On Dartmoor, ELM A-E stocking rates are the rules within the Environmental Land Management (ELM) agri-environment schemes that decide how many grazing animals such as ponies, cattle and sheep are allowed on the moorland commons.

The “A-E” agreements are designed to support conservation and land management, with Natural England setting targets for grazing levels to protect habitats like heather, peat and grassland.

In the latest agreements, due to come into force shortly, ponies are counted alongside cattle within the same stocking calculations. In simple terms, this can mean:

If more cattle are grazed, fewer ponies are allowed.  Ponies end up competing with cattle for limited grazing “space” under the scheme.

Semi-wild Dartmoor pony herds can be reduced, even though they graze differently and are considered and PROVEN to be valuable for biodiversity and conservation grazing.

We believe that Dartmoor Hill ponies should NOT be included because they are a native, endangered breed and play a unique role in managing the moor naturally.