The Trust is always delighted by the joy that our Exmoor ponies bring to our visitors and encourage people to come and say hello, but we would like to politely remind visitors not to feed the ponies.

Conservation Volunteer Coordinator, Mary-Anne Rielly, said: "We have noticed a recent increase in remnants of carrots and apples in the pony enclosures, and although the ponies may seem very happy to be fed these, it is not always in their best interests. We like to respect the semi-wild nature of our ponies and feeding them 'treats' can interfere with their natural weight fluctuation, introduce health problems to digestion and teeth, and interfere with their grazing and herd behaviours.

"Please rest assured that the ponies have plenty of lovely, natural food in their enclosures. Our brilliant pony wardens check on both the ponies and the grazing levels every day, helping us to plan when to move our ponies to new pastures."