By Dawn Westcott
If you’re thinking you might like a pony or better still, some ponies, in your life – then please consider an Exmoor pony!
Autumn (right now) is the time when the semi-feral foals from Exmoor National Park need to find good homes, after the gatherings.
Colt foals particularly can not return to the herds and opportunities must be found for them, or their lives are unfortunately, rather short. Exmoors are not ‘scruffy little hill ponies’ – they are beautiful quality, strong, robust, well-conformed and exceedingly attractive purebred ponies from a breed which is still on the Endangered Breeds list. Colt foals, although requiring gelding a little later on, make fantastic small adult and family ponies – and the Exmoor moorland farmers have a number of them for sale over the next few weeks.
Responsible Breeding: Much work is going into the breeding programmes, management, marketing and promotion of the Exmoor ponies belonging to the farming members of the Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group (MEPBG). While attention is being closely paid to number of ponies bred each year now – and ensuring that only purebred (registered and pure) run on the moors – the ponies do need to continue breeding to protect the dangerously small gene pool. And it is the moorbred ponies which retain the key characteristics and behaviours of the true Exmoor pony, through living and breeding in their indigenous environment of Exmoor National Park. Therefore, it is very important to try to find as many of these lovely foals as possible, good opportunities and a chance in life.
This ancient breed of British Native Hill pony is very special. Exmoors have evolved over the centuries, retaining many of the original characteristics and behaviours of the little horses from long ago, who are depicted in wall art and cave paintings. Although the Exmoor pony cannot be scientifically linked to Equus Ferrus and is a ‘modern’ equine breed (Equus Caballus) like the other native pony breeds – you could be forgiven for thinking Exmoor ponies would look quite at home sharing their grazing with woolly mammoths and sabre tooth tigers – as popular folklore would have it!
Whatever their origins, the Exmoor pony has evolved with some beautiful physical characteristics, developed through living wild and free in the hard, challenging terrain of Exmoor National Park. Left largely to fend for themselves in free-living herds, the ponies have retained a high level of intelligence, independent thinking, problem-solving abilities and with this comes the ability to question and make up their own minds!
If you’re looking for a placid, obedient, unquestioning equine who can stand happily doing nothing in the stable for hours on end, to be led out and ridden on command without quibble or question and then, literally, put back in its box – the Exmoor is not for you! This breed is the original off-roader – tough, strong, exciting, fun and ….. if they like you….. your absolute best friend who will look after you, and with whom you can develop an amazing bond of trust.
In short, if you look after an Exmoor well, and that includes understanding his need for space and interesting things to do and see – as well as good company, preferably of his own kind – then Exmoor ponies can be incredibly rewarding and inspiring. The journey can start with taming and socialising a semi-feral foal fresh from the moors and finish 30-40 years later saying goodbye to one of the best, most loyal friends you will ever meet.
Here are some reasons why I think Exmoor ponies are Fantastic and I’m glad I chose this incredible breed of pony:
The Most Amazing Connection can be achieved between an Exmoor pony and you
They make brilliant riding ponies – hacking out on all terrain, endurance, ridden showing, hunting, jumping, dressage, driving, cross country – you name it, an Exmoor can do it!
More – they make brilliant Bitless & Barefoot riding ponies. Our stallions and geldings all ride out happily bitless and they have amazingly strong feet.
Exmoors are highly intelligent and excel in liberty and agility sports. Moor bred Exmoor pony stallion, Hawkwell Versuvius ‘Bear’ has twice stood International Horse Agility world champion, after competing in 12 month leagues involving on the line, liberty and wild agility, against different horse and ponies breeds from across the continents.
When a wild Exmoor pony offers you trust and friendship, it’s one of the best feelings in the world – Monsieur Chapeau (the orphaned foal from the Dunkery Commons) has taken our education and understanding of Exmoor ponies to a new level this year. Here he is below with me and his special friend, Lady Stumpkin Pumpkin
And here he is asleep, watched by Scarlet and Topaz
Monsieur Chapeau showing the incredible, warm, loving Connection that he offered the day he was rescued and which continues today
Exmoor ponies are Fantastic, Fabulous and Fun – if you’re prepared to use patience and kindness and fair play with your Exmoor pony, then you’re about to embark on one of the most rewarding journeys of your life.
The MOORLAND EXMOOR PONY BREEDERS GROUP – MEPBG BREEDERS DIRECTORY
Please see the above Directory for contact details of Exmoor farmers in the MEPBG who have foals for sale at the moment and over the next few weeks, in Exmoor National Park.
The MEPBG GUIDE to BUYING an EXMOOR PONY
Blog copyright: Dawn Westcott
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