Dr Donna Oldbury-Thomas, head of Coventry University’s Power Ponies project, fought a blaze on her Welsh farm after firefighters and friends responded to the incident. The project trains native ponies to pull sustainable implements that break bracken and form natural firebreaks to limit wildfire spread and protect crews and animals. Oldbury-Thomas warned that burning bracken emits carbon monoxide and expressed concern about potential long-term neurological risks from repeated smoke exposure. The initiative, backed by Coventry University, was named the university’s Most Impactful Project of 2025 amid a record month of wildfires.
Pony Power: Researcher Fights Farm Blaze as Native Ponies Are Trained to Stop Wildfires
Dr Donna Oldbury-Thomas is examining how ponies can be used to prevent the spread of fires [Donna Oldbury-Thomas]
Dr Donna Oldbury-Thomas, lead researcher on Coventry University’s Power Ponies project, found herself battling a fire on her Welsh farm after friends and firefighters helped tackle the blaze. She said the incident left her "furious" because volunteers and crews were risking their lives and exposing themselves to potentially harmful smoke.
What the Power Ponies Project Does
The Power Ponies initiative trains native ponies to pull specially designed, sustainable implements that break down bracken in controlled patterns to create natural firebreaks. These breaks can slow or stop the spread of wildfires, give fire crews safer options for containment, and provide routes to move livestock and other animals to safety.
The Power Ponies project is funded by Coventry University [Donna Oldbury-Thomas]
The project is supported and funded by Coventry University and has been trialled in Wales, where researchers found that the ponies' local knowledge of rough ground — including stones and deep holes — can help protect handlers in the field.
Health and Safety Concerns
Oldbury-Thomas warned that burning bracken releases carbon monoxide and other dangerous fumes. She expressed concern that repeated or high-level exposure to these gases could contribute to long-term neurological damage and raise the risk of conditions such as Parkinson's disease and dementia, though she emphasised the need for further research on long-term outcomes.
Dr Donna Oldbury-Thomas says the only way to resolve the landscape nation scale issue is with our animals [Tommy Udall]
"Somebody somewhere will die in these fires, and we are doing our very best to put in short and long-term solutions so that does not happen," Oldbury-Thomas said.
The researcher described the situation as a "serious" landscape-scale challenge that requires nature-based, practical solutions. During trials, ponies have even alerted handlers to hazards by nudging them away from danger.
Wider Context
Recent wildfires prompted a government phone alert advising the public not to light anything that could spark a fire. Fire crews in the West Midlands responded to multiple blazes on the hottest day of the year, including a Stourbridge fire that destroyed 19 homes across five streets. July was a record month for wildfire responses in England and Wales, with crews tackling 393 incidents — the busiest month on record.
The Pony Power Project was named Coventry University’s Most Impactful Project of 2025, and Oldbury-Thomas praised the university for its support as the team develops both short- and long-term measures to reduce wildfire risk and protect communities.
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