We are excited to invite you to join us for the first ever Learning Wild course at Knepp Wildland Project, 3,500 acres of stunning natural habitat, heaving with wildlife and home to 2 herds of free-living Exmoor ponies.

Since 2001, the land at Knepp - once intensively farmed - has been devoted to a pioneering rewilding project. Using grazing animals as the drivers of habitat creation, and with the restoration of dynamic, natural water courses, the project has seen extraordinary increases in wildlife. Extremely rare species like turtle doves, nightingales, peregrine falcons and purple emperor butterflies are now breeding here; and populations of more common species are rocketing.

There are around 30 ponies helping shape and improve the habitat on the estate. The projects aim is to allow the herds to enjoy as natural a life as possible by running mixed herds of entire males, females and their young, breeding a small amount of purebred, registered Exmoor pony foals each year

Join Dr. Emily Kieson as she conducts research in the social lives of horses and explores applications to domestic equine welfare and developing stronger friendships with our own horses.

Share the experience and enthusiasm for the observational study of free-living equines with Bonny Mealand who is passionate about enabling others to experience the richness of this perspective.

In addition to our guides there will be local experts and representatives from relevant organisations.

We invite you to explore thought provoking perspectives on horses, horse welfare, and sustainable horse keeping practices. By learning from experienced experts and through educational observation and discussions we can explore more about horses, our perceptions of them and how they choose to live when they have the freedom to do so.

The learning will be a mix of guided lessons, discussions and individual and/or group observations. We will examine how best to implement what we learn from our studies to enhance the health and well-being of domestic horses.

Buy 3 days of Learning Wild + 2 days of Equine Welfare Masterclass with Dr Marthe Kiley-Worthington for a discounted price, details at checkout.