The future of the Dartmoor Hill Pony is at risk according to campaigners, who say new rules could lead to up to 90% of the population being lost.Under proposed new grazing contracts, livestock numbers are drastically reduced and ponies will be included alongside other animals in the overall count.Campaigners fear commoners will be forced to remove their ponies to maximise the number of more commercially viable animals. More than 130,000 people have signed a petition against the new contracts, which could come into force by the end of 2026. The Friends of the Dartmoor Hill Pony (FDHP) said the change is likely to result in a cull to ensure the stock numbers are correct, and up to 90% of the ponies could be lost.They said the ponies were at risk of losing their place on the moor and ultimately becoming extinct.On 2 September, the FDHP will be delivering their petition to Downing Street, accompanied by some of the ponies they are working to protect.A Defra spokesman told Your Horse it recognises the value of the biodiversity embodied by the Dartmoor Hill Pony.In line with the Independent Review of Protected Site Management on Dartmoor, we are working with partners, to help ensure that we maintain numbers of semi-wild ponies on the Moor for generations to come, they said.Lead image of Dartmoor Hill Ponies. Credit: ShutterstockMore from Your HorseOur pick of fly masks and veils for horsesIs your horse is uncomfortable in his bit? Signs he is unhappy and how to solve itHow hacking can improve your competition performanceThe post Dartmoor Hill Ponies at risk: Petition gains traction as ponies prepare for Downing Street delivery appeared first on Your Horse.