listening to the Scotland Outdoors podcast yesterday and they were discussing the introduction of Konik ponies into an area of marshland to help maintain wild areas
Konik pony, displaying dorsal line & other Physical Features
The Konik (Polish: konik polski or konik biłgorajski) or Polish primitive horse is a small horse, a kind of semi-feral horse, originating in Poland. The Polish word konik (plural koniki) is the diminutive of koń, the Polish word for "horse" (sometimes confused with kuc, kucyk meaning "pony"). However, the name "konik" or "Polish konik" is used to refer to certain specific breeds. Koniks show many primitive markings including a dun coat and dorsal stripe.
As it is phenotypically very close to the extinct Tarpan, the original European wild horse, it has been introduced into many nature reserves in the Netherlands such as the Oostvaardersplassen.
In Maastricht, the Netherlands, a herd was released in 1995, in 'de Kleine Weerd', a 12 hectare strip of land (roughly 100 m by 1 km) along the river Meuse. The area is open to the public, but people are advised not to go near the horses because their reaction is unpredictable. Following the success of this program, Koniks were also brought to Latvia and the United Kingdom, where they were placed in Wicken Fen near Cambridge by the National Trust. Due to the efforts of the Wildwood Trust, a charity which operates the Wildwood Discovery Park, and the Kent Wildlife Trust, Koniks also now live on several more reserves, including the Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve, Ham Fen National Nature Reserve, Whitehall Meadow, Sandwich Bay and Park Gate Down. In addition, the Suffolk Wildlife Trust introduced Polish Koniks for grazing as part of a broad restoration project of the Redgrave and Lopham Fen.
Physical Characteristics
Height at the withers: 134 centimetres (53 in) (13.1 hands)
Chest circumference: 168 centimetres (66 in)
The breed is short in height, with a strong and stocky build, light head with a straight profile, the neck emerges low out of the chest. The Konik has a deep chest, a thick mane, the hair coat is blue dun though often colloquially called "mouse-gray."
