Dawn Westcott's Blog

Thank You to the Oakford Players for a kind Donation!

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:50:43 GMT

The Oakford Players in Devon have chosen the Exmoor Pony Project to support this year.

A huge thank you to the amazing Oakford Players, who have chosen to support the Exmoor Pony Project with a very kind donation of £500. This comes at a time when the project faces a mountain of winter costs and challenges and it is very much appreciated.

The Oakford Players - Oakford, Mid Devon
The Oakford Players are a local amateur dramatics group who put on shows at Oakford Village hall once or twice a year. These can be anything from comedy plays, variety shows, or murder mysteries. You can read more about them here at https://www.oakford.community/oakford-players/

The Oakford Players very kindly hosted me in November to give a talk to their group and villagers of Oakford, about the Exmoor Pony Project and show them some videos of the ponies. It was a lovely morning and the group will be coming to meet the ponies in person in the New Year.

The Exmoor Pony Project is privately funded and the large herd here includes a wide range of Exmoor ponies from different herds - all living together with their strong family and friendship bonds. The aim is to safeguard this herd and maintain their good quality of life, happiness and wellbeing for the long term. Various Exmoor ponies here have found themselves in trouble or in jeopardy, through no fault of their own, including orphans and foals facing registration obstructions.
We welcome new Patrons and donations to help with this work - thank you!

The 2026 Exmoor Pony Project Calendar!

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:45:46 GMT

Treat yourself and friends to our gorgeous 2026 Calendar and help support the ponies winter costs.

I'm excited to let you know that the gorgeous 2026 Exmoor Pony Project Calendar is now available to order.

It's a lovely treat for yourself and friends - and the sales will help to support the Exmoor ponies winter care and costs at the same time. Thank you!

This beautiful A4 landscape calendar opens up to A3 size - giving plenty of room to feature your important dates and events. The multiple images take you through life in the herd, month by month, with captivating photographs of the Exmoor Pony Project ponies.

Calendars cost £10.50 each, plus P&P*

*For delivery outside of the UK please select the Worldwide purchase option.

This Calendar is a fundraiser for the Exmoor Pony Project - thank you for your support!

You can order the calendar here - and please feel very welcome to share this!

https://www.wildponywhispering.co.uk/store

Insights into herd life - a little love story

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 12:10:33 GMT

Imperial Topaz and Dazzler reveal the complexities of inter herd relationships

"There’s a whole world to observe and understand within herd life, when we enable ponies to live together and evolve together."

Observing the subtleties and complexities of herd life is a fascinating privilege - and a wonderful learning opportunity. These past few weeks, a quartet of ponies - Imperial Topaz, Dazzler, Yogi Bear and Karisimbi - have been offering intriguing insights into the bonds and relationships within the herd. Basically, it’s a bit of a love story.

Nearly twelve years ago, Topaz, along with Dazzler and her siblings joined our new Exmoor Pony Project as newly weaned moorland foals. They came from different herds and connected immediately. Within this sizeable foal herd, Dazzler and her half sister Scarlet formed a close bond with Topaz. In fact, Scarlet and Topaz were closest of all.

Some year’s later, I moved Scarlet to run with Bear to have a foal (she eventually produced two beautiful daughters, Goldilocks and Phoebe) and this meant she was away from Topaz and the big herd for a few years. At first, Topaz appeared to be devastated, before gradually becoming closer to Dazzler - and they became inseparable, like peas in a pod.

This bond has continued for over a decade - until a few weeks ago.

A quick background summary - A few months ago, newly gelded Yogi Bear was reunited with his daughters Annabel, Helena and Spirit and their mother Annie - and soon afterwards, they joined the big herd. As you can imagine, this was rather like throwing a large rock into a pond and the ripple effect from all the different meetings and greetings and establishing of herd hierarchy and relationships was quite dramatic at times. (Some of the Patron films include some great footage of it all).

While still maintaining a close eye on his immediate family, Yogi Bear took a huge shine to Monty’s daughter, Cristal and didn’t let her out of his sight. Subsequently, various other mares started hanging out with him, including Dazzler. I became aware that Topaz seemed to have removed himself from the whole herd and started spending time on the outskirts, even standing alone outside the barn, or in a different part of the pasture. He seemed rather downcast and out of sorts.

Soon, I realised this was because Dazzler was spending more and more time running around with Yogi Bear and his new little gang - and Topaz was very unhappy about it, and even quite irritated. He seemed to be sulking.

Then, another of the mares, Karisimbi, caught Yogi Bear's eye and he started hanging around with her and ignoring the other mares. Currently, they are a definite pair and are together all the time. This didn’t sit too well with Dazzler, who looked a bit lost. But Topaz carried on ignoring her and for a while, there was a definite stand off. Even though Topaz had returned himself into the herd, he was not to be seen anywhere near Dazzler.

Until yesterday! I walked into the barn where the whole herd had migrated in for a rest. There, in the middle, were Topaz and Dazzler, standing together as they have done for most of their lives. When I went over to say hello, they both came up to me, clearly once again happy in each other’s company.

This case study has been fascinating as the ponies have demonstrated a wide range of clear emotions and emotional responses and shown how they navigate the nuances in their friendships and relationships - and how these evolve and change, according to their feelings, when they are free to make choices for themselves.

There’s a whole world to observe and understand within herd life, when we enable ponies to live together and evolve together. As I say often - there is so much we can learn from them.

Our Exmoor Pony Project social media followers think so too. One posted this morning, “In this precarious world, so lovely to be diverted by your posts and photos of herd life.”

Indeed. We're blessed to spend time alongside these very special Exmoor ponies.

Below:
First picture: Dazzler (second left), Scarlet (third left) and Topaz (far right)

Second picture: Yogi Bear and Karisimbi

Third picture: Dazzler and Topaz reunited

A Matter of Trust - the challenges ahead for Exmoor's landscape

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 08:00:54 GMT

Can farmers build trust with ecologists and government to make the new Landscape Recovery Schemes deliver for Exmoor?

DEFRA’s Landscape Recovery Schemes (LRS) require land owners and farmers to link up and work together, because the minimum area for each scheme is big - 500 hectares (1235 acres). For Brendon Commoners on Exmoor, this means working with neighbouring land owners and farmers, the National Trust at Arlington and Exmoor National Park Authority, as part of the ‘Reviving Exmoor’s Heartland’ - a huge scheme spanning some 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) of the Brendon Valley, Simonsbath and Challacombe, with twenty two participants so far.

Brendon Commoners recently held an event with the local farming community to discuss the impact and opportunities offered by the scheme - a once in a generation opportunity to rethink, reset and regenerate the Exmoor cultural landscape, for the good of species diversity, habitat and climate change.

A two year consultation period is needed as, once finalised, the scheme lasts for twenty years, so participants have to get their planning right. Decisions made now will have a dramatic effect on the environment and livelihoods of those who live off the land. Understandably, farmers are cautious and want to safeguard their future.

Calling the scheme Landscape ‘Recovery’ slightly raises the hackles of farmers who feel they’ve meticulously followed government directives regarding how to farm and shape the land over the years, through previous schemes. They’re keen to know how best to benefit the environment and climate change, while continuing to provide food security and quality - and ensuring they can make a viable living now and for future generations of farmers.

“Climate emergencies are real and we all recognise that now,” says David Westbrook of Natural England, which regulates the LR schemes for DEFRA. “It’s not just about wildlife, it’s also about recognising cleaner air, water and flood prevention. LR is a huge opportunity to design our own scheme for Brendon Common. Farming has to be at the heart of nature for this scheme to work - to deliver a step change for nature and climate in this area.”

For Alex Farris, Natural Environment Manager of ENPA, the core focus is to, “Protect SSSI areas and carbon sequestration, nature, climate and habitat. It’s an opportunity for everyone to work together, on and off the moor - with more trees, connecting coombes and woodland. Creating corridors to moorland, creating scrub and ‘edge’ habitat to bring wildlife benefits. There is varied farmland around the moor where we hope to do habitat restoration and enhancement. Re-establishing some lost species like the Marsh Fritillary butterfly and Black Grouse, and reducing rhododendron and other invasive species - Molinia (‘Purple Moor Grass) ’is still too dominant and an issue.”

“Landscape Recovery is not the best name, but what’s behind it is that both farmed and wild landscapes in Britain have suffered a life threatening dramatic decline in species diversity over the last decades,” says Marthe Kiley-Worthington, an Exmoor ecological farmer, ethologist and author. “Agriculture is the major contributor, by destroying habitats and the application of chemicals which flow into the water, air or stay in the earth, killing countless billions of small living things - fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides and medicines. Dung beatles are almost extinct because of wormers.”

Robin Milton, farmer and former Chairman of ENPA, says with LR trust needs to be rebuilt with farmers. “You can’t argue that there’s a problem with biodiversity, pollution and climate. But if you blame people managing the land in response to the policies put on them for years, you will not gain their trust. They’ve just done what they were told. There needs to be more trust and we are looking at setting up an environmental farmers group in the area, to protect cultural security. The younger generation of farmers will walk away if they can’t see a viable future.”

“If we want to see the results out of Landscape Recovery it needs a bottom up not a top down approach - how do we get something really happening on the ground and keep the people there? In 20 years, the government will be looking for results so you’ve got to get everyone engaged at base level. Financial pressures will determine land use and LR is dependent on government funding, which is not guaranteed - and DEFRA may yet have its budget reduced? It’s very difficult to guarantee continuity if people can’t see direct benefits from the schemes. There is work to do to make LR work on the ground.
A genuine desire to do good are the same for the ecologists, farmers and Natural England. It’s a huge challenge and I’m cautiously optimistic.”

So, is the government funding going to be there for the 20 year LR schemes?
David Westbrook says, “Yes, that is the idea. There is a pot of money.”

“It’s important to keep a wide genetic background, but that’s not necessarily commercially viable,” says Marthe K-W. “So, it’s clear that to increase species diversity, the management and money need to be there.”

