Incredible moment two wild stallions battle each other over a female at a countryside beauty spot is captured on camera

Stunning photographs show two wild stallions in a dramatic battle while fighting over a female.

Wildlife photographer Andrew Fusek-Peters, 58, captured the ‘vicious’ fight unfolding on the Long Mynd earlier this week.

The horses can be seen rearing up on their hind legs while trying to bite each other’s necks in rare images taken in the Shropshire Hills.

Mr Fusek-Peters, of Lydbury North, Shropshire, said: ‘I have been going up there for ten years and photographed the wild ponies many times but I have never seen this behaviour before.

The horses can be seen rearing up on their hind legs while trying to bite each other’s necks

The pictures were spotted earlier this week in the Shropshire Hills of the males fighting over a female

‘I was incredibly lucky to witness what I did.

‘I was driving along and screeched to a halt because I could see them kicking off and began taking photos from the car window.’

The photographer said two male rivals squared up in a bid to show dominance before they came to blows for around five to ten minutes, kicking and biting each other.

The photographer said two male rivals squared up in a bid to show dominance

The horses suddenly stopped fighting and went back to grazing after their spat

‘It was quite vicious and they were going at it for about five or ten minutes,’ he added, ‘Then it just stopped all of a sudden and they just went back to grazing.

‘I believe it was territorial. It looks like they were trying to show their dominance and most likely fighting over a female.

‘They are a special and symbolic part of the Long Mynd. They are descended from the last of the Welsh pit ponies, so they are very hardy.

‘They are as close to wild ponies as you get in the UK. They are owned by one farming family who as commoners have ancient grazing rights on the Mynd.

‘They are allowed to graze 35 ponies and seven foals. There’s an agreement in place with the National Trust.

‘The ponies are an essential part of the Long Mynd’s ecology.’