5 DAY COURSE
WICKEN FEN
Course completed March 2024 - New dates to be announced
COURSE OUTLINE
We are excited to invite you to join us for the first ever Learning Wild course at Wicken Fen, the UK’s first nature reserve and home to more than 100 free-living Konik ponies.
Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve is home to over 9000 species, encompassing over 2000 acres. It is the Nature Trusts first reserve, with a history dating back to 1899. Wicken Fen is a unique remnant of undrained fen, which once covered the vast lowlands of East Anglia. This special environment holds a range of designations including Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), National Nature Reserve (NNR) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Part of the conservation program at the Fen includes the incorporation of large grazing ungulates (horses and cattle) who were once a key part of the natural ecosystem of this landscape and are a critical part of the restoration and regeneration of the natural ecology of the region. These grazing animals help with the maintenance of the wetlands which helps keep the landscape open for new vegetation, increases biodiversity for plants and wildlife, and promotes the rehabilitation of the grassland areas.
To achieve this goal, the experts at Wicken Fen chose Konik ponies and Highland cattle, two robust breeds, to live on the Fen and assist with the conservation project. Apart from some fences, the ponies and cattle have free range of the Fens, creating rich habitats for other species and cohabitating in the same areas to provide the necessary biodiversity that can only result from two different grazing species. This unique environment also gives animal-lovers the unique opportunity to observe horses living in family groups, freely interacting, playing, and engaging with one another in a variety of habitats and environmental conditions. There are over 100 Koniks at Wicken Fen split into two major groups: One is a breeding group with stallions, mares and youngsters, all free to make their own choices with regards to breeding, friends, and family groups, and the other group is a non-breeding group comprised of vasectomised stallions and non-breeding mares. While there are occasional population management procedures in place, the horses are left to live their lives freely on the Fens.
The Learning Wild course at Wicken Fen provides an incredible opportunity to look inside the lives of feral horses as they live alongside human visitors in this gorgeous nature reserve. With the support and assistance of the horse management team at Wicken Fen, we’ll explore the rich history of the herd, the individuals that make up the social groups at Wicken, and get an exclusive look inside the lives of the horses that live there.
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 feral ponies with Bonny Mealand who is passionate about enabling others to learn from the richness of this perspective. In addition there will be local experts and representatives from relevant organisations.
In addition 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.
ITINERARY
This is an outline of the structure of the 5 days.
The delivery of the course will be determined
mainly by the weather.
ARRIVAL
Arrive and settle in
Sunday, 3rd March
Monday, 4th March
DAY 1: Orientation & Introductions
The Art of Observation
Equine evolution, physical and behavioural
Putting together a simple ethogram.
DAY 2: Environment & Behaviour
Environment
Ecology, conservation, history, historical significance and culture.
Tuesday, 5th March
Wednesday, 6th March
DAY 3: Behaviour
Behaviour - horse and human. Regenerative grazing, the value of equids in a landscape
DAY 4: Foundations
Strong foundations, relationship before training.
Thursday, 7th March
Friday, 8th March
DAY 5: Summing it up
What we have learned and how we can best implement this to improve the lives of equines.
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 beviewed 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 renowned 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
ITINERARY DETAILS
TERRAIN GRADING
Moderate
As we will be exploring the environments inhabited by the ponies challenging terrain may be encountered so a reasonable level of fitness is suggested.
Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve website
TRAVEL
By car - south of Wicken (A1123), 3 miles west of Soham (A142), 9 miles south of Ely, 17 miles north east of Cambridge via A10
Address for SatNav - Lode Lane, Wicken, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5XP
By train - the closest train stations are Ely 9 miles; Soham 5 miles. Taxis are usually available at Ely and you can also join the National Cycle Network route 11 to Wicken at Ely station if you have bought bike on the train.
ACCOMMODATION
There is no accommodation at Wicken Fen reserve, but we have booked accommodation for a limited amount of people close by. There are also plenty of places to stay in nearby towns, some of which are within walking distance of the Wicken Fen visitor centre. Cambridge is also about a 45 min drive from the Reserve for those who want to stay in the city and do daily drives in for the workshop.
COURSE COST 5 day course - price per participant (Last course)
EARLY BIRD
+ Accommodation (6 nights)
(Shared Twin Room)
£650
£750 after 1st March
EARLY BIRD
+ Single Occupancy (6 nights)
(In Double Room)
£800
£900 after 1st March
No Accommodation
(Rate for the Week)
£500
£600 after 1st March
EARLY BIRD
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:
• All the educational teaching and materials
• 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 Wicken Fen
• 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 Wicken Fen Nature Reserve and the National 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.