Christina Williams, Vice Chairman of the Exmoor Society and proprietor of Molland Moor, says, “To manage moorland well for nature, you need grazing animals, farmers and disease control. The whole cycle is needed and farming is the delivery tool.”

“We have to eat, everyone has to eat, says Marthe K-W, “But just planting trees is not going to solve it. Ecological agriculture can help: Self-sustaining, diversified food production which increases net production, is economically viable, conserves species diversity and is aesthetically and ethically acceptable.
“Different species graze and use the environment differently. Sheep eat very close to the ground, which means they contribute to reduced species diversity on moorland. Cattle are less destructive but can cause poaching, yet they make paths for other species to follow, so have biodiversity benefits and costs. Deer and ponies will not penetrate thick shrub but do follow paths. Animals must have enough to eat and will do whatever they can to get it and may trash the environment if they’re hungry. So increasing numbers in particular areas to reduce a floral problem (like Molinia) depends on how much palatable food they have available.

“We can pool knowledge and work out the species and numbers to maximise floral biodiversity. The key to a thoughtful, diverse moorland future is cooperation between all those who have interests. Changing strategies every couple of decades is expensive, ecologically often ridiculous and disconcerting for graziers (like being paid to drain an area and 10 years later being paid to block up drains). They must be paid for their efforts.”

Maria Floyd, whose family farm cattle and sheep on Brendon Common and have the UK’s largest herd of free-living Exmoor ponies, wants to know if the LRS will aim to protect and prioritise native breed conservation - and this remains unclear.

Robin Milton points out that anyone setting up a native breed needs continuity and to know they’ll be recompensed for what can be expensive and difficult management that is not commercially viable. “When out on the moorland the reality is that free-living native breeds can’t just be brought on and off according to specific desired dates. They must be able to live out there and acclimatise - or they die. You need flexible management, where stock can go out earlier or later, as the weather allows - depending on conditions, not a prescribed dates system. Nature objects and makes its own mind up. We’ve got to be flexible enough to work with it. Invasive grasses like Molinia probably can’t be controlled in a warm/wet climate just by burning - we need to graze it too. We’ve become overly concerned to remove stock from the moors, but the problem now is finding enough farmers with enough stock to graze them.”

David Westbrook, from NE said, “That needs to be part of the discussion. We mustn’t be too prescriptive. We need to think about what climate change means in this process and be more flexible on what’s favourable for SSSI. The last thing I want is an on paper prescription to hold up future progress. “

With regard to introducing new species, Alex Farris said, “The Marsh Fritillary Butterfly has lots of potential with LR, particularly in land off the moor to create habitat for it to thrive.”

Other species being looked at are Pine Martins, White-Tailed eagles, beavers, Black Grouse, Hen Harrier and Curlew.

“On balance, Pine Martins are very good for biodiversity,”said Alex. “By predator behaviour, they’ll bring resilience to biodiversity. They’ll have an impact on the grey squirrel population.”

Marthe K-W advises caution about reintroducing Pine Martin, “It will be at the cost of some rare species. You need to be very careful.”

Christina Williams agrees, “Ground nesting birds are an issue with Pine Martins - the situation with Capercaillie and Pine Martins in Scotland is scary. We need to be honest about dogs, people and foxes as predators, too.”

Ruth Shippobotham says that at NT Arlington, “We want to improve the habitat and see what the land supports, see what turns up - we want to develop a holistic approach, increasing insects. LR can be what you make it and we’re still learning what’s possible. The real challenge is that we only have two years to put it together.”

While tree regeneration is a major aim of LR, there are concerns that fencing off areas of young trees will compromise grazing areas and re-route wild deer into areas they’re not wanted. “It’s perfectly possible to grow trees without excessive fences, by establishing them in appropriate places and using electric fencing,” said Marthe K-W. “Areas where grazing animals rarely go are obvious spots to scatter seeds and plant trees, ie, steep valleys with bracken and gorse, which can act as ‘nurses’ for trees provided there’s not too much grazing pressure.”

Sarah Eveleigh of Farming In Protected Landscapes said, “Deer management on Exmoor is very sensitive and we’re trying to develop a brief for the effects of deer on land with tree regeneration and come up with a plan that works for everyone.”

So how does the Reviving Exmoor’s Heartland group see the future?

“Ruth Shippobotham says, “A lot of work has gone into developing plans with NT tenants. Each tenant needs to look at a plan that works for them and we need to look at where we can offer suggestions. Like getting tenants to align and work together for better payments. We’re looking for greater connectivity and to share learning opportunities and best practices for participants in the scheme. There’s already a lot of collaboration between the NT and ENPA. It’s not just about the next five years, it’s also what happens in the final five years.”

David Westbrook says, “For Natural England, it’s about restoring nature at landscape scale. It’s the best shot we’ve got at a liveable future with viable businesses - having a future, a really good future.”

Ben Williams of the Badgworthy Land Company says, “Landscape Recovery is an opportunity and it’s up to us to use it, to do something special. It won’t work without the farming community having a viable business. We need happy, healthy farmers who can see their children taking over the farm. We need collaboration.”

“It’s about going forwards and learning lessons from the past,” says Alex Farris. “Not about blame. Learning from each other and working together and creating a LR scheme that’s more resilient to cope with climate change.”

The general consensus from the panel and audience discussing the ‘Reviving Exmoor’s Heartland’ scheme is a genuine enthusiasm to collaborate, share knowledge and do the best they can collectively to make the right decisions for this precious area of moorland and farmland. Producing the desired results for climate change, environment, habitat, biodiversity - and the people and animals living off it, for generations to come. An enormous opportunity - if trust and collaboration can be established and maintained.

This article appeared in the Western Morning News on 2 October 2024.

Photos by Sarah Hailstone 'Exmoor With Jack'

Horse Training should be about trust and connection with empathy

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 09:41:10 GMT

A good rule of thumb in equine training: "If I do this to my horse, how would I feel if someone did it to me?"

A good rule of thumb in equine training:

"If I do this to my horse, how would I feel if someone did it to me?"

"If I ask my horse to do this, how would I feel if someone asked me to do this?"

In my workshops, I often ask people to pair up, with one playing the horse and one the handler. Their task is for the handler to move the 'horse' around and for the 'horse' to feel what it's like to be a horse in that situation. Then they swap. The resulting discussions are usually emotional and poignant - almost always the 'horses' at times feel insecure, vulnerable and even frustrated and angry. Everyone leaves feeling more thoughtful, with more empathy for horses.

Reading comments on FB this morning, what Jenny Rolfe said stood out for me, "...how to become that FRIEND - trusted by the horse who enjoys responding to us - as we enjoy listening and learning from him - at soul level."

She's absolutely right and it's what connection and training with equines is all about. Gaining trust, friendship and willing partnership - not using force and coercion to create a frightened, miserable, shut down, obedient robot.

No one is perfect, all equines are individuals, training environments vary - what we can do is apply these rules of thumb to every interaction - and try to do our best for the wellbeing of equines we manage. They can't scream or cry - perhaps if they could, they wouldn't get treated so badly in so many situations.

The horse world needs to evolve to a kinder and more respectful place for equines.

Pictured here: My stallion Bear (his story is told in my book Wild Stallion Whispering ) who won two world championships in international horse agility. Not by going along to a local class with no actual linked competition, but in year-long international video leagues, where the entries of global competitors were judged against each other. He was up against some formidable, liberty-trained competitors and we started from scratch, with him bolting away from the sight of an agility obstacle. Slowly and surely, we learned together, built trust in each other, and found out how to navigate myriad 'scary' challenging obstacles, on the line and at liberty.

The deadlines were monthly, sometimes with three different courses required (wild, on the line and at liberty). He very quickly taught me that if I became too 'competition oriented', ie, thinking of the video deadline rather than if he was ready to complete a new challenge - that this was not acceptable. It took the time it took and it required infinite patience from me (and him).

One thing stuck out throughout the two year competition period - he looked to me for safety. So when he did something that really challenged him, like jumping through giant hoops on his own, he would turn and come back to me immediately afterwards. If I excitedly praised him, he only saw my raised energy and, as he maybe saw it, my loss of calm. It really annoyed him and I quickly learned to suppress my excitement, stay very calm and say 'good boy Bear' quietly. This was the right response and he was then able to feel safe and proud of himself.

When you work with a horse at liberty, they are able to show you the truth - they can leave the situation whenever they want. IMHO it's the best way to learn and evolve willing partnership with an equine. Whether you go on to ride them or not.

These nuances in training - understanding each other, building trust, learning how to build a willing partnership - were the precious nuggets of learning. Not going faster and playing to an audience - but building genuine trust and partnership where the equine really enjoys the activities and feels pleased with themselves.

The natural 'sparkle' within an equine is born as a foal and is a wonderful thing to nurture. It is all too easy to extinguish with heavy-handed training - or handling. I had already faced a huge challenge winning Bear's trust as a weaned foal, as his first experience of human handling had been forced restraint by a group of handlers before six enormous hot branded marks were plastered over his shoulder and rump. This instilled a fear of people in him that was was really challenging to overcome. He is still deeply suspicious of people he doesn't know and trust.

With regard to agility, when I experienced some attempts at bullying and coercion myself, I decided it was time for me and the ponies to leave the sport. Up until that point, I really enjoyed my time of learning and think that, when this activity - like any other - is conducted with the wellbeing and enjoyment of the equines in mind - it's great. I was lied about and trolled as a result, but I know I did the right thing to walk away at that point. My ponies wellbeing comes first, and so does mine.

Farleywater Lady Dugal

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 08:31:26 GMT

A very sad goodbye to beautiful Lady Dugal

I don’t like making sad posts. However, I feel that this beautiful mare deserves a tribute. RIP dearest Farleywater Lady Dugal. On Friday evening, despite the best efforts of the excellent Western Counties Equine Hospital vet, I had to say goodbye to this precious mare, who was tragically in foal.

After leaving her fine and well early evening, I then discovered her lying in a coma on the late night check. No sweating or signs of agitation - just lying in a deep, unresponsive sleep. Eventually, the very sad decision was made, on the advice of the vet, that we could do no more for them. I am absolutely devastated to lose Dolly - and her and Yogi Bear’s foal, who was to be Herd 11’s only foal this year.

