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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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The Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group – MEPBG GUIDE to BUYING an EXMOOR PONY FOAL this AUTUMN

 
THE TIME TO PURCHASE MOORLAND EXMOOR PONY FOALS IS NOW! Moorland Exmoor pony foals will be available over the next few weeks for purchase. If you are interested in giving a good home to one of the foals coming off the moors of Exmoor this autumn, then please start contacting the moorland farmers now to register your interest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHY CHOOSE a MOORLAND EXMOOR PONY from EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK? Exmoor National Park is the indigenous home of the Exmoor pony. Exmoor ponies are an ancient breed of British Native Hill pony, which has roamed the moors in free-living herds for centuries. The huge wilderness commons of Exmoor offer the ponies the opportunity to retain the unique characteristics and behaviours that have shaped the breed. These include beautiful mealy markings and a rich variety of coat shades from golden to almost black, robust stature with strong bone and substance, wonderful movement including well-rounded back ends producing rhythmic paces with impulsion and ‘tracking up’. Impressive manes and tails, lovely heads with large toad eyes and the important ‘ridged’ appearance seen in the true moorland ponies. They are hardy, intelligent and even of temperament if handled well. Living wild and free on the moors enables them to retain their natural behaviours and physical qualities that the moors of Exmoor continue to produce in these authentic Exmoor ponies. Who wouldn’t want one – or two!

 
You can find the contact details of the MEPBG Moorland Farmers here in the MEPBG Breeders Directory

 
EXMOOR PONY GATHERINGS AND ROUND-UPS Exmoor ponies are being gathered (rounded up) from their moorland enclosures from now onwards and over the next few weeks. The herds will be brought to the various Exmoor farms, where foals will be weaned and the mares turned back out on to the moors.

 
COLT FOALS Moorland Exmoor pony colt foals cannot go back out onto the moors as they may mature enough to cover mares before the gatherings next year, and running young colts with mares is therefore not advisable in managing the breeding programmes.

 
INSPECTION AND REGISTRATION OF FOALS Soon after gathering, the foals are inspected by the Exmoor Pony Society and DNA samples are taken, which are tested to to prove their parentage. Parentage verification is necessary for moorland foals in order for them to be fully registered. (Some herds will have gathered the ponies in twice this year, in order for DNA results to be confirmed by the time the foals are inspected).

 
MAKING SURE YOU EXPRESS INTEREST IN TIME If you are interested in purchasing an Exmoor pony foal, then please try to contact the farmers BEFORE the inspections. If there is interest in purchasing the colt foals, they are more likely to be put forward for inspection and be offered for sale. If there is no interest in the colt foals, they may have to be culled, in which case, putting them through an expensive registration process is not viable for the herd owners.

 
GENETIC IMPORTANCE As well as being lovely ponies, some of the ponies are of particular genetic importance to the Exmoor pony breed. This year, that includes foals from Herd 423 which are sired by Helmantor Hannibal. It would be very helpful if some of these foals were to find good homes. There are also herds where it would be good to see more of them represented out and about in the equestrian world, such as the Tippbarlake Herd 387, Herd 23, Porlock Herd 100 and Farleywater H67. All of these herds produce fantastic quality ponies.

 
BREEDING PROGRAMMES The Exmoor pony is classified as an Endangered Breed. It is vital that the ponies breed in order to maintain the tiny gene pool. However, the Exmoor farmers are endeavouring not to over-breed and much work has been done this year to avoid indiscriminate breeding. The larger wilderness commons have been carefully managed to ensure that only pedigree and pure Exmoor ponies run on the commons. The MEPBG is in the process of managing other areas of Exmoor and the member farmers are working together to ensure they do the best they can in maintaining the herds, but not over-breeding. This work is ongoing and good progress is being made.
The necessity to breed, even on a reduced scale, means that some foals are available each autumn, particularly colts, and all of the member farmers would prefer to see them go to good homes rather than be culled.

 
HOW TO BUY AN EXMOOR PONY FOAL Foals will be available to purchase after they have been inspected. Those who are DNA parentage verified and pass inspection will be fully registered with the Exmoor Pony Society.

