15: Lucy Rees: Inside the Pottokas Project: Feral Bands, Biodiversity & Horse Wellbeing

In this special English episode, Helle is in Spain with renowned ethologist and zoologist Lucy Rees, exploring Lucy’s rewilding project with feral Pottoka horses. Together they unpack what the project is, how it started, and why studying feral horses helps us understand what “normal” horse life looks like—so we can better recognize what’s abnormal in domestic settings. They talk about natural family bands, female choice, home ranges (not territories), and how horses work hard to avoid conflict. Lucy also shares how the horses have influenced biodiversity over the years—everything from vegetation changes to insects like dung beetles—and what rich environments and social networks can do for learning, resilience, and wellbeing. The episode also touches on the real-world challenges of running a rewilding project: fencing, land use, extreme weather losses, and why support (including crowdfunding and volunteers) matters. Learn more about Lucy and her project at www.lucyrees.com