As some of you will know, Lady Dugal joined us in 2013 when we took the entire Farleywater Herd H67 foal progeny into our pony project that year - saving their lives. Their story is well documented in Wild Pony Whispering . ‘Dolly’ went to a smart new home in early 2014 and subsequently became a working hunter pony. Passing through various homes, she at some point acquired a serious suspensory ligament injury, which was discovered by her last owners, who had purchased her in good faith as a performance pony for their daughter.

To their credit, they gave Dolly all the veterinary help they could in order to see if she could fully recover, but eventually, light riding only was recommended. Dolly still moved beautifully, but was no longer up to competitive jumping. So they contacted me and I was overjoyed to offer Dolly a permanent home back here in the Exmoor Pony Project.

Shortly after my husband’s tragic death from pancreatic cancer last year, I made the decision to introduce Dolly to Yogi Bear and let her have a foal. At only ten years old, she was in her prime and a stunningly beautiful and noble mare. During the past year, they have bonded closely and had a lovely time.

Yogi was standing with Lady Dugal when I found her on Friday evening and he remained close by the entire time the vet was there. The sorrow in his eyes is heart breaking and he has been receiving essential oil therapy from my good friend Katie, along with Reiki healing from me. The vet has taken blood for testing to see if we can discover the reason this happened to her.

I would like to thank everyone who has supported me these past couple of days, including the dear friends who jumped in their cars late at night and came over to help. Dolly’s last owners are also devastated.

Here are a few pictures of Lady Dugal - one of the most beautiful Exmoor mares I have ever set eyes on and I know that she and her foal are sparkling now in Divine light and energy, with their angels. Bless them ��❤️��

Porlock Vale Campsite is opening in 2024!

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 16:43:06 GMT

Peaceful camping in a beautiful meadow on this working Exmoor farm, National Trust Holnicote Estate

I'm delighted to let you know that we'll be offering the opportunity to enjoy peaceful, spacious camping on this farm during 2024!

Porlock Vale Campsite - Peaceful camping for adults (16 +) available from 12 July to 8 September. Spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, forestry and moorland.

Porlock Vale Campsite - Enjoy this peaceful pop up campsite in a beautiful, spacious 9 acre farmland meadow at Holt Ball Farm, on the National Trust Holnicote Estate in Exmoor National Park.

There are spectacular, panoramic views towards North Hill and Selworthy Forest, Hurlestone Point and Grabbist. Behind the field rises the spectactular Dunkery Commons moorland (around 5,500 acres), which leads up to Robin Howe, Webber's Post and Dunkery Beacon.

Porlock Vale Campsite is a wonderful space to enjoy Exmoor’s famous Dark Skies!

The campsite is conveniently located to explore the surrounding Exmoor countryside, moorland, woodland and coast, including Bossington Beach and Porlock Weir, with miles of beautiful walking and cycling. Porlock, Minehead and Dunster are within a few miles, with their pubs, restaurants, cafes and shops and the delightful villages of Luccombe, Horner, Selworthy and Allerford are nearby, including tearooms.

Magnificent mature trees, woodland, hedges and undulating pasture create an idyllic landscape where you can enjoy the peace and quiet of this beautiful area, with myriad wildlife including buzzards, foxes, hares, rabbits, beavers and water voles - and you may even spot some wild red deer passing through.

The National Trust Holnicote Estate is progressing rewilding and land recovery projects across the area, making it fascinating for campers interested in the environment, biodiversity, climate change and how farming here is adapting to benefit nature. This is also the home of the Exmoor Pony Project where the herd grazes on the farm.

Respect for Nature: Our campsite theme of 'Peace and Tranquility' respects the abundance of wildlife and farm animals living here. So, no amplified music and loud noise, with quiet hours after 10pm. Please use the recycle and rubbish bins provided and leave no trace as this field reverts to its beautiful natural state at the end of the camping season.

On the campsite, there is access to drinking water as well as washing up facilities, toilets and showers.

We can accept tents and tent trailers throughout the camping period, and also a small number of camper vans. The narrow lanes are not suitable for caravans or motorhomes.

This is a new camping field for 2024. In 2020 we ran Porlock Vale Campsite in a field further down the farm and achieved 70 x 10/10 Pitch Up Reviews from delighted campers. We look forward to welcoming you back for 2024.

Porlock Vale Campsite is open from 12 July to 8 Sept 2024. Booking and availability at https://www.pitchup.com/campsites/England/South_West/Somerset/Minehead/porlock-vale-campsite/

A beautiful book reading from Olivia!

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 18:50:17 GMT

Rowan The Exmoor Pony - the story of an Exmoor pony told in Rowan's own words

When I first wrote Rowan The Exmoor Pony , I asked various of my friends and family to read the story - and they said that they couldn’t put it down and had to read it in one sitting. They felt moved and happy from reading about Rowan’s journey - born into a free-living herd on Exmoor and discovering a whole new life off the moor after foals are gathered and weaned in the autumn.

The story of Rowan is a culmination of the lives and experiences of many Exmoor ponies and the adventures I’ve shared with them over the years. When told as a ballad, in Rowan’s own words, the story creates its own magic. Mostly, because readers can immerse themselves in the verses and imagine what’s happening - literally becoming part of Rowan’s story and experiencing what he experiences.

So, it was particularly lovely to hear that Olivia, who was gifted the book at Christmas, was delighted with the story and sat down and read it in one evening. She then gave this beautiful reading of the first chapter, which is truly lovely. I am really chuffed that she loves Rowan’s story.

Thank you Olivia, for sharing this reading and helping to communicate the story of Rowan The Exmoor Pony , which was written to promote interest in the breed and help Exmoor ponies to be better understood and appreciated.

Exmoors are incredibly special ponies and they are endangered. Each and every one of them is important and the more that people understand their qualities and attributes - the more we can ensure they will be safeguarded and protected for the future.

ROWAN THE EXMOOR PONY

Nick Westcott - Tribute

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 08:49:48 GMT

My dear husband Nick very sadly died in June after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer

Nick Westcott, Co-Founder of the Exmoor Pony Project and Chairman of the Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeder's Group sadly died on 23 June 2023, after a courageous 15 month battle with pancreatic cancer.

“It’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.”

Although taken from us at only 64 years of age, Nick lived a full and colourful life, reaching and touching the hearts of many with his beautiful, bountiful character and generosity of spirit. Handsome, intelligent, kind and enormous fun, Nick’s piercing blue eyes, radiant smile and heartfelt warmth were unforgettable. He really did light up the room when he walked in.

Nick was born at home on 4 August 1958 at Bromham Farm, Porlock, to Sidney and Margaret Westcott, and into a family that has lived and farmed in the Exmoor parishes for over 500 years. They later lived at Woodcocks Ley Farm and Buckethole Farm, Porlock. Nick grew up farming and fully embraced and loved life on Exmoor and knew the moor like the back of his hand.

A true Exmoor gentleman and lifelong farmer, many will fondly remember his sense of adventure and gregarious, charismatic nature.

During his life, Nick farmed at Buckethole, Liscombe, Honeymead, Tossels Barton at Brayford and Holt Ball, Luccombe. He has three children from his first marriage to Jane - Amy, Duncan and Caroline - and two grandchildren, Peter and Georgiana.

Nick leaves his wife Dawn. After meeting Dawn in July 2008, they married in September that year, describing each other as Soulmates, Through Dawn's Exmoor ponies, Nick rediscovered his family’s long history in the breed and together they re-established the Westcott family’s Herd 11 and founded the Exmoor Pony Project. Nick knew every pony by name and was very fond of them - they saw straight into his good heart and liked him. Nick was also Chairman of the Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group, which was established in 2014.

Throughout his immensely challenging fifteen months of battling pancreatic cancer, Nick remained resolutely positive and determined, surprising the doctors with his strength and resilience, and he continued to work and farm. Embracing complementary therapies and healing, Nick has shone the light on the importance of nurturing our self-healing capability, along with seeking help from the medical world. Throughout his journey, he was thinking of how he could help others.

“Never measure your life by possessions. Measure it by the hearts you’ve touched, the smiles you’ve created and the love you’ve shared.”

Nick loved life and the world - and it loved him back. He radiated sunshine and warmth - a wonderful soul whose luminous light and energy continue.

Nick Westcott, we will always love you.

Our lovely friend David offered me these beautiful words recently, which I treasure and which give me great comfort after the loss of the love of my life:

The beautiful love between you and Nick is so pure and strong,

it shines golden and intensely bright.

Your love for each other is undying,

such is its power, not lost just transformed.

Love will give you strength.

Love will give you comfort.

Love will give you wisdom

and knowing that two Souls are connected for eternity.

Blessing for Nick

Nick, we thank you for your love, your light and your soul, that you brought to us and shared with us in your lifetime.

The healing you gave to others, without knowing, because of the power that walked within you, and the energy that surrounded you. People were drawn to you because you were their light and the love that they needed to heal.

Your personal strength is that of someone of a higher plain, and the control that you held in becoming a stronger version of yourself in times of need, were beyond the comprehension of many.

Nick, we are eternally thankful for all that you gave and all that you were.

We will show eternal gratitude for the gift of walking beside you in your lifetime.

We will find our strength in the strength that you gave us and we will think of you always for as long as there is light, because you are the light that comes with each new day, and you continue to shine down and surround us, giving us protection and courage.

We accept your departure and know that you must continue your journey. We release any hold that we have in the sanctuary of knowing that you will never leave us and are forever around us - there for us when we need you and guiding us from afar.

You have taught us so much and have inspired us to work to become the best versions of ourselves.

Journey to the place that needs you now, we are with you and will join you there one day.

Based on the beautiful words of Jamie Coombes .

