Langeland’s Wild Horses at Gulstav Mose

Wild ponies on the edge of the Baltic

At the far south of Langeland, just north of Bagenkop, Gulstav Mose opens into a patchwork of grassland, bogs, small lakes, light woodland and steep coastal cliffs. Within this large fenced reserve lives a free‑ranging herd of Exmoor ponies, often simply called the wild horses of Langeland. They stay outdoors in all seasons, moving as a group across roughly 120 hectares of varied terrain. The ponies are compact and sturdy, around 130 centimetres at the shoulder, with dark legs and dense brown coats. In winter their double layer of wool and guard hairs becomes so thick that snow can rest on their backs without melting, a striking sight on frosty days. In summer, foals and family groups dot the slopes, adding a vivid sense of life to the open landscape.

A living link to ancient horse history

Exmoor ponies are considered one of the closest living relatives of Europe’s extinct wild horses. Their ancestors roamed heathlands in south‑west England for thousands of years, adapting to sparse forage, wind and wet ground. The Langeland herd was established in the 2000s from a small group of animals brought from elsewhere in Denmark and has grown steadily since. Management is deliberately light. The animals find their own food in the reserve, browsing grasses, herbs and shrubs throughout the year. Only in unusually harsh winters is straw put out as emergency feed, and a lead stallion is occasionally exchanged to prevent inbreeding. Daily monitoring ensures the herd remains healthy without turning the site into a traditional farm.

Natural gardeners of Gulstav Mose

The ponies play a crucial role as landscape managers. By constantly grazing and trampling, they keep the area from quickly turning into dense scrub or reedbed. Sunlight reaches the ground, allowing many species of wildflowers, grasses and low shrubs to thrive. That, in turn, supports insects, small mammals and a rich birdlife that makes South Langeland one of Denmark’s notable nature areas. This mosaic of open meadow, wet hollows and scattered trees is particularly valuable for rare and specialised species. The horses create paths, bare patches and varied sward heights simply through their daily movements. For visitors, this means a landscape that feels both untamed and subtly shaped, with long views and constant small details to notice underfoot.

Walking among horses and sea views

The reserve is fully fenced but has pedestrian access gates, and you are free to walk inside on grassy paths and informal tracks. From small rises such as the hill known as Ørnehøj, you often gain excellent views over the herd and across the sea. On warm days, the ponies may gather near ponds to drink or stand quietly in the breeze, while in cooler weather they tend to move more purposefully across the area. Simple rules keep both people and animals safe: keep at least 25 metres from the horses, never try to feed or touch them, avoid walking through the middle of the group and keep dogs on a very short leash or outside the enclosure. The ground can be wet and uneven, especially after rain, so sturdy footwear is important. There is no lighting inside the area, and conditions are most easily appreciated in daylight and fair weather.

Birdsong, wind and the rhythm of the herd

Part of the appeal here is the slow rhythm of the place. You might spend time scanning the horizon before suddenly spotting the whole herd appearing over a rise, or find them grazing quietly not far from a gate. Birdsong mixes with the sound of wind in the grass and distant surf from the nearby cliffs at Dovns Klint. Picnic spots and information boards in the wider South Langeland nature area help you understand the wider landscape history, from ancient burial monuments to modern conservation. Yet inside the horse enclosure the focus is simple: sharing space respectfully with a herd that, as far as possible, lives on its own terms in a coastal Danish landscape.