Very early in our role as Exmoor graziers, we realised that to be sensitive to and have an understanding of conservation management issues was just as necessary to the success of the project as good pony keeping. It seemed in the early days that we learned mostly by trial and error as there was little information to be had on the problems we were trying to get to grips with at the time. Expertise was freely available from the Exmoor Pony Society regarding the ponies, but there was little on what is now recognised as the rather specialised area of conservation grazing with its infinite number of variables. It became apparent that other people were also wandering through the maze. Time to get together perhaps?