DONATIONS:

If you would like to make a donation to the Exmoor Pony Project 10th Anniversary Fund please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-exmoor-pony-project-10th-anniversary-fund

Exmoor Ponies on Alan Titchmarsh Love Your Weekend

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 10:51:37 GMT

Our herd and stallion Yogi Bear feature in the Winter Wonder section Series 5, Episode 3 with Lesley Joseph

It was so lovely to see the Exmoor Pony Project ponies and Holtball Herd 11, including stallion Yogi Bear - along with clips of Withypoole Herd 23 and the Foreland herd - featured in the Winter Wonder feature on Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh today, 15 Jan - with a lovely voiceover from Lesley Joseph.

You can watch it here on ITVX ITV here https://www.itv.com/watch/love-your-weekend-with-alan-titchmarsh/10a0437 in Series 5, Episode 3. Winter Wonder features at about 50 minutes into the programme.

Thank you so much for featuring Exmoor ponies #AlanTitchmarsh ��

"Thank you to the Exmoor Pony Project for their gorgeous footage of the Exmoor Ponies in todays Winter Wonder"
Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh

#loveyourweekend #ExmoorPonies #exmoorpony #sunday #exmoornationalpark

A Collector's Treasure for Rowan The Exmoor Pony fans

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 17:50:11 GMT

A beautiful, Rowan The Exmoor Pony Limited Edition signed Art Print & author-signed Book - the perfect gift!

Rowan The Exmoor Pony - Collector’s Limited Edition Treasure

This Collector's gift package includes:

- A beautiful Limited Edition Giclee Print signed by artist Rebecca de Mendonca
- An author signed copy of Rowan The Exmoor Pony
- A signed Certificate of Authenticity

The perfect Christmas Gift and a Collector’s treasure!

Sales help support the Exmoor Pony Project.

A Limited Edition Print - 'Rowan the Exmoor Pony’
From the original pastel painting featured on the book cover of ‘Rowan the Exmoor Pony’, by Rebecca de Mendonca.

This is a Limited Edition Giclée Print, printed on acid free 100% natural smooth cotton rag media, using the highest quality archival digital inks.

The edition is limited to 500, each one signed and numbered individually by Rebecca de Mendonça, the artist.

Size of print 8” x 10”
Size of printed area 71/4" x 9"
This print will fit stock frames, with a picture insert size 10" x 8".

This Collector's gift package costs £35 + P&P (available UK only) and can be ordered here in our Online Shop.

If you would like to purchase the package for an overseas location, please email dawnwestcott@hotmail.com for further details.

Welfare for Exmoor Ponies in Rewilding Projects

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 12:52:23 GMT

Article by Hanne Knude Palshof - Chairman, The Danish Veterinary Association (Translation)

Veterinary Association: Introduce a law that protects animals in nature projects

This article by Hanne Knude Palshof, Chairman of the Danish Veterinary Association, appears on Fødevarer at https://www.altinget.dk/foedevarer/artikel/dyrlaegeforening-indfoer-en-lov-der-beskytter-dyr-i-naturprojekter

It is important and relevant with regard to the welfare and wellbeing of Exmoor ponies used in rewilding and grazing projects. I've used Google Translate and relay what Hanne Knude Palshof is saying, here below:

Nature projects with wild animals can strengthen Danish nature. But the lack of legislation in the area means that the welfare of the animals is threatened, writes Hanne Knude Palshof.

This post is solely an expression of the writer's own opinion. All submissions to the Alting must comply with press ethics rules.

There is broad agreement that nature in Denmark is under pressure. In the election campaign, the politicians lined up to indicate that we must have more nature in Denmark - preferably the wild kind. But in our zeal to recreate more nature, we are in the process of eroding animal welfare even before the first nature national park is inaugurated.

Wild nature requires, among other things, biodiversity. When we create biodiversity, there is professional agreement that large farm animals such as cattle and horses are key players, as their grazing increases the amount of light-open areas, which create fertile soil and habitat for growth and animals, which in turn contribute to further diversity in the fauna – a "virtuous circle."

In these years, many different types of nature projects, both private, municipal and state, are emerging that want to contribute to increasing biodiversity – including the upcoming 15 nature national parks. Many talk enthusiastically about wild nature with wild cows, wild horses and wild forests, just like in the good old days. But are the animals wild, or is it just the Wild West?

Animals in nature projects still have needs

Let's start by being honest - we select and limit animal habitats in the form of demarcated fenced areas and not necessarily areas of open countryside which are natural habitats for cattle and horses as it suits their escape instinct and they can find food in form of grass.

In some of the future nature national parks, for example Gribskov and Bistrupskovene, there is thus no question of natural habitats, and even the large nature national parks are not large enough to accommodate the migration pattern that truly free-living horses and cows follow.

In addition, the animals exposed in the nature projects have exactly the same need for an adequate amount of food as well as the possibility of shelter and dry bedding as all other animals we have in our care - whether they are in stables or behind fences. When these animals are exposed in the nature projects, it cannot be expected that they live like wild animals that have to search for food themselves and tolerate the climate, as it is now in Denmark.

Fortunately, it usually goes very well - but this is also where the next dilemma lies: in Denmark, the grass typically does not grow from November to April, and there will be periods when the animals' very basic food needs are difficult to meet.

Livestock, such as horses and cattle, cannot meet their energy needs by eating branches or bark, as their digestive systems cannot break down and extract nutrients from them. Under natural conditions, the animals would move out of the area in their search for food. It prevents the fences.

The result will be that the animals will starve if they are not either fed by the people who have them in their care or alternatively removed from the nature projects. A problem that is further aggravated when reproducible animals are desired, which in addition to providing energy for their own survival must use extra energy to be pregnant and to raise offspring.

We have the responsibility

Precisely feeding the animals when there is a lack of food is a central point of contention in relation to how we manage the nature projects. As veterinarians, we find it professionally unacceptable if the animals starve so much that they eventually die from it.

When we put animals behind fences, we always have a responsibility for them. We have a more than 100-year-old legislation in the area; first in the form of the Animal Welfare Act and now the Animal Welfare Act. This complex of laws stipulates that anyone who keeps animals in his care must ensure that they are housed, fed and cared for taking into account their needs.

Therefore, it is incomprehensible and, from a veterinary point of view, unacceptable that exemptions can be made from this legislation (Section 3 and Section 9) in the future nature national parks where the state is the owner of the animals. Because we are not and will not be talking about wild animals in wild nature! At the very least, domesticated animals become strays under fences, where they can find it difficult to maintain their burrows and normal expressions of life due to scarcity of food, lack of water when there is frost, and lack of shelter and dry bedding.

When section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act can be dispensed with, it means quite clearly that the length of time that can elapse between observing the animals is from min. 1 time a day to maybe once a week. The animals can thus suffer with, for example, a broken leg, because the animals do not need to be supervised every day.

Another legislative paradox is that the keeping of almost any type of specific animal in cubicles in Denmark is subject to special animal protection legislation. There is, for example, an 'Act on keeping dairy cattle' and an 'Act on keeping horses'. Just as animals in zoos and smaller zoos are covered by a special order.

The purpose of this legislation is of course to protect the animal species in question. As the crown jewel at the very top of this legal complex rests the Animal Welfare Act. But precisely for the keeping of animals in nature projects, there is no specific legislation regarding the conditions, welfare and life of the animals apart from the Animal Welfare Act, where specifically in connection with nature national parks exemption can be sought.

In other words, the very general law is the only flimsy bulwark that the stray animals in the nature national parks have to secure their most basic rights - and now the law's provisions on their welfare can be dispensed with.

In order to remedy the sometimes poor animal welfare that is currently seen in several nature projects, we as professionals would like to encourage the adoption of legislation that includes animals in nature projects. Legislation that sets the framework for how we best meet the animals' physiological, behavioral and health needs.

The framework must be right

Legislation which includes a proactive action plan for what must happen when animals are injured, become ill, or do not have enough food, and which not least sets the framework for the frequency and quality of the supervision that must be carried out with the animals.

There is no doubt that the farm animals in the various nature projects can have a fantastic life if the framework is right. In this way, the "wild life" of domestic animals is presented romantically, when they can feast on the summer's flower buffet and lay coke boxes. Here we must remember that we are also responsible for the animals when the "flower buffet" has disappeared and the snow, hunger and cold have arrived.

We must work diligently and constructively so that nature gets better conditions in Denmark. But the end does not justify the means, and Danish veterinarians would like to help ensure that, just as we have done throughout our 250 years of work.

We must use our large livestock to achieve the goal, but the welfare of the animals must never be the price. Because animals under fences are not wild.

Ends

Thank you Hanne Knude Palshof for making these important points. To read the original article please visit https://www.altinget.dk/foedevarer/artikel/dyrlaegeforening-indfoer-en-lov-der-beskytter-dyr-i-naturprojekter

Alastair Stewart features Rowan The Exmoor Pony on his TV Show

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sun, 23 Oct 2022 15:17:19 GMT

Talking about Exmoor pony conservation and my new book on the Alastair Stewart & Friends show on GB News

Alastair Stewart OBE very kindly invited me onto his Alastair Stewart & Friends show on GB News to chat about Exmoor pony conservation and my new book, Rowan The Exmoor Pony . As a fellow Exmoor pony owner with the wonderfully mischievous Dormouse, he loves the story of moorland foal Rowan, and he cares deeply about the breed's wellbeing and conservation.

Here's the interview and you can watch the full Alastair Stewart and Friends Show from 22 October on the GB News YouTube Channel here at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5BOD2UJPz98

Rowan The Exmoor Pony is available to buy here in our Online Shop

It's arrived! Rowan The Exmoor Pony

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 08:46:50 GMT

My new book Rowan The Exmoor Pony has arrived and available in our Online Shop

Very good news - the main shipment of Rowan The Exmoor Pony has arrived, so there are now plenty of copies.

It's a lovely story, for children and adults alike, written in rhyming verse and illustrated throughout.

Rowan is a moorland Exmoor pony, born wild and free in Exmoor National Park. He enjoys a carefree, idyllic start to life with his herd and forms a special bond with his brother Robin as a foal. The autumn pony gathering arrives with a shock and sets Rowan on a completely new life adventure - meeting new pony friends, learning to trust people, discovering agility, becoming a ridden pony and experiencing all kinds of activities - and a fair bit of mischief too!
But what happened to Rowan's brother Robin - and will we ever find out?

