3 DAY COURSE
CUMBRIA
Image © Jean Sinclair
LEARNING WILD IN CUMBRIA
Discover the Heritage and Ecology of the Fell Ponies
Join us for a three-day immersive experience in the heart of the Lake District, where the free-living herds of Fell ponies have shaped the landscape for generations. This unique Learning Wild course, in collaboration with the Fell Heritage Trust, offers a rare opportunity to observe these beautiful, hardy and intelligent ponies in their natural environment while exploring their deep historical, cultural, and ecological significance.
For centuries, Fell ponies have played a vital role in Cumbrian hill farming, supporting traditional land management and thriving in the rugged terrain. Their presence continues to be crucial in conservation grazing, helping to maintain biodiversity, preserve native flora, and shape the landscape.
Through guided observation, discussion, and hands-on learning, we will explore how these ponies interact with their environment, each other, and humans, past and present.
THIS COURSE IS PERFECT FOR:
Horse owners and professionals seeking a deeper understanding of equine behaviour and history.
Conservationists and ecologists exploring the role of equines in land management.
Anyone passionate about native ponies, history, and sustainable land use.
By stepping back from training and intervention, we learn to see horses as they truly are - and in doing so, redefine how we engage with them.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Led by equine behaviour specialists Dr. Emily Kieson, & Bonny Mealand with contributions from the Fell Heritage Trust, this course blends scientific study with cultural history, offering a holistic understanding of these incredible ponies.
Through guided observation, discussion and reflection, we will explore:
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Equine Ethology & Social Learning: Understanding herd dynamics, conflict resolution, and relationships.
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The Art & Science of Observation: Learning to watch without interference, recognising subtle behaviours.
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Ecological Significance – Exploring the role the ponies play in maintaining landscapes, soil health, and biodiversity.
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Cultural & Historical Importance: The deep-rooted connections between Fell ponies, hill farming, and local traditions.
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From Free-Living to Working Partner: How these ponies have adapted to both independent living and working alongside people.
Through hands-on observation and expert-led discussions, this course offers a new way of seeing horses, helping you build deeper connections with both free-living and domestic equines.
ITINERARY
This is an outline of the 3 day course. The delivery of the course will be determined by where the ponies are in the landscape and the weather.
DAY 1: Orientation & Observation
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Horse Behaviour 101 – Understanding who they are.
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Horse Behaviour – Understanding Fell ponies in the context of their environment.
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The Art and Science of Observation – Learning to observe horses without interference.
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Equine Ethology – Recognising natural social behaviours and interactions.
Friday, 11th July
DAY 3: Relationships & Heritage
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Strong Foundations – The importance of relationship before training.
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The Cultural Significance of Fell Ponies – Working with the Fell Heritage Trust to explore their history and ongoing role.
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Final Reflections and Takeaways – Applying key insights to real-world contexts
Sunday, 13th July
Saturday, 12th July
DAY 2: Ecology, Behaviour & Rewilding
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The Ecological Role of Fell Ponies – How they contribute to landscape health and biodiversity.
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Equine Social Structures – Exploring how Fell ponies form bonds, resolve conflict, and interact within herds.
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From Free-Living to Domestic – What we can learn from Fell ponies to improve equine welfare.
YOUR HOSTS
Bonny Mealand (Touching Wild) qualified as an Equine Podiatrist in 2005 and has been committed to understanding, implementing and promoting a whole horse approach to health and well-being ever since. Bonny specialises in working with wild, free-living equines and “difficult” domestic equines by building trust and helping them learn to be handled in a low stress way.
A short clip of Bonny working
with some Takhi (equus prezwalski) can be viewed here -
BBC Inside the Zoo.
Bonny is committed to constantly learning as much about and from equines as possible. Believing that it is possible to define what a life of quality looks like at both a species and individual level. She then uses this perspective to implement a high standard of welfare into their domesticated lives.
She is also a retained Firefighter, Somatic Yoga and Mindfulness Teacher and BHS Welfare Advisor and is a MSc student at the Dick vet (University of Edinburgh) studying Equine Science.
To learn more about Bonny’s
work please click here:
Touching Wild | Facebook | Instagram
She is also the UK representative
of the world renown Equine Ethologist Lucy Rees www.lucyrees.uk
Emily Kieson (Equine International) holds a PhD in Comparative Psychology, a MS in Psychology, and a graduate degree in Equine Science.
Her research focuses on equine behavioural psychology, equine welfare, and horse-human interactions as they apply to both horse owners and equine-assisted activities and learning programs. Her current research focuses on equine affiliative behaviours to study how horses create and maintain social bonds and how those can overlap with human affiliative behaviours to create authentic lasting friendships between horses and humans.
