Natural England and MPs are urging the government to amend its livestock rules to prevent a potential cull of semi-wild ponies on Dartmoor. The ponies, which have roamed the moor for over 4,000 years, face a threat due to Defra's policy that fails to distinguish between ponies and sheep in grazing agreements.
Under new government plans, commoners who graze animals on the moor must reduce livestock numbers to access stewardship funds. Since sheep are more commercially valuable, farmers are likely to cull ponies first. Natural England sources say the rules, drafted by Defra, treat all livestock equally, despite ponies being crucial for conservation grazing by eating tough vegetation like molinia grass and gorse.
There are fewer than 1,000 Dartmoor hill ponies, down from about 7,000 in 1999. A government-commissioned review in 2022 warned Natural England against actions that reduce pony numbers, calling them 'invaluable for conservation grazing'. However, Natural England's aim to destock the moors by 76% to prevent overgrazing could lead to a 90% reduction in ponies.
Local MPs, including Labour's Steve Race and Liberal Democrat Caroline Voaden, are calling for a carve-out for ponies. Race said: 'The ponies are not livestock – they’ve existed as an integral part of Dartmoor’s ecosystem for thousands of years.' Defence minister Luke Pollard has also written to Defra seeking protection for the ponies.
Joss Hibbs of the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association said: 'Natural England is putting ponies in direct competition with commercial livestock... Their plans disregard the scientific evidence and could decimate an endangered species.' MPs are meeting Defra ministers next week to discuss the issue.