 
You will need to contact the individual Exmoor farmers - or alternatively, contact the Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group at MoorlandExmoorGroup@hotmail.co.uk to arrange to visit and view the foals. Or to reserve a foal and arrange transportation.
The foals are not usually able to be kept in ground on the farms for very long. If there are insufficient buyers, they will be culled. So now is the time to contact the farmers. Although there may be some foals and other youngstock available over the winter, there will be more choice for buyers over the coming weeks.

 
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY DISTANT FROM EXMOOR? If it is difficult for you to travel to Exmoor regularly and you would still like to purchase a foal, then please contact the MEPBG and we will help you.

 
SOCIALISATION & HANDLING SERVICES If you would like a foal but would prefer help with the first stages of socialising the foal to human contact, please contact the MEPBG regarding services available. There are a small number of full livery places at the Moorland Exmoor Foal Project for new owners looking for help with their foals for the first few weeks. The service includes full livery, introduction to feed, worming, and initial gentling using positive, trust-based methods. This service is designed to ‘take the edge’ off wild foals. They will still require ongoing gentle, patient, ongoing handling in their new homes, but will be more confident of humans and easier to handle for new owners. A full livery and training fee will be charged on a weekly basis. This is an excellent opportunity to give your new foal a good start before it joins you. If you would like to enquire about a Moorland Exmoor Foal Project Livery & Socialisation place at Holt Ball please email ExmoorPonyClub@hotmail.co.uk
A similar service may also be possible to arrange with the individual farmers – please enquire.

 
HOT BRANDING It is illegal to hot brand any Exmoor pony foal not returning to a semi-feral situation so please ensure that your foal is not hot-branded during its inspection. Foals which have been hot branded and which are leaving a moorland environment will not be accepted for livery and socialistion at the Moorland Exmoor Foal Project. All foals are microchipped.

 
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT TO PAY? Moorland Exmoor foals are a pure breed and very good quality ponies, so expect to pay at the very least £100 for a colt foal straight off the moor and considerably more if is a particularly good colt – around £300 or even into four figures depending on breeding and quality. If you are allowed to purchase a filly, the price will depend on rarity, bloodlines, type and quality – filly foals routinely start at £400-£500 and can easily go into four figures depending on breeding and quality. The prices takes into consideration the fact that you will need to also pay for the gelding of your colt foal. If you purchase a pony after initial socialisation and handling, expect to pay considerably more as the costs of care and training will need to be covered.

 
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM MY NEW FOAL? If you buy a foal ‘fresh from the moor’ please remember that this foal has lived wild and free, in a family herd up until gathering. The foal will be newly weaned and will have received its first human contact during the EPS inspection. He will therefore be feeling insecure and wary and will require a kind, patient, gentle introduction to handling. Positive, trust-based methods, including ‘advance and retreat’ work very well. Once Exmoors become trusting and confident, they are a joy to be around. The time it takes to socialise a foal to head collar, handling and leading, etc, depends on the foal. Some come to it quickly and others can take months. This has no bearing on the suitability and pliability of the pony. A foal that takes a long time to socialise can be just as good as one that takes a week. However, you will need to be prepared to be patient, consistent, fair, reasonable and kind – all the time – if you want the best from your Exmoor. They have memories like elephants. If you have this approach, socialising Exmoor pony foals will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.

 
ENVIRONMENT – WHAT DO I NEED TO PROVIDE FOR MY FOAL? Ideally you will need a contained area – stable, area of barn, field shelter that can be safely closed, etc. This is where you can have short socialisation sessions with your new foal. The perfect set up is if this could lead into an enclosure where your foal can enjoy some fresh air – and from which you can ask him to go into the contained area for handling, or for the night. This ideally needs to lead out to the pasture where, after worming and being introduced to a feed bowl, your foal can enjoy some daily turnout – and be easily motivated to come in again for a feed. It is advisable for your foal to have the company of at least one other horse or pony. This way, you allow the foal an environment to fulfil his need to enjoy the outdoors, while still being able to regularly handle him and introduce him to a head collar. It is not advisable to leave a head collar on, so you will need to work towards being able to put it on and take it off, regularly, so he gets used to it. By arranging a set up like this, if it takes a while for him to trust you, the foal can still enjoy some turnout – and not have to be shut in all the time. Shutting moorland foals in a stable for weeks or months, is not a good idea and can make them anxious.
ONGOING HELP & ADVICE Advice and help can be obtained from the MEPBG, Moorland Exmoor Foal Project and through talking with breeders, owners and enthusiasts in the Exmoor Pony club community. Email MoorlandExmoorGroup@hotmail.co.uk. MEPBG Telephone 01643 862466.

