Wild horses and Cattle at Skovsgaard

Skovsgaard has set aside 245 hectares for nature with free-range grazing. Here, cattle and wild horses live in the wild all year round. They are not fed, and they are never kept in stables. Instead, they subsist on what they can find for themselves in the wild.

As the animals graze all year round, they help to shape a landscape comprising grasslands, meadows, wetlands, open woodland and scrub. All of this helps to increase biodiversity in the area. The aim is to create more and varied habitats for the area’s animals and plants.

In November 2020, 50 Scottish Highland cattle arrived at the meadows near Påø, and in February 2021, the first wild horses were released onto the land.

Wild grazing forms part of Skovsgaard’s nature management programme, where one of the aims is to create better habitats for endangered species. Come and explore the area and see how horses and cattle are helping to shape the landscape.

The Wild Grazing Exhibition

In the exhibition on wild grazing, you can learn a great deal about why Skovsgaard is so keen on wild grazing. Here, you can read, amongst other things, about the importance of grazing horses and cows, and how the animals influence Skovsgaard’s natural environment.

Once you’ve visited the exhibition on wild grazing, you’ll be ready to follow in the animals’ footsteps out in the countryside along Skovsgaard’s ‘Wild Grazing Trail’.

Remember these 5 points when walking through the enclosures:

• Keep your distance from the animals – at least 25 metres – and move calmly around the area
• Do not stroke or feed the animals
• Do not walk between the animals. They must always have space to move around freely
• Leave foals and calves in peace
• Dogs must be kept on a short lead

Read more about the wild grazing project on the Skovsgaard website.

Monitoring and winter care

Skovsgaard Nature Destination manages the area through wild grazing. As far as possible, the animals live without human interference. If the winter is particularly harsh and food is scarce, Skovsgaard Estate has a contingency plan in place. The animals are also monitored daily throughout the year.

Read more about wild grazing and animal welfare

Should you notice any signs of distress amongst the wild animals, please do not hesitate to contact Skovsgaard Estate on +45 62 57 14 15.