Over 7,500 of you have signed a letter to protect Exmoor and Dartmoor ponies. Today, I can tell you, we're half way there.
I wrote to Natural England directly and asked them, in writing, to answer three plain questions: are there any plans to change grazing on Exmoor, will the Dartmoor approach be applied here, and do they value the Exmoor pony?
Their answers are clear. Because of your pressure, they have confirmed in writing that there are no current plans to change grazing on Exmoor. They recognise the Exmoor pony as a rare breed and a vital conservation grazer, and Exmoor National Park has said the same.
Reassurances given today are welcome, but have to hold when agreements come up for renewal, which is exactly where the trouble began on Dartmoor.
I have submitted freedom of information requests to Defra and the Rural Payments Agency, which run the funding schemes, to uncover their plans and hold them to the same standards.
There is also something lasting you can do right now. The Exmoor Pony Society is building a gene bank to preserve the breed's genetics as insurance against any future disaster, so we never come close to losing them.
If you want to protect our ponies for generations to come, please donate using the link below 👇