Rowan The Exmoor Pony is published by Halsgrove Publishing in A4 quality paperback and costs £9.99. Books purchased through my website help support the Exmoor Pony Project herd and can be found here https://www.wildponywhispering.co.uk/store/ .

Exmoor Ponies - Concordia Magazine

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 14:39:02 GMT

My article about Exmoor ponies and new book Rowan The Exmoor Pony, in the Oct issue of Concordia.

Exmoor Ponies - I've written an article about Exmoor ponies in the October 2022 issue of Concordia Magazine, which you may be interested to read - and it's free! Exmoor ponies also feature on the front cover of the magazine - photo by Sarah Hailstone.

Moorland Foals: October sees the gathering of various of the moorland Exmoor pony herds, some of which have already taken place, and there will be a number of beautiful moorbred Exmoor pony foals looking for good homes and opportunities. If you'd like to find out more, please contact the herd owners directly to discuss. Foals are sold directly from the farms on Exmoor. More information and herd owner contact details can be found here at https://www.mepbg.co.uk/

You can find the issue here below - and my article starts on page 50 at https://issuu.com/concordia.ec/docs/issue_5_concordia_magazine?fbclid=IwAR3lQfXlZD67L32y8pvB-mLVti0Kg4aZbLRUxoeSNjqBgz2RoIYT7f-gMjA

Thank you to Sarah Hailstone for the wonderful front cover picture.

Exmoor Pony Genome Project Update

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 13:21:26 GMT

Genomic Analysis Advance Gives New Hope for Future of Exmoor Ponies

The Exmoor Pony Genome Project - Update

This Rare Breeds Survival Trust press release, see below and also this link https://www.rbst.org.uk/news/genomic-analysis-advance-gives-new-hope-for-future-of-exmoor-ponies?fbclid=IwAR3EJU-Y0WMvsTV882sdMTC8kEMXAOICHSdOdkX063hDTbcZEFh3VHFoyKM offers an update into the Exmoor Pony Genome Project , which has enabled the whole genome of the Exmoor pony to be mapped.

I should point out, that the Molland Estate and the Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group are also main stakeholders in this project. And one of the core objectives of the Exmoor Pony Genome Project is to map the Exmoor pony genome and enable the resulting data to be 'open source' and available to scientists, academics and genetics experts to study and analyse - with the hope of identifying aspects within the genome that can uniquely identify an 'Exmoor pony'.

This is of vital importance as the Exmoor pony stud book is closed, with a significant population of Exmoor ponies - and their progeny - excluded from recognition and proper registration within the Exmoor pony breed. This is of particular concern with increasing rewilding and conservation projects, where owners can fail to properly track lineage and register the ponies. There is therefore an evolving population of authentic, free-living Exmoor ponies, at home and overseas, which are 'lost' from the breed.

It is these ponies, living and breeding in extensively-grazing semi-feral herds, which better retain the learned and genetic characteristics and behaviours of the true Exmoor pony. Once they live off the moors, there is very quickly 'genetic drift' as they become more domesticated. In other words, we are allowing administrative red tape to harm the widest and healthiest conservation and preservation of Exmoor ponies - an endangered breed, through the current way they are registered and categorised.

The RBST press release:

Genomic Analysis Advance Gives New Hope for Future of Exmoor Ponies

The first whole genome sequence of a UK native pony breed is giving new hope for the survival of the iconic semi-wild herds of Exmoor Ponies.

The availability of the breed’s full gene sequence as a result of the whole genome sequencing by Dr Sarah Blott at the University of Nottingham is described by Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) and partners as a quantum leap in understanding the Exmoor Pony’s genetic make-up, opening up important new possibilities for the work to save the rare breed from extinction.

Ponies have lived on Exmoor since ancient times, developing great hardiness, independent spirit and intelligence. The late 1940s nearly saw the demise of the Exmoor Pony breed with population estimates at just 50. The ponies’ numbers have improved through breeding off the moor as well as efforts to grow the herds of semi-feral ponies still running on the moor, but the breed’s genetic pool is small and it remains one of the most endangered of our native equines. It is categorised as a Priority breed by RBST.

RBST Trustee Professor Tim Morris said: “Up until now genetic analysis to further the conservation of native livestock and especially equine breeds has been restricted to examining a much smaller set of genes. But thanks to this comprehensive genomic analysis, undertaken over several years and representing the 2.7 billion DNA base pairs in the genome, we can now see the Exmoor Pony breed’s whole genetic picture for the first time. This is a quantum leap in genetic understanding which can be used to improve the breed’s prospects for survival long into the future, opening up new possibilities in managing genetic diversity, in identifying conditions which could put the breed’s future at risk, and in ascertaining whether changes in herds are down to genetics or environmental factors.”

The whole genome has never before been analysed for equine breed conservation in the UK, but has now become a more viable prospect thanks to scientific advances and costs coming down. The only other equine breeds for which complete genomes currently exist are the Thoroughbred and the Mongolian pony. The Exmoor Pony whole genome analysis was commissioned by RBST, Exmoor National Park Authority [the Molland Estate, Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group and vet Peter Green are also stakeholders ] and the Exmoor Pony Society, with generous support and assistance from the University of Nottingham and local individuals. Hair samples were taken from both semi-wild and domesticated ponies around Britain in early 2021, after selection via the breed’s stud book to ensure a truly representative sample for study. 15 of these samples have been aligned with a further core reference sample to provide a unique and highly representative Exmoor Pony whole genome.

RBST Chief Executive Christopher Price said: “This is an incredibly important advance in the fight for the Exmoor Pony breed’s survival. We are thrilled with the success of this very ambitious project, made possible through the dedication and expertise of Dr Sarah Blott at the University of Nottingham in navigating this technically and logistically challenging project during the disruption of the pandemic. The Exmoor Pony is irreplaceable, it is part of our national heritage but it also has an important role in environmental land management today and in the future. This genomic analysis is a major landmark in underpinning the breed’s future and we hope that this work will serve as a model for similar whole genomic analyses of other rare breeds of livestock and equines.”

All the Exmoor Ponies on the moor are owned by moorland farmers with specific grazing rights, who monitor the herds at key stages of the breeding cycle. David Wallace, Vice Chairman of the Exmoor Pony Society and co-owner with his wife Emma of the moor bred Anchor herd, said: “The society is delighted to have part funded the Genome Project which has mapped the whole genome of the registered Exmoor pony. The resulting information will assist in the future health and welfare of this rare native breed and allow the society to carry out further research. Quality scientific information together with good equine management go hand in hand.”

As well as their importance as a breed in their own right, ponies are particularly important for Conservation Grazing thanks to the dental conformation making them very neat grazers with a clean bite. Semi-wild Exmoor ponies, well adapted to challenging moorland conditions readily graze on tough herbage that other animals will not touch, allowing more delicate plants space to grow. Their natural grazing style is used to improve biodiversity in land management by the National Trust, RSPB and Wildlife Trusts among others, as well as all over the Exmoor National Park itself.

Ends

Summary: Why is it so difficult to create an administrative system to properly recognise, list and provide authenticated lineage tracking for ALL Exmoor ponies, not just the small number being registered in the closed Exmoor Pony Stud Book? It shouldn't be, and there is an entire population of authentic Exmoor ponies languishing outside of recognition.

Rowan The Exmoor Pony - BBC Radio Somerset Interview

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 07:47:40 GMT

Jenny Myles interviews Dawn Westcott about new book Rowan The Exmoor Pony - with book readings

My new book, Rowan The Exmoor Pony, arrives this summer. Last night (Monday 25 July) Jenna Myles interviewed me on BBC Radio Somerset about writing and the story of Rowan.

Listen to BBC Radio Somerset Interview with Dawn Westcott:

You can listen to my interview with Jenna Myles (Somerset Cool) here on BBC Radio Somerset . It takes place at 2 hours 11 minutes into the Charlie Taylor Show, here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0cjqqhb

Extracts from Rowan The Exmoor Pony were read out on Charlie Taylor's Show on Tues 26 July), Wed 27 Jul and Thurs 28 July. You can listen to them here:

Tues 26 July Rowan The Exmoor Pony book reading at about 2 hours 8 mins into Charlie Taylor’s Show https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0cjqqzh

Wed 27 July Rowan The Exmoor Pony book reading at about 2 hours 10 mins into Charlie Taylor’s Show https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0cjqrnv

Thurs 28 July Rowan The Exmoor Pony book reading at about 2 hours 13 mins into Charlie Taylor’s show https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0cjqsm4

How to buy Rowan The Exmoor Pony

You can Pre-Order Rowan The Exmoor Pony in our Online Shop, where proceeds help to support the Exmoor Pony Project and Exmoor pony herd, here https://www.wildponywhispering.co.uk/store/

We are expecting the book to arrive in August.

Exmoor Pony Pond Spa

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 09:31:28 GMT

The Exmoor ponies splashing around in the recent heatwave

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Exmoor Pony Welfare - ReWilding

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sat, 09 Jul 2022 06:04:15 GMT

Professor Tim Morris of RBST makes an important statement about animals used in rewilding projects

There is intense international discussion about the welfare of ponies used in rewilding and conservation grazing projects - and the duty of care that should be extended to them. This follows disturbing reports of Exmoor ponies, Konik ponies and cattle being left to fend for themselves and, in certain cases, fall victim to malnourishment, starvation and suffering - through insufficient food and care.

Should owners and managers of rewilding projects be allowed to treat ponies and cattle differently to those on a farm or in a domestic situation - without duty of care and responsibility to avoid unnecessary suffering and premature death? Or not.

Professor Tim Morris of Rare Breeds Survival Trust makes a powerful and significant point in his article for the Summer 2022 issues of Ark magazine:

"Animal welfare output standards are a developing area, but as a starting point I would suggest there should be no fundamental differences, whether domesticated species are farmed, conservation grazed or rewilded, in the animal.”