 
You can also arrange to attend workshops and tutorial sessions in Exmoor pony foal and youngstock handling on Exmoor. Please enquire.
The MEPBG, Moorland Exmoor Foal Project and Exmoor Pony Club are here to encourage and support you as a new Exmoor pony owner.

Ready to start?! Please see the MEPBG Breeders Directory for contact details of the Exmoor farmers. Email MoorlandExmoorGroup@hotmail.co.uk. MEPBG Telephone 01643 862466.

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An Ideal Gift this Christmas – SPONSOR an EXMOOR PONY! If you’d like to support some Exmoor ponies and feel involved and part of the Exmoor Pony Club projects, then The Exmoor Pony Club has the perfect solution for you – the Exmoor Pony Club Sponsor An Exmoor Pony Package at £25 for a year’s sponsorship.

The Exmoor Pony Club says: We have eight yearlings in the Moorland Exmoor Foal Project. While we are carefully seeking the right homes and opportunities for some of these ponies, these yearlings require good care and ongoing socialisation and development.
They need nice pastures to graze in, barns with bedding and forage to shelter in, various feed, care, grooming, veterinary attention including gelding and worming. There are various purchase, transport, inspection/registration/passporting costs and advertising, promotion and re-homing costs. There is also equipment, training facilities including agility and other play objects, socialisation and ongoing development and handling training – and all of this must be kept up together, every day. The costs are considerable so we really appreciate your support.
However, we strongly believe that these very special (and endangered) moorbred Exmoor ponies deserve this good start in life, after leaving the moors as wild and untamed foals, who must make the transition to domestic life if they are to survive. With careful, patient socialisation and handling, which respects their natural desire to run in the pasture, as well as spend some time with us – we feel it’s worthwhile and important to give them good opportunities, which will set them up for life.
The ponies in the Moorland Exmoor Foal Project are lucky. They get to live in a wonderful environment, with lots of good company. And the handling and interactions they receive are kind, sensitive and with a positive, trust-based approach to horsemanship.
In the coming years, we would like to help more foals too. If you would like to sponsor any or all of the ponies in the Moorland Exmoor Foal Project, we would be delighted for your help and support in continuing our work.
There are various issues with the current Exmoor pony registration system which means it can take a long time to register some of the ponies and that means they must remain in our care until they have a suitable passport and we can be clear what kind of activities the ponies are eligible for. Giving the ponies security during this ‘limbo’ period can often mean the difference between survival or not. We are also working to encourage improvement in the registration system to make the transition from the moors to good homes easier for both the ponies and the farmers who breed them.

HOW TO SPONSOR AN EXMOOR PONY?
Sponsorship costs £25 per pony per year. You may choose a particular pony and, if and when we find that pony a suitable new home during your sponsorship period, your sponsorship will continue to help the other ponies. Proceeds from your sponsorship will go towards the care and development of the ponies.

Link to the Sponsorship page in the EPC Online Shop: http://www.exmoorpon...an-exmoor-pony/

Sponsors will receive a colour photograph of the pony/ponies they sponsor, a thank you letter and a Certificate of Sponsorship. Regular updates on the Moorland Exmoor Foal Project ponies are published in the blog and Sponsors are very welcome to join the www.exmoorponyclub.co.uk community to keep in touch and interact. Sponsor may, if they wish, arrange to visit Holt Ball to meet the ponies.
THE EXMOOR PONIES AVAILABLE FOR SPONSORSHIP ARE:
Monsieur Chapeau Born on the Dunkery Commons of Exmoor and found in January as a severely malnourished orphaned foal, with pneumonia, Monsieur Chapeau has made an incredible recovery and is the most wonderful character. His parents sadly haven’t been identified through the current DNA system so he can’t have an Exmoor pony passport. However, he is a beautiful and true to type example of the breed. He is loved by everyone who meets him and has given us his complete trust. Monsieur Chapeau is helping to socialise the other ponies through his confidence and calmness, although he is also capable of delivering a spirited ‘high five’ to the other ponies if they try to push him around!

