Four Konik pony foals have been born at Wicken Fen - and another 15 to 20 are expected by the summer.
Spring has also brought the incredible spectacle of semi-wild stallions from the herd facing off in a battle for dominance to the National Trust reserve.
Koniks, which originate in Eastern Europe, were brought to Wicken Fen from the Isle of Mull in the early 2000s and help to manage the landscape naturally for the benefit of other animals and plants.
Wicken Fen ranger Ajay Tegala told the Cambridge Independent: “They are conservation grazers and are doing a fantastic job just by being there and shaping the landscape.
“They’ve now been there for two decades and we have a rich diversity of ages and experience within the herd. They are very much part of the landscape.”
The first foal of the year - a filly - was born to 15-year-old Meg, who has had young every year since 2011.
“We have had four foals so far this year - we had the first ones in late March and we are probably due another 15 to 20 between now and the summer. Spring is in the air!” says Ajay.
“In total, we have 70 adults in the breeding herd, plus two foals, and we also have a non-breeding herd.
“We moved some of the horses last year into the non-breeding herd. We have two herds so that we don’t have too many in one space. We want them to create a diversity of different habitats - we don’t want it to be like a bowling green! We want areas that are a bit wilder.”
The Koniks are free to roam over a large area at the national nature reserve, which is home to 9,000 species.
“We care incredibly about their welfare and they are our responsibility, but there is a balance between that and letting them behave naturally, so it’s hands-off as much as possible,” explains Ajay. “There is the occasional vet visit and they are checked every day by staff and volunteers.
“They’ve all got names and personalities. You can get a mare that’s particularly friendly and then a foal that shows similar characteristics, you think it’s a family trait. It’s fascinating.”
Part of their natural behaviour is the occasional but spectacular sparring seen between rival males, which rise up on their hind legs and bare their teeth in a show of power.
“The sparring is incredible but it is a moment in time,” notes Ajay. “Ninety per cent of the time they are resting, grazing and being very sedate but at this time of year, because it is breeding season, you’ve got the dynamics playing out with the lead stallions.
“As the dominant males get older, the younger ones get more confident and rise through the ranks. So you might get a challenge between an established male and a younger one that is trying out his position in the herd. Sometimes, he’ll back off and the older one will maintain his dominance but every now and then you get a younger one that has his chance and takes over a group, and has a harem of his own.
“It’s all part of them behaving naturally. Sometimes it looks a bit fierce and dramatic, but although they pick up the odd cut from these fights, they recover really quickly.”
The mares are pregnant for about 11 months.
“Foals are a fair size when they are born,” says Ajay. “They have long, lanky legs and look a bit wobbly at first. But they get that first feed and grow strong and suddenly within a day, they are trotting around. Like lambs, they are full of the joys of spring.
“It’s really important that the mother bonds with the foal, so disturbance is something we avoid because they are semi-wild animals. They’re not pets to be cuddled.”
You can, however, still enjoy the sight of the Koniks - providing you’re prepared to be patient.
“The beauty of them being semi-world is they are free roaming, but if you’re prepared to walk for two to three miles and do the circumference path, then eventually you’ll see them somewhere,” says Ajay.
“Occasionally, they might be lurking in the undergrowth and the scrubby trees, but if you walk out on the Adventurers’ Trail and go to the bridge over Burwell Lode, that’s a good vantage point and you might get lucky and get great views. Like wildlife, if you go on a walk, you’ll see something interesting and if you’re lucky you’ll get an up close view. If not, it’s a reason to come back.
“There are not many places that have as many Koniks as we’ve got in a breeding herd displaying those characteristics. Sometimes you’ll see the whole herd trotting across the landscape. It’s phenomenal and very special to see wild horses breeding in the UK.”
Wild horses disappeared from the British countryside thousands of years ago.
“Sometimes people say the Koniks look unkempt, but that’s because they are like wild animals. They might get burrs in their hair and that’s how seeds are spread. They’re very healthy,” he says.
They share a role ,in conservation grazing with Wicken Fen’s Highland cattle.
“They graze in different ways. The Koniks nibble quite short to the ground, while the cattle tear at it, so if it’s not too short, you get tussocks that the skylarks will nest in,” says Ajay.
“If they roll around in the dust, that creates bare earth and that helps seeds to germinate. They spread seeds in their dung too. There are about 20 different species of beetle that are associated with their dung and you get lots of fungi that grows in it a bit later in the year, so the fact that we don’t give them any wormers and give antibiotics as little as possible means they are great at spreading seed and their dung is attractive to wildlife, so they are adding habitat.”
Wicken Fen has fared well during the wet winter, Ajay notes.
“As a wetland reserve, having lots of rainfall is good for us. It’s what the fen needs and that creates great habitat for nesting birds,” he says.
“We have some rare species like marsh harriers, bitterns and cranes and these birds like to nest in standing water in the reeds, so it’s been good for them.
“With the sunshine we’ve had and the water, the growth of the plants is looking good and we have a good display of blossom. The fen does well in wet winters and sunny summers.”
If you’re planning a visit, listen out for the returning cuckoo - the first of the year was heard on the reserve last week.
