How World Horse Welfare Used Drones to Survey 3,000 Hectares

World Horse Welfare has worked for nearly a century to ensure horses are treated with respect, compassion and understanding. As a modern charity operating within limited resources, it continues to adopt new technology where it can deliver meaningful impact.

To support a large-scale survey project at Gelligaer Common in Wales, the organisation deployed drones operating under Atoll Drone Management System.

Gelligaer Common spans approximately 3,000 hectares, with horses roaming across multiple breakaway and satellite herds.

Tracking and counting the animals from ground level would have been extremely time consuming and in many areas practically impossible. Spotting every horse accurately could have taken weeks and still risked double counting or omissions.

The charity needed a method that would:

• Cover large areas efficiently
• Capture accurate photographic records
• Avoid duplication
• Remain fully compliant with Civil Aviation Authority regulations

As a charity, it also needed to achieve this within tight budget constraints.

Using three drones supported by Atoll Drone Management System (ADMS), the team planned and executed a structured programme of flights across the common.

ADMS enabled:

• Efficient flight planning
• Quick addition of new flights where required
• Integrated risk assessments
• Compliant flight logging

When additional flights needed to be scheduled, they could be added within minutes, complete with the necessary documentation.

The structured workflow ensured the entire project was carried out responsibly and in line with CAA rules.

Across 30 individual flights, the team mapped the common and captured photographic records of all ponies observed.

Following careful review to eliminate double counting, a total of 182 ponies were identified.

This marked the first accurate survey of horse numbers on Gelligaer Common and provides vital data to support sustainable herd management and road safety.

The findings also support collaboration between World Horse Welfare, other equine welfare charities and the Commoners Association of Gelligaer and Merthyr Common.

Importantly, the entire operation was conducted in full compliance with CAA regulations.

Getting the first ever accurate survey of horse numbers on Gelligaer Common is vital to the sustainable management of the herd and the safety of the horses themselves as well as road users. It’s also comforting to know that with Atoll’s software we are completely compliant with the CAA’s rules and are flying responsibly.

Zoe W.
Head of Communications
World Horse Welfare