This is a significant and important animal welfare stance and I agree with him.

In the article, Professor Morris discusses a system of welfare outcome assessment, and particularly:

"How do we assess this issue [animal welfare] when how the animals live is so different? To date most welfare standards for domesticated farm animals are based on 'inputs': they describe what must be provided to the animals in terms of certain resources such as housing, space, feed, veterinary care and management practices. But more widely, the effects of these inputs on the welfare of the animals are important as are the absence of them when rewilded. These are known as 'welfare outcomes': the impact of these inputs on the health, physical condition and behaviour of the animals themselves. This as is a process is known as 'welfare outcome assessment'.

"I would suggest a system of welfare outcome assessment is the way to address the animal welfare challenges of the use of domesticated species in rewilding projects, particularly in the UK. RBST has a long history of being an advocate of conservation grazing using native breeds of domesticated species, and has animal health and welfare standards based on the 'five freedoms', which are a form of output standards. RBST also provides training for conservation grazing.

"Animal welfare output standards are a developing area, but as a starting point I would suggest that there should be no fundamental differences, whether domesticated species are farmed, conservation grazed or rewilded, in the animal welfare output standards that are and should be applied. And at present RBST's animal health and welfare standards for conservation grazing would seem the most appropriate starting point to assess animal welfare for rewilded domesticated species." Professor Tim Morris

I wholeheartedly agree with what Professor Morris is suggesting. While general management practices are somewhat different between rewilded, farmed and domestic situations - the duty of care should remain in place across the board to ensure that animals are provided with a suitable standard of environment and food to remain fit and healthy - and to provide prompt care in the event of disease, illness and injury. Animals should not be allowed to suffer unnecessarily as a result of the situation they have been put in.

Professor Morris's article is published in theSummer 2022 issues of Rare Breeds Survival Trust's magazine Ark. If you'd like to join the RBST and receive a subscription to this magazine please visit https://www.rbst.org.uk/join-rbst-today

#rewilding #rewildingbritain #rewildingeurope #ExmoorPonies #exmoorpony #conservation

NEW BOOK! Rowan The Exmoor Pony

Mon, 23 May 2022 15:27:57 GMT

Rowan The Exmoor Pony - arriving this summer!

Rowan The Exmoor Pony - The Story
Rowan is a moorland Exmoor pony, born wild and free in Exmoor National Park. He enjoys a carefree, idyllic start to life with his herd and forms a special bond with his brother Robin as a foal. The autumn pony gathering arrives with a shock and sets Rowan on a completely new life adventure - meeting new pony friends, learning to trust people, discovering agility, becoming a ridden pony and experiencing all kinds of activities - and a fair bit of mischief too!

But what happened to Rowan's brother Robin - and will we ever find out?

This enchanting story is written in rhyming verse and told in Rowan’s own words and illustrated throughout.

Dawn Westcott , author of best selling Wild Pony Whispering, says, “Many real-life Exmoor pony characters bring their magic to this lovely story. I thought I was writing a children’s book, until I realised the effect the story has on adults too. This is a book you may feel compelled to read out loud to your family and friends, bringing out your inner actor! I hope the story of Rowan radiates far and wide and helps to promote this incredible ancient native pony breed. This book is is a fundraiser for the Exmoor Pony Project and sales will help to support our Exmoor pony herd."

"Thank you Rebecca de Mendonca for your beautiful cover artwork which perfectly captures the essence of the story."

Rowan The Exmoor Pony will be published in A5 quality paperback this summer, by Halsgrove Publishing, priced £9.99. ISBN 978-0-85704-357-3.

Rowan The Exmoor Pony is also our Celebration of Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee .

Copies will be available to pre-order and purchase in our online shop soon and through Halsgrove Publishing and UK bookshops.

"I can't wait for you to read Rowan The Exmoor Pony !"

Dawn Westcott xx

#newbook #readmybook #goodreads #books #book #booklaunch

The Heritage Exmoor Pony & Equus Survival Trust DNA Project

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 10:19:56 GMT

DNA profiling for MEPBG Exmoor ponies to authenticate lineage tracking and safeguard their moorland heritage.

Exmoor ponies in Exmoor National Park are to benefit from a new collaboration between the Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group (MEPBG) and USA-based Equus Survival Trust (EST).

The Heritage Exmoor Pony & EST DNA Project will enable DNA profiling and lineage tracking of MEPBG Exmoor ponies - particularly semi-feral Exmoor ponies who are excluded from the closed Exmoor pony stud book.

The Equus Survival Trust (EST) will provide funding and establish a DNA parentage baseline, where the new database of DNA markers and parentage relationships will provide pedigree and DNA test information to breeders, owners and potential owners. Ponies will be DNA profiled so that lineage can be established and, if necessary, foundation base lines created. Updating with future progeny will be ongoing and the EST and MEPBG will allow accredited genetic studies of the gene pool data.

“We’ve started by collecting DNA samples and field data from the long-standing Moorland Herd 99 on Molland Moor,” said Dawn Westcott, MEPBG project coordinator. “Almost all the Exmoor ponies in the herd are categorised as ‘non pedigree’ due to the fact that when DNA parentage verification was brought in for moorbred Exmoors as a pedigree registration requirement in the early 2000’s, a DNA baseline was not established. This caused confusion and ultimately, rendered the ponies and their progeny outside of the Exmoor pony stud book. As the stud book has no upgrading system, Exmoor ponies like these have no status or recognition. There are populations on Exmoor, in the UK and overseas in a similar situation."

"The new Heritage Exmoor Pony & EST DNA Project presents an enormous opportunity to authenticate lineage and recognise their moorland heritage.”

“Exmoor ponies are one of Great Britain’s most ancient native pony breeds and they are endangered. So maintaining the widest possible diversity in their tiny gene pool is vital. The free-living Exmoor moorland herds are particularly important in that the ponies retain the learned and genetic behaviours and characteristics of extensively grazing, free living animals. In other words - they remain true to type, hardy and resilient.”

Despite the previous DNA problems, the Dart family and Molland Estate have continued to safeguard their long-standing Exmoor pony herd. With increasing interest in rewilding and conservation grazing projects, for which these moorland Exmoors are suitable and desirable - as well as for riding ponies - they need status and recognition. Now there is hope.

Christina Williams, of the Molland Estate, comments, “When we gathered the Herd 99 Exmoor Ponies off Molland Moor last week, everyone was impressed with their quality. It is heartening to think that, with thanks to the EST, DNA profiling will enable these ponies to be lineage tracked and hopefully eventually included in the Exmoor pony stud book. These ponies are true to the Exmoor moorland type, move well and have the resilience to thrive in tough moorland conditions, making their genetics important in this critically endangered breed. If anyone who knows about pony breeds had been there, their heart would have been won over - now we can start to prove the science."

“The new DNA project will also help pedigree Exmoor ponies,” says Dawn Westcott. “More MEPBG herds are committing to the project and it is hoped that by establishing new and correct DNA baselines, it will also help to resolve anomalies affecting pedigree registrations. We are very grateful to the Equus Survival Trust for giving Exmoor ponies this opportunity.”

More information at www.mepbg.co.uk

Photography by Jamie Waters at Shelduck Photography and Sarah Hailstone

This article appeared in the Western Morning News on Friday 27 November 2021.

Why are we rejecting Exmoor foals for 'a few white hairs'?

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 11:49:55 GMT

We should be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water in the Exmoor breed

We humans should be cautious about rejecting Exmoor pony foals for 'a few white hairs'. This can often result in them being culled.

Let me tell you about Farleywater Firestar . She had an obvious scattering of white/grey hairs through her dark mane as a foal. After two coat changes, these came out - on their own. The consistency of these white hairs was weaker than the dark ones. They have never returned and she is now a particularly beautiful, well-conformed, well-moving, hardy pedigree Exmoor pony.

A question - if white hairs (that remain in the coat) are still coming through in pedigree Exmoor breeding stock over 100 years after forming a stud book, this is not 'taint' or cross-breeding - this is them . So why are we rejecting sometimes the very best filly foals in a herd, for a 'few white hairs' when they come from long pedigree lines, are not 'cross bred' and will likely breed foals without 'a few white hairs'?

The Exmoor pony gene pool is tiny and we need every healthy, true to type, good quality Exmoor possible. Why not have a pedigree Section B for Exmoor ponies with 'a few white hairs' that remain in the coat and register their foals, that don't have white hairs, back into Section A? Because at the moment, mares that breed a foal with 'a few white hairs' can still have other foals which don't, registered as pedigrees.

Let's face it, when a group of ponies was selected from all the ponies that ran out on the area now known as Exmoor National Park in the early 1920's, what was selected with them was the characteristic of some 'white hairs'. Continuing to reject foals for this reason 100 years later, when it is 'them', does not make sense. Especially when it is common for Exmoor ponies to develop white coronet bands, white in the forehead, manes and tails, as they get older.

We should be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water.

Anyway, Firestar doesn't have any white hairs. Thankfully we were there to see her safely through to pedigree registration but others aren't so lucky. We can do more to safeguard them too.

We'd welcome constructive discussion and debate about this with Exmoor pony breeders and experts - where is the forum for discussion of such important issues?

DNA Profiling at Molland Moor

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 09:06:43 GMT

Why it's so important to establish a DNA baseline to help track lineage and safeguard excluded Exmoor ponies

A fascinating day yesterday inspecting and profiling the Molland Moor herd of Exmoor ponies.

This long-standing, free-living herd retains the desirable Exmoor pony characteristics and resilience through living on one of Exmoor's toughest moorlands.

However, the ponies cannot be registered in the closed Exmoor pony stud book, following failure to establish a definitive DNA baseline when DNA was brought in as a parentage requirement in the early 2000's. This is an excellent example of why an upgrading system to the stud book is required.

Great effort is now going into supporting Molland Moorland Herd 99 in establishing DNA profiling that will facilitate lineage tracking and help to safeguard this important herd of endangered Exmoor ponies.

These ponies are also awarded the MEPBG (Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group) Certificate of Authenticity - born and bred in Exmoor National Park by an MEPBG herd owner.