 

Scarlet A beautiful, gentle-spirited, blond-maned filly of exceptional quality, Scarlet was the inspiration for equine artist, Rebecca de Mendonca’s lovely portrait ‘Inquisitive’. Scarlet has the desirable ‘old-fashioned’ qualities of moorbred Exmoors – a wonderful, sculpted head, large ridged eyes, an extraordinarily thick and wavy mane and tail, strong limbs and golden colouring with distinct mealy markings – and lovely movement. She is learning to overcome her natural flight instinct and trust us, and coped very well with her first time out at the MEPBG Exmoor Pony Show, standing second in her class to Pumpkin (below). Scarlet is a fully registered Exmoor pony.

 

Dazzler Dazzler is a fully registered Exmoor pony and the natural lead female within the herd. She is wary of humans and requires gentle, patient socialisation. However, she is also brave, bold and confident when it comes to exploring new things and is always the first to try out agility objects at liberty, like the bottle bank, podium, tarpaulin and giant green ball. Dazzler never fails to impress us and is going to be a beautiful mare with her dark bay coat and distinctive mealy markings. We are looking for a very special home for Dazzler where she can flourish with someone who appreciates her intelligence and self-awareness.

 

Lady Stumpkin Pumpkin ‘Pumpkin’ has a story to tell! After the Farleywater H67 herd was gathered, it was assumed that Pumpkin was a colt and due to the fact she had gathered herself up into a tight little, chunky, ball, she was nicknamed ‘Mr Stumpy’. Due to various administrative issues, which resulted in this herd’s progeny not receiving their inspection at the required time, Mr Stumpy’s future looked bleak. However, the Moorland Exmoor Foal Project made the decision to take all ten of the foals gathered and Mr Stumpy was offered a lifeline. Once safely at Holt Ball, it became apparent that Mr Stumpy was a filly – so she was hastily renamed Lady Stumpkin Pumpkin! She has since grown into a beautiful, strong, well-marked, well-moving yearling who stood Reserve Youngstock Champion at the MEPBG Exmoor Pony Show. Pumpkin is the very special girlfriend of Monsieur Chapeau. She is now also a fully registered Exmoor pony.

 

Firestar Firestar is a very pretty, bright bay filly with a lovely blond and red mane and tail, big eyes and a beautifully shaped muzzle. She is sensitive and shy in nature and very engaging with patient, quiet interactions. Her socialisation is progressing well and she loves to explore objects at liberty. Firestar currently has some silver hairs in her mane which has prevented her being fully registered although she is parentage verified and has a Section X passport. We are waiting to see if the silver hairs disappear with a couple of coat changes. It’s important to let this happen naturally and not pull them out, as mares can breed.

 

Farleywater Tom Faggus Tom also has a story to tell. He is named after the courageous highwayman in the Lorna Doone story, because he managed to evade capture with his sister, Annie Ridd, last autumn when the H67 ponies were gathered in from Buscombe, on Exmoor. However, we had spotted him last summer and were keen to see this beautiful colt foal. It was a puzzle when he wasn’t among the herd in the first gathering and we were delighted to spot him in May when he was amongst the ponies brought in then. Tom is a stunning gelding who has a very promising future as a riding pony. He is gentle and wary in nature and his confidence is slowly building with positive, trust-based interactions with us. We are waiting for DNA parentage verification so he can be inspected and registered.

 

Farleywater Annie Ridd Like Tom Faggus, Annie evaded the gathering last autumn and spent the winter on Buscombe, which is a 1000 acre moorland enclosure delivering harsh weather conditions and challenging terrain. As a result her condition was rather poor and she is now recovering well. She is very pretty and has breathtaking movement. We are looking forward to receiving DNA parentage verification so she can be inspected and registered. Annie is shy but also engaging. She will accept a head collar and if handled gently, looks to interact with humans. Her socialisation is progressing well.

 

Imperial Topaz Topaz is an exceptionally handsome, well moving and adorable gelding. He comes from the Anchor herd and his mother, Amethyst, caught our eye at the gathering with her stunning conformation, movement and presence. We were keen to bring Topaz into the Moorland Exmoor Foal Project to give him a good start in life. Unfortunately, the registration rules state that ponies must be excluded from full registration with even a tiny pale patch on the undersole of one hoof. This rule was apparently brought in during the 1980′s and before that, various of the semi feral foals did not have their feet picked up at all. As a result, many very good ponies have been lost from the gene pool and we are working with others to request that this rule is amended. There is no scientific evidence that pale undersoles are any less robust than darker ones. So while Topaz is superb in every other respect, he currently has a Section X passport. Topaz was extremely touch resistant when he arrived and it took over 4 months for him to trust us and willingly accept a head collar. However, now he is engaging, affectionate, brave and one of the first ponies to come up and say hello, looking for cuddles. He stood Exmoor Type Champion at the MEPBG Exmoor Pony Show.

