Pony power project warns bracken fires could cause Parkinson's and dementia

A Coventry University researcher found herself directly affected by the very problem her project aims to solve when a wildfire broke out on her own farm in Wales. Dr Donna Oldbury-Thomas, who leads the Power Ponies project, expressed fury that her friends and firefighters had to risk their lives tackling the blaze, exposing themselves to future health threats. The incident occurred on a Friday, shortly after the UK experienced its hottest day of the year, which saw multiple wildfires across the West Midlands, including a devastating fire in Stourbridge that fully destroyed 19 homes across five streets. Fire crews in England and Wales had already responded to 393 wildfires in July, making it the busiest month on record, and the government had issued a phone alert warning people not to light anything that could spark a fire.

The Power Ponies project, supported and funded by Coventry University, takes a novel approach to wildfire prevention by training native ponies to drag sustainable equipment that breaks bracken in a specific manner to create natural firebreaks. These firebreaks serve a dual purpose: they can stop the spread of fires, giving fire services the option to let a fire burn up to the break while keeping personnel safe, and they provide a safe corridor down which other animals can be evacuated. The project was named Coventry University's Most Impactful Project of 2025, and Dr Oldbury-Thomas praised the institution for its support.

A critical health concern underpinning the research is the danger posed by burning bracken. Dr Oldbury-Thomas explained that bracken is poisonous and, when alight, emits dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. She warned that exposure to such high concentrations of the poisonous gas causes degradation to brain cells, increasing the risks of developing Parkinson's disease and dementia in the future. This long-term health risk applies not only to firefighters but potentially to anyone in proximity to these wildfires, adding urgency to finding preventative solutions.

The project also highlights the unique capabilities of native ponies beyond their physical labor. During trials, the ponies demonstrated an awareness of terrain hazards, knowing where stones and deep holes are located, and were observed pushing their handlers to safety. Dr Oldbury-Thomas emphasized that resolving this landscape-scale issue requires working with animals, and she stressed the importance of implementing both short and long-term solutions to prevent fatalities, stating that someone will eventually die in these fires.