Inspecting the ponies closely yesterday, they have a lovely stamp - retaining the desired Exmoor pony mealy markings, thick coats and character. They have well laid shoulders and move well and are good, stocky ponies. The mature geldings show what gorgeous, up to size, well-conformed Exmoor ponies the colts mature into. The Molland ponies are well qualified for rewilding and conservation grazing and also make lovely riding ponies.

All Exmoor ponies are important and there is a pressing need to find a way to properly embrace the purebred as well as pedigree population within this critically endangered breed. There are significant numbers of perfectly good Exmoor ponies languishing outside of the closed Exmoor Pony Stud Book (in the UK and overseas).

Isn't it time that we recognised the issues that arose by bringing in DNA parentage verification as a pedigree registration requirement, for moorland populations often running in large wilderness areas with multi-herds running with multi-entires - but not for homebreds? And through not establishing a definitive, correct DNA baseline database at the beginning?

This has created anomalies and delays in the verification process, and 'inconclusives' and exclusions which jeopardise the survival of the ponies we are trying to safeguard.

In the meantime, it's exciting to be profiling the Molland Moor herd and establishing the all important DNA baseline for them.

Youngstock are available for sale now. More information and contact details for the Molland herd and the Dart family at https://www.mepbg.co.uk/moorland-herd-99

#MollandMoor #ExmoorPonies #conservation #rewilding #exmoorpony #rarebreed #endangeredspecies

How can a Closed Stud Book for Exmoor Ponies be Justified?

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 12:03:23 GMT

We should embrace the significant population of good, true to type Exmoors languishing outside of recognition and status as 'Exmoor Ponies'.

Here in Exmoor farming, like so many other farmers across the globe, we look at the animals in front of us. Assessing the quality of our animals is fundamental to good breeding.

When DNA parentage verification was brought in as a pedigree registration requirement for Exmoor ponies in the early 2000’s, the breed society failed to establish definitive baseline databases for moorland herds. It failed to even DNA parentage verify the foals born ‘off the moor’. This created a double standard for pedigree registration within the breed, and a massive problem for moorland farmers trying to manage large free-living herds out in the wilder moorland enclosures of Exmoor National Park.

Today, some of those farmers, herd and land owners are still struggling with an incomplete DNA database containing anomalies, creating long passport delays at times and worse even - inconclusive results. In extreme cases, where relations with the breed society have broken down, this has caused herds to be culled, put on breeding rest or owners to 'give up'. This has caused countless perfectly good Endangered Breed foals to be routed to exclusion and even slaughter - through lack of papers, status and value. At times, with encouragement from the breed society not to present foals for inspection and telling their breeders ‘there is no market for them’. When there would be - and is.
An absolute travesty.

But astute farmers continue to look at the Exmoor ponies in front of them. Where they deem those ponies to be of good quality and ‘true to type’ Exmoor ponies, they are reluctant to ‘get rid of them’ and they continue to safeguard them. Exmoor ponies are an endangered breed and farmers like to breed good, robust, well-moving, healthy livestock - to hand on to future generations. Other herd owners have slaughtered perfectly good mares to 'fit the paperwork' irrespective of loss of quality and endangered breed genetics.
An absolute travesty.

The Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group is dedicated to safeguarding its beautiful pedigree Exmoor ponies - and also looking for ways to properly recognise, give status to and embrace, the unfortunate pool of purebred Exmoor ponies that are languishing out of a closed stud book. On Exmoor, in the UK and overseas.

A look at some of the more poorly marked, narrow chested, straight shouldered, long-eared, awkwardly moving Exmoor ponies -various with emerging congenital defects and with one of the highest native pony inbreeding coefficients - tells us that we should be maximising diversity within Exmoor ponies, not narrowing it further. A herd of perfectly good, healthy, well-moving, well-marked, robust, resilient, intelligent Exmoor ponies is a genetic gift to the Exmoor breed - and we should not waste the opportunity to make the most of those genetics - for the good of the breed.

Here is a good example of what I’m talking about - a cracking Exmoor pony from Molland Moor. His father is the adjacent pedigree licensed Exmoor stallion, Knightoncombe Royal (waiting for DNA verification). His dam is from a long line of Exmoor mares messed about through not establishing definitive, correct DNA profiles of this herd when the system was brought in. They are the ‘fall out’ of human incompetence. It is not their fault. It doesn’t make them ‘not Exmoor ponies’. While this pony, as a male, is unlikely to breed, the mares of this quality should not lose the opportunity to pass on their quality, attributes, desired characteristics, and learned and genetic behaviours, for the good of the Exmoor breed.

It’s an interesting fact that years back, Exmoor pedigree passports were happily handed out for ponies with ‘no name’ splattered across their lineage and where no DNA testing was carried out, where multi-stallions and colts ran in multi-herds and boundaries were breached. And various guesswork occurred as to who was sired by who, etc.

You can’t suddenly bring in an incomplete, error-ridden DNA verification system and start excluding perfectly good Exmoor ponies from being registered as ‘Exmoor ponies’.
But they did.

It is not reasonable to run a ‘Closed’ Stud Book with this level of human error and incomplete data - and with this obvious pool of good Exmoor stock outside of pedigree registration.
But they do.

Can someone please show this to the two ‘ladies’ who expressed the view at this year’s EPS AGM that Holtball Herd 11 (comprising supreme champion pedigree breeding stock) should not be allowed to advertise in the EPS Year Book (I paid about £100 for this advert) - their spurious reason being that I ‘promote non-pedigree Exmoor ponies’.
Perhaps someone can try to help them absorb and understand what I’m saying here?

I’m talking about recognising and embracing Good Purebred Exmoor Ponies that are obstructed from the Closed Stud Book, often due to human error, rather than due to the fact they are not ‘Exmoor ponies’. I…am…not…talking…about…cross…breds .

(I couldn’t answer the shouts of these two ‘ladies’ at the EPS AGM, because they are part of the cabal that used corrupt processes to terminate the memberships of myself and my Exmoor moorland farmer husband from the breed society in 2014).

A recent email of mine to the EPS, saying that I didn’t object to these ‘ladies’ expressing their opinions, but I do object to being obstructed from a right to reply, was met with a speedy email from the EPS Chairman, telling me the trustees had ‘voted’ (equally speedily and through what procedure I cannot fathom) that they will not let us rejoin the breed society, or discuss...anything.

Is it the role of a breed society trustee to refuse to discuss anything with concerned Exmoor pony breeders and block them from their own breed society? I think not.

Unlike these breed society representatives, I am perfectly willing and able to politely discuss all of this with them, at any time - for the good of the breed and to look for satisfactory solutions. What are they so afraid of?

We can do better for Exmoor ponies than this current situation. And we will.

Exmoor Ponies help ENPA's Queen's Green Canopy Tree Planting!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 12:56:28 GMT

Exmoor Pony Poop Multi-Purpose Compost contributes oak saplings and compost for the Bye Wood project

A major new Exmoor woodland is being created as part of a drive to increase woodland cover in the National Park from 13.5% towards the recommended 17% by 2050 and the first trees have just been planted - using Exmoor Compost’s Exmoor Pony Poop Multi-Purpose compost!

The first 300 of 13,000 trees have been planted at the Exmoor National Park Authority-owned Bye Wood site, near Winsford . Volunteers, families from the local school, members of the community and those who have so far donated to a special CareMoor Woods & Trees Appeal were on help with the tree planting effort.

Among the new saplings is a special grove of 70 English oaks sourced locally and planted for the Queen’s Green Canopy – a nationwide tree planting campaign leading up to Her Majesty’s Jubilee year in 2022 . More than half of the oaks have been grown by the Exmoor Pony Project , using Exmoor Compost's ‘Exmoor Pony Poo Multi-Purpose Compost’ - set up in lockdown and now supplying gardeners and growers from West Somerset to North Devon with a sustainable peat free alternative.

The ENPA Woodlands Team, including Graeme McVitte and Jack Hunt, briefed the large group of volunteers on how and where to plant the saplings then, armed with spades, mulch mats, tree cages and Exmoor Compost , we all made a start. The weather was kind for November and it was a lot of fun. The initial tree planting continued over the weekend and is off to a great start.

The Jubilee Grove is a key design feature of the new wood intended to provide an open nature-rich glade for people to enjoy and connect with the landscape around them. But with climate resilience now a major consideration for all woodland creation schemes, not all of the tree species chosen will be native varieties.

Exmoor National Park Authority Woodlands Assistant Jack Hunt , who has played a key role in the design process, explains: “We wanted Bye Wood to have multiple objectives: habitat creation, carbon storage, increasing landscape connectivity for wildlife, creating a space for local communities, and adding to the local sustainable economy by providing future generations with all the ecosystem services of woodland, including timber and coppice products. Of course, to achieve all these objectives we must think about what the area will be like when the trees we plant are mature.

“In 80 years when our trees reach maturity the climate will be different. It will likely be drier and warmer, with longer and more intense spells of extreme weather. For this reason, we have included a few species not traditionally associated with Exmoor in our plans, including Italian alder and Scots pine, which do well in hotter and drier climates. The result is a mix primed for resilience that is more than the sum of its parts.”

An estimated five million tonnes of carbon are stored in Exmoor's treescape (1 million in hedgerows and freestanding trees alone), helping to capture around 50,000 tonnes of carbon every year. The new woodland will span 12-hectares when complete and be signed up to the UK Woodland Carbon Code , helping lock away an estimated 2600 additional tonnes of carbon over the first 100 years, with carbon sequestration increasing year on year as natural processes kick in.

Graeme McVittie, Senior Woodlands Officer for Exmoor National Park Authority , added: “As the soil biology develops, it will become more efficient at sequestering and storing carbon. This is one reason we are ‘kick-starting’ the process by introducing dead-wood habitats now that wouldn’t normally appear for 50 or 100 years as the trees mature. This involves importing items of timber from other woods nearby and arranging them among the new woodland.”

