Horses and ponies
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-30)

Find out how to manage and protect trees from domestic and feral horses and ponies (Equus ferus caballus).

Area and status

There are approximately 847,000 domestic and feral horses and ponies present in the UK. This includes populations of rare native breeds such as Exmoor, Dartmoor, Fell, Highland, and Eriskay ponies, which are often used for conservation grazing.

The welfare of domestic and feral horses and ponies (including donkeys and hybrids) is safeguarded under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/contents).

Associated treescapes
- upland broadleaved woodland (https://woodlandwildlifetoolkit.sylva.org.uk/advice-types-broadleaf)
- wood pasture, parkland, and orchards (https://woodlandwildlifetoolkit.sylva.org.uk/advice-types-broadleaf)
- feral horses and ponies most commonly occur in high-quality grasslands and are only rarely found in closed-canopy woodlands
Ecosystem services and impacts on biodiversity

Horses and ponies are selective grazers, preferring to eat certain plants while leaving others untouched.

This grazing behaviour can:
- create diverse vegetation mosaics, where closely grazed patches are mixed with undisturbed vegetation
- increase biodiversity and habitat variety
However, it may also present challenges if not managed properly. For example, high stocking densities can lead to excessive soil damage from overgrazing and trampling. This, in combination with the introduction of seeds from supplementary food, can lead to the overrepresentation of often invasive species such as nettles, dock, thistles, and buttercups.

Identification and assessment of damage and risk to trees

Although horses and ponies do not browse on woody species as often as other mammals, they may when other food sources are scarce. In these instances, they can damage shrubs and trees by stripping bark up to 2.5 metres high (depending on animal size). This damage is identifiable by the diagonal incisor marks from both jaws.

Horses and ponies may also rub against trees, which can cause bark damage and uproot newly-planted trees.

The woodland herbivore impact assessment method (https://www.forestry.gov.scot/publications/1480-the-woodland-herbivore-impact-assessment-method-user-guide) can help you:
- assess how horses and ponies affect woodland and potential wooded habitats
- evaluate recent trampling, browsing, or grazing effects on various plant indicators
- predict future changes in habitat structure and species composition
Managing horses and ponies in the landscape

Widespread use

Non-lethal control: stocking rate, stocking density, and timing and planting of grazing (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protecting-trees-from-mammal-damage-technical-guidance/managing-mammals-in-the-landscape#stocking).

In trial or development

Non-lethal control: immunocontraception (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protecting-trees-from-mammal-damage-technical-guidance/managing-mammals-in-the-landscape#immunocontraception).

Modifying horse and pony access to trees

Widespread use

Physical exclusion from an area: fencing (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protecting-trees-from-mammal-damage-technical-guidance/modifying-mammal-access-to-trees#exclusion-from-a-tree-or-shoot).

Occasional use

Physical exclusion from an individual tree or shoot: ‘natural’ physical protection (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protecting-trees-from-mammal-damage-technical-guidance/modifying-mammal-access-to-trees#exclusion-from-an-area).

Managing trees in the landscape

Occasional use

Adapting harvesting and felling regimes: increasing the height of coppicing and pollarding (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protecting-trees-from-mammal-damage-technical-guidance/managing-trees-in-the-landscape#coppicing-height).

Additional information, guidance and resources

Case studies, trials, and scientific research

Forestry England

Read more information about the unique landscape of the New Forest, which is grazed by free roaming ponies and other livestock (https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/the-new-forest-special-place).

Support, advice and guidance

How to Rewild

Animal guide for horses and ponies (https://howtorewild.co.uk/guide/horses/).