 

You can see proper pictures of all of these ponies and read about their progress, from the very beginning, in the Moorland Exmoor Foal Project blog here: www.exmoorponyclub.co.uk/index.php?/blog/11-moorland-exmoor-foal-projects-blog/
Link to the Sponsorship page in the EPC Online Shop: http://www.exmoorponyclub.co.uk/index.php?/store/product/6-sponsor-an-exmoor-pony/
Thank you for your support!

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Equine Tourism promotes Horse Tourism – UK & Worldwide

If you are offering good quality Horse Riding Holidays and Equestrian Holiday Experiences and your commitment is to the wellbeing and good care of your horses and ponies, then please feel welcome to contact us regarding joining the Equine Tourism website.

The Equine Tourism initiative was launched in 2oo4 to promote Horse Holidays, Equestrian Establishment, Equine Business & Services & Products and Equestrian Professionals – as well as Equestrian Events, Shows & Activities.

Our commitment is to good horsemanship practice and helping to promote the horse and pony breeds of the world, including wild and semi-feral equines.

We are looking for quality experiences to promote – and that doesn’t just mean 5***** luxury Horse Vacations – although we welcome those too! We are keen to hear from people providing authentic, exciting, interesting and educational equestrian experiences – whether that is trail riding, camping, pack trips or more holistic and natural experiences. And people offering training and educational opportunities with horses and ponies. We welcome hearing from people offering opportunities to learn more about horse behaviour and how to bond and built rapport with horses from the ground as well as ridden.

We encourage and welcome bitless, barefoot and liberty-based training as well as Classical and more conventional practices and pursuits.

What is of utmost importance is – are the horses and ponies happy and well looked after and do people enjoy your equestrian experiences, events, establishments, services and products? If so, then Equine Tourism is interested in hearing from you and welcomes people want to find you.

Join us in promoting Equine Tourism & Good Horsemanship – UK & Worldwide!

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The MEPBG/ SWPA Exmoor Type Championship Final Qualifiers begin this Saturday 31 January:

A Best Exmoor Rosette and Qualifying card will be awarded to the Best Exmoor pony in the SWPA Open Moorland & Hill pony classes (in hand and ridden) with the MEPBG/SWPA Exmoor Type  Championship Final to be held on 9 August at the MEPBG Exmoor Pony Show at Brendon Country Show, Exmoor.

These classes are open to Exmoor ponies who find themselves, for whatever reason, outside of the Exmoor Pony Society Main Studbook. Eligible for entry in these class are EPS ‘Section X’ and ‘Exmoor Type’ registered Exmoor ponies of any age, and also Heritage Exmoor Pony Register ponies who are not listed in Section One of the Exmoor Pony Society Studbook. Exhibits must be considered to be Pure Bred and ‘True to Type’, but NOT NECESSARILY REGISTERED with their respective Breed Society.

If you would like to check eligibility for these classes please email

MoorlandExmoorGroup@hotmail.co.uk. Qualifying cards should be returned to the MEPBG (Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group) within three weeks. More information about the shows at the South

West Pony Association Website at www.southwestponyassociation.co.uk   More information about the MEPBG Championship Final here at www.exmoorponyclub.co.uk.

The Qualifying Shows:

Saturday 31 January 2015  SWPA Winter Show In-Hand & Ridden -  Stretcholt Farm  Stretcholt, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4SR

Friday 3 April 2015  SWPA Good Friday Show  - The Grange Equestrian Centre, Northlew Road, Oakhampton, Devon . EX20 3DA

Sunday 3 May 2015  SWPA Trinity Show  - Taunton Racecourse, Orchard Portman, Taunton, Somerset TA3 7BL

Sunday 27 June 2015  SWPA Welsh Show - The David Broome Event Centre, Mount Ballan Manor, Crick, Gwent,  South Wales NP26 5XP

Sunday 12 July 2015  SWPA Summer Show - Stretcholt Farm, Stretcholt, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4SR

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