Protecting the Wild Ponies of the Carneddau Mountains

MA Wildlife Documentary Production film assignment which focuses on the life of farmer Gareth Wyn Jones and his dedication to the conservation of some of the rarest and most charismatic ponies in the world.
These majestic ponies are under threat- from climate change, extreme weather conditions, hybridisation (diluting the gene pool by other breeds being let loose and interbreeding) and from lack of funds to support the legal requirement for chipping and passports.
These rare and ancient ponies are entirely 'organic'; left to their own devices, they have no antibiotics and are not wormed. They are an important part of the ecosystem in which they live.
Gareth (Secretary of the Carneddau Mountain Pony Society) and his volunteers gather the ponies once a year from the peaks of the bitterly cold and windswept Carneddau mountain range. The task requires skill and is dangerous.
This is the minimum amount of intervention necessary to support the ponies; any more and they would no longer be wild and resilient; any less and they may not survive the harsh conditions of the tallest mountains in Wales.
Funding is short and unreliable (currently 5 years' worth remaining in 2019). Despite these hard conditions, the volunteers continue to gather the ponies for their yearly health check, dedicated to conserving these ponies.
A short five minute film, made in north Wales, 2020.
Contact:
[e-mail]
www.antoniasalter.co.uk

[@DaveWalter83]

I met these farmers bringing the ponies down from the Carneddau one winter. It was an incredible sight that I'll never forget!

[@peritewadham8167]

Thank you for being the guardian of these beautiful ponies.

[@intoyourtruth7680]

So so beautiful!

[@antoniawildmedia]

Thank you so much! Really kind of you. Only wish the sound was better! Had a problem with the microphone on the day of the interview but the ponies really are special!

[@pippabailey6505]

Magical

[@jld553]

Da iawn Gareth! Dal ati met

[@BiggyJimbo]

Just incredible. Thank you so much for the gorgeous footage and lovely words. I've now made it my mission to find these ponies and see them in person! I've seen the wild goats many times around Snowdonia, which I'm very fond of, but I still haven't been so lucky to find the ponies - even after years!

[@antoniawildmedia]

Thanks 🙏 Oh good! I’m glad you enjoyed it. They’re very special and little known about. Well worth protecting! Happy searching! You’ll find them near Tryfan or Abergwyngregyn.

[@BiggyJimbo]

@@antoniawildmedia It's strange, I've been up Tryfan and Glyder Fawr quite a few times and not seen them. I'll have to try around Abergwyngregyn. Thanks for the tip.

[@antoniawildmedia]

@@BiggyJimbo They're not up Tryfan, as that mountain is not in the Caerneddau. Opposite Tryfan, the mountains within the Caernedau range are the place to look. Good luck.

[@-Marshajohnston99]

Thank you and your wonderful family for saving this breed ,We have welsh mountain ponies from A to D and I wouldn’t have any other breed ❤

[@hambutty1]

I love the Carneddau, two miles from my house and I'm at Sychnant Pass. The ponies... a proud part of my heritage. Yma o hyd ❤️

[@juliewilliams9441]

Beautiful ponies 👍🏼❤️

[@CarolRobertsonPsychosensory]

Thank you, and thank you for sharing with us about them

[@sarahgriffiths610]

Lovely to meet you today, what a wonderful film. You should come back and video our wild ponies x

[@antoniawildmedia]

Sorry I missed this! Yes, that would be lovely! Whereabouts are you based?

[@julianjohn6409]

Amazing work, simply beautiful animals and wonderful people protecting them with a minimum of interference.

[@antoniawildmedia]

Thank you! I only just saw this. Kind of you to comment. Much appreciated.

[@Linzeebitcho]

Wonderful footage! I knew nothing of this specific breed. Looking forward to more gorgeous videos!

[@antoniawildmedia]

Thank you Lindsay! Watch this space! : ) xx

[@oliverbyrne508]

Brilliant

[@antoniawildmedia]

Thank you! Very kind! : )

[@alexstravels1]

SALFORD WILDLIFE MA? Great film.

[@antoniawildmedia]

Sorry! I only just saw this! Yes, Salford...!

[@ghostkilla9256]

I hv walked up.there and spoke to the ponys

[@antoniawildmedia]

Yes they are surprisingly approachable despite being so wild. I never get too close though. I'm sure they prefer it that way.