The Commoner's horses on Minchinhampton Common

I went for a wander in the car and eventually found the horses roaming on  Minchinhampton Common. They are owned by a farming family in the nearby Brimscombe valley, which slopes down from this common  hilltop a few hundred yards to the left. The family’s property has the very ancient Commoner’s Rights to graze animals, and their herd is a much loved feature of this extensive common. 

I had thought that the horses were moved from the common to fields in the valley during the winter months to preserve the surface, which is of national importance as a preserved traditional limestone grassland, and well maintained by the National Trust. There are also herds of highland cattle and other cattle breeds, but they are certainly moved from the common between October and May.

Where these horses are grazing is also a fairway of the local golf course which has a clubhouse close to the inn at the centre of the common, called The Old Lodge. They were accompanied until two years ago by a mule called Alfie, who became very well known locally, until,his demise due to old age. Alfie was known to lead the pack of horses and was quite belligerent to any other horse riders who happened to stray onto their patch.