised by campaigners after Natural England introduced new contracts aimed at reducing grazing on Devon’s moorland commons. These changes had led to fears that up to 90% of the ponies might be removed as part of meeting the new grazing restrictions.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) responded by clarifying that Dartmoor ponies will be excluded from the calculations involving stocking rates. This adjustment means that farmers will no longer have to choose between maintaining pony numbers and managing sheep or cattle herds. According to Defra, the ponies’ long-term survival is assured through a combination of fresh protections coupled with financial support measures. The government also stated that pony numbers will be continually monitored to ensure population stability across Dartmoor.
Dartmoor hill ponies have a history stretching back 4,500 years, though their numbers have drastically fallen—from an estimated 6,000 twenty-five years ago to fewer than 1,000 today—prompting their classification as an endangered breed. To address this, a new pony supplement will be introduced within farming incentive programs, designed to remove any economic motivations that might lead to a reduction in pony populations. Marian Spain, the chief executive of Natural England, emphasized the agency’s long-standing recognition of the ponies’ vital role in shaping the Dartmoor landscape. She said, “The government policy changes announced today will enable us to work with farmers to secure the agreements we need to recover nature on Dartmoor.”
The announcement was welcomed by local groups and campaigners, who expressed satisfaction with the measures set to protect the ponies. Catherine Anderson, head of operations at the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, described the support as “fantastic,” highlighting the importance of preserving the herds for future generations. Charlotte Faulkner, chairwoman of the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association, echoed these sentiments, stating, “This will support Dartmoor’s biodiversity, culture and tourism, keeping Dartmoor as we know and love it for generations to come.” Phil Stocker, chairman of the Dartmoor Land Use Management Group, noted that Defra’s decision reassured pony keepers that their breed remains “a valued and essential part of the ecology and culture of Dartmoor.
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