She also has a passion for supporting sustainable systems of horse management and husbandry that promote physical and psychological welfare of the horse while simultaneously supporting sustainable ecosystem practices on small and large scales (for both feral and domestic equids).
To learn more about Emily and Equine International please click here:
Equine International
From a very young age of 3 or 4 growing up on my fathers farm in Ireland I watched the working partnership the farmhands had with the farm horses which were still doing most of the jobs on the farm in the early 1960's. By the time I was 8 we were living in Cumbria and my chosen breed was a Fell Pony for their working versatility and clever nature from growing up on the wild fells and learn common sense from the herd that helped them to be a working friend you could trust when trained to ride and drive and work the land which was my interest in the breed.
From 1979, I have always had a Fell pony or two in my life, and I went on to make my living with them for the following 10 years. This included working with my partner on a organic smallholding with pony power, being a carriage driving instructor, and being Curator at The Black Country Museum - where I helped to establish a working carters yard, showing the public all the different jobs the ponies did in the year 1900 in Dudley, as a living Museum in the West Midlands. From that I went on to farm for 20 years in France on the Charente Limousine near the mountains of the Massif Central region with sheep and breeding Fell Ponies under the Globetrotter prefix. Fell ponies get their name from the Cumbrian fells that they live on and need to stay there for their wilder side that makes them the breed they are.
In 2017, a small group of hill breeders with myself founded the Fell Pony Heritage Trust.
In 2018, we came home to Cumbria to help the declining hill breeders and hill herds who look after the core of the breed. We are working with them to give a strong voice to their cause to keep the Fell Pony on the Fells.
ITINERARY DETAILS
TERRAIN GRADING
Moderate
Please note that some areas include steep climbs, uneven, and boggy ground, so a moderate level of fitness is recommended.
WEATHER
The Lake District is unpredictable - be prepared for sunshine, wind, or rain!
We recommend bringing:
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Waterproof walking boots
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Layered clothing (including rain gear)
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Binoculars and a notebook for observations
TRAVEL TO THE EVENT
Our 3-day experience will be based around the Tebay area, We’ll be spending time in various nearby locations, including the first day at Gowbarrow, Watermillock, CA11 0JP.
The nearest train station is Penrith (North Lakes) which is 11km away. Lift sharing between course participants is recommended.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation is not included in the price of the course.
Find accommodation here - www.visitlakedistrict.com/accommodation
GOWBARROW FARM
Gowbarrow Hall Farm is a family run farm on the south facing shores of Ullswater in the Lake District. The farm is under the management of Sam and Claire Beaumont, as the third generation. They are passionate about maintaining the natural beauty of the landscape and enriching the wildlife that falls within it.
They are caring for the environment and are conscious of how farming fits within the wider global issues that our planet is facing.
For quarterly updates on what is happening on the farm and to hear about the regular events they hold, you can click below to sign up to their mailing list.
COURSE COST 3 day course - price per participant
£285
SPECIAL RATE!
Normally £120
per person
per day
Maximum Participants - 16
Charity, student, researcher and low income concessions available
INCLUDED in the Course Cost
The following costs are included in
the price of the workshop:
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Insightful conversations with recognised specialists
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Guided field observations
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All the educational teaching and materials
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Tea, coffee, biscuits
NOT INCLUDED in the Course Cost
The following costs are not included in
the price of the workshop:
• Travel to and from Cumbria
• Food and drinks
• Accommodation
THIS COURSE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY:
Collaboration between Touching Wild with Bonny Mealand and
Equine International with Dr Emily Kieson
and the Fell Pony Heritage Trust
REFUND & CANCELLATION POLICY
Learning Wild courses are kept small to allow for higher levels of participation by atendees. Once a spot has been paid and reserved, it is no longer available for other potential participants and we oten have to turn people away. As a result, we have strict cancellation policies. For UK-based events participants wishing to cancel can get 50% of their paid amount refunded if they cancel before 30 days prior to the event. There is no refund given if participants cancel within 30 days of the event.
Any participant wishing to cancel may request that their non-refundable payments be carried over to a later Learning Wild course. The location and date of the Learning Wild course to which the credit can be transferred does not have to be declared at the time of cancellation. Individuals wishing to apply credit to a Learning Wild course should contact the course schedulers as soon as they know what course to which they would like to apply the credit. Learning Wild does not reserve spots in courses for any participant there are no guarantees of spots for people holding credit.