When identifying land use impacts on the Kent Downs AONB, issues commonly highlighted often include changes in agriculture, pressures for development and tourism.

However one distinctive and growing land use is that of keeping horses, which until now has received little acknowledgement, support or guidance from environmental bodies. Although horses can be used effectively to graze small pastures and even sites of nature conservation value, the associated buildings, structures and grazing patterns may not always be in keeping with their local area - in this case the distinctive character of the Kent Downs.

The exact trends in horse keeping and extent of land given over to horses is not easy to ascertain - horses are not registered livestock and the area they graze not recorded. However the rise in horse ownership, paddocks and associated developments is unequivocal. As with any sector, there are examples of good and bad practice. Some of the bad practice may be due to a lack of objective advice and good local contacts, which may be particularly required by people new to the area and new to keeping horses.

A horse pasture management workshop, organised by the Kentish Stour Countryside Project with funding from the Kent Downs AONB Unit and the Kent Lifescapes Programme helped to illustrate problems that can be caused by keeping horses and positive ways to reduce the impact on the landscape. The participants of the workshop contributed ideas and highlighted areas where more information was required. With a full attendance of over 50 people, there is clear demand for such an exchange.

Problems and Solutions
· Overgrazing can be unsightly, leading to poached, muddy fields in winter and dry bare ground in summer. These conditions encourage unwanted weeds such as ragwort and can destroy wildlife value of the pasture.

Reducing the impact of overgrazing can be achieved through lower grazing densities, better drainage, more time in stables/stable yards, hay making, weed control and field rotation. Nature conservation value can be enhanced by reseeding bare areas with local native wildflower/grass mixes.

· Visual impact can be reduced by using local timber for fencing and green or brown electric tape as opposed to visually intrusive white tape. There is also an opportunity for clearer information provision by planning authorities to advise on new buildings in the local landscape.

· Advice, literature and training, and local information
Much of the existing information on horse keeping focuses on the health and welfare of the horse and less on pasture management, although the two are intrinsically linked. There is a clear need and demand for more impartial/independent information, which could take the form of advice leaflets distributed for example, at time of land purchase, or by local planning authorities. There is a need for lists of local suppliers and contractors for all aspects of horse pasture management.

As a result of the workshop held in Wye, the Kent Downs AONB Unit intends to take forward some of the recommendations into their landscape design guidance for the AONB. Surrey already has a dedicated horse pasture project officer. All of the above can help manage these changes in land use in a positive way through education and support to help retain the health and beauty of the Kent Downs countryside. As they say, there's no point closing the stable door after the horse has bolted…

A variety of advice notes on horse pasture management are currently available from the Surrey Horse Pasture Project on www.surreycc.gov.uk/horsepastureproject