Sarah Bryan, Chief Executive of Exmoor National Park Authority, said: “We hope our new woodland will complement and help connect the wonderful variety of trees, hedges, and wooded valleys found within Exmoor’s beautiful landscape, and be cherished for generations to come. Our climate is changing, but by increasing tree cover in the right places we can lock up more carbon and give nature the best chance to adapt.”

Find out how to dedicate a tree in Bye Wood or donate to the CareMoor Woods & Trees appeal at www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/caremoor .

Find out more about Exmoor Compost .

PRESS:

Somerset County Gazette 4 November 2021 https://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/19693857.planting-major-new-bye-wood-exmoor-start-weekend /

The Exmoor Pony Project 2022 CALENDAR!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 11:35:29 GMT

Our gorgeous 2022 Calendar is a fundraiser for the Exmoor Pony Project

Our gorgeous 2022 Exmoor Pony Project Calendar has arrived! ��

We're keeping the price the same as last year at £9.75 + P&P.

Featuring photos of the adorable Exmoor Pony Project ponies and characters from the Wild Pony Whispering books, plus a stunning picture of the Tippbarlake pony gathering by Geoff Baylis.

This Calendar is a fundraiser for the Exmoor Pony Project ponies. A4 opening out to A3 and plenty of room for your diary dates.

You can order the Calendar at https://www.wildponywhispering.co.uk/store /

T hank you for choosing our Calendar and supporting the Exmoor Pony Project!

#ExmoorPonies #calendar #2022calendar #fundraiser #fundraising #gonative #exmoornationalpark #calendar2022 #calendars

Stallion Yogi Bear wins Champion at ExieFest Summer Show 2021

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 10:34:49 GMT

Farleywater Yogi Bear stands Senior Champion and Res Supreme Champion at ExieFest's Summer Show

Moorbred Farleywater Yogi Bear is sired by breed Supreme Champion, Hawkwell Versuvius 'Bear' out of Farleywater Foxglove and he runs with Holtball Herd 11 . Yogi Bear stood Senior Champion and Reserve Supreme Champion at the ExieFest Summer Show 2021 .

The ExieFest Shows and Events are open to all Exmoor pony owners and breeders and they allow Exmoor ponies to be exhibited on the line, ridden and at liberty. This is a great evolution for showing - it enables Exmoor pony enthusiasts to take part who may otherwise be restricted by geographical distance or other logistics. ExieFest allows traditional showing and also encourages people who may not have showing facilities or gear, or who'd like to show their ponies at liberty. This is truly embracing and a very good way for people everywhere to show their Exmoor ponies.

The ExieFest YouTube channel can be found here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXigSP3HVA6CvpRtEwaTEPQ and their website is https://www.exiefest.co.uk /

We've enjoyed taking part and would encourage Exmoor pony breeders and owners to support Exiefest's shows and events. It's great for promoting Exmoor ponies, one of the UK's most ancient and endangered native pony breeds.

More about Holtball Herd 11 and the Exmoor Pony Project at https://www.wildponywhispering.co.uk /

©DawnWestcott

Talking Exmoor Ponies on Somerset Cool

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 11:38:52 GMT

Listen to Jenna Myles radio interview with Dawn Westcott about Exmoor ponies

Thank you to Jenna Myles of Somerset Cool for her interview with me about Exmoor ponies and the Exmoor Pony Project. The show aired on Sunday 25th July and you can listen to it again here https://www.mixcloud.com/FromeFM/43-somerset-cool-250721/

Jenna and I chatted about the Exmoor pony breed, how and why we founded the Exmoor Pony Project and about some of the special characters in my books, Wild Pony Whispering, Wild Stallion Whispering and Wild Herd Whispering.

We also talked about some of the issues facing Exmoor ponies today. Including rewilding projects in Europe, which aren't providing enough sustainable food during the winter, causing some ponies to suffer malnutrition - and what we're trying to do about it from the UK.

The interview is about 30 minutes and includes some great horsey songs and the beautiful song, Courage My Soul , by Susannah Darling Khan.

Listen to the Somerset Cool radio interview here.

And you can read Jenna Myles Blog 'Getting to Know Exmoor Ponies' here .

Rewilding

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 07:58:09 GMT

How do we keep Rewilding philosophy & practice on track to safeguard animal welfare as well as the planet!

If REWILDING turns its back on good husbandry and stockmanship, it is taking a dangerous turn for animal welfare.

Animals like Exmoor ponies are semi-feral, not wild. There is a duty of care for their owners to provide appropriate all-year-round sustainable grazing that helps them maintain acceptable condition and avoids them being forced to eat unsuitable and toxic vegetation, in desperation. If the ponies are untamed and unhandled, they should be running in suitable terrain/environment where they can self trim their hooves. There should also be a fast action plan in place for the herd owner to deal with injury/disease/difficulties.

Good livestock pen panel and shute systems are used very successfully by semi-feral herd owners in Exmoor National Park and elsewhere, which enable the humane gathering and close inspection of ponies, when necessary.

Rewilding still forces animals to live inside fenced enclosures. They cannot migrate if food runs out. This is not 'wild' - the animals are dependent on their human owners to manage that enclosure in a suitable way to provide sufficient food and to maintain the health and wellbeing of the herd.

I hope 'rewilding' projects do not take a dangerous direction where their managers think it is OK to buy in animals and then leave them to 'live or die' without due care and responsibility to those animals. Watching them suffer with a curious detachment that this is 'all in the name of rewilding'. Let's be clear - it is not OK to let animals starve and suffer in the name of 'rewilding'. When it comes to animal management, good stockmanship is essential - it is the right of animals to expect that.

I hope that we are not starting to see an alarming 'disconnect' and lack of empathy and responsibility between rewilding managers and the animals they buy into their projects. If so, this would represent a serious decline in animal welfare standards, if not blatant animal abuse - and it should be strongly challenged.

The hardy, robust British native breeds, like Exmoor ponies and Galloway cattle, are particularly attractive to rewilding projects -with their ancient genetic and learned behaviours and characteristics of extensively grazing, free-living animals. These attributes and qualities should be valued and respected - not abused.

Rewilding projects have the potential to create some excellent environments and habitats, for both flora and fauna - but they MUST be managed with due care, attention and responsibility to the animals within them, maintaining acceptable animal welfare standards and not being allowed to cause unnecessary suffering.

The apparent terrible condition and treatment of Exmoor ponies in Denmark is very sad to see. They are one of Great Britain's oldest native pony breeds and they are an endangered breed. They deserve better. So do the Galloway cattle and all the other animals.

I very much hope that the law in Denmark is not changed to make it worse for these poor animals, which are still 'farmed animals' living inside a fenced enclosure.

With the right management and regulation, there is no reason why these rewilding projects can't become shining examples of good stockmanship, while fulfilling their 'rewilding' goals for the environment. It's not rocket science, mostly we're talking about giving the animals some much needed forage, at times when their environment can't provide that!

Dawn Westcott

Exmoor Pony Project and Moorland Exmoor Breeders Group

www.mepbg.co.uk

NB A Facebook group of over 7,000 members is debating the animal welfare situation, involving Exmoor ponies, in Denmark https://www.facebook.com/groups/375685486805881/

Pictured: Exmoor ponies from the largest herd of semi-feral Exmoor ponies in the UK, photographed in March this year by Sarah Hailstone, coming out of winter in good shape, in one of the wildest and toughest moorland areas of Exmoor - Brendon Common.

#denmark #rewilding #rewildingeurope #nationalparks #ExmoorPonies #nature #conservation #animalwelfare #rewild #naturelovers #Folketing Mette Frederiksen #gonative #nativebreeds

Native Ponies & Spring Grass

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 09:37:12 GMT

Managing the Exmoor pony herd in preparation for the Spring grass

This time of year, coming into Spring, native pony herds running in ground need careful management so they aren't carrying too much condition as the rich Spring grass arrives. Too much sugary grass can cause rapid weight gain and at worst, laminitis.

It's important that the Exmoor ponies get plenty of opportunity for exercise, migrating 24/7 and having to work to get their grass. Here in the video clip below, you can see the herd at work, gradually moving over their pasture areas and having to keep moving to satisfy their appetite.

Native ponies will ideally graze for at least 16 hours a day between resting, loafing and playing. You can see the well-developed back ends and well-shaped necks of this herd, as they migrate naturally and freely.

Pasture management is also important and we've been chain harrowing and pasture sweeping to keep the sward healthy and start to repair winter wear. Over the year, this area is also cross-grazed with sheep and, during the winter, the herd shares their space with a few Highland cattle, before they return to the moor for summer.

Sometimes, we'll offer the herd some hay and they all have free access to high quality nutrient blocks and salt rocks. This all helps to keep their guts and metabolism healthy.

Once the spring grass starts booming, we'll look at fencing off large squares in the middle of fields, encouraging the herd to move around the outsides so they don't gorge on too much pokey grass and maintain good levels of exercise.

This herd also enjoys periods on different pasture areas, where there's access to lots of different non-grass surfaces and barn shelter including sea sand loafing areas.

It's not easy managing native ponies and spring grass, but careful planning from the end of winter certainly helps to counter problems like laminitis and keep them in fit, healthy shape - while allowing them to live as naturally as possible. And just as importantly as everything else - be happy ��

Dawn Westcott

The Exmoor Pony Project herd produces the manure we use to create our wonderful, very well-matured, Exmoor Pony Poop Multi-Purpose Compost . Find out more about Exmoor Compost here .

#ExmoorPonies #gonative #farming #Exmoor #ExmoorCompost #ponies #pony #nativeponies #exmoornationalpark

Happy Valentine's Day!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 12:12:55 GMT

A collection of special moments between the Exmoor ponies to celebrate Valentine's Day

Some special moments with the adorable Exmoor ponies in the Exmoor Pony Project and Holtball Herd 11 highlight the depth of feeling and range of emotions that run in the herd.

Accompanied by Susannah Darling Khan's beautiful music ' Shimmering'.

Happy Valentine's Day to all of our friends and supporters!

Exmoor Pony Project joins The National Park Experiences Collection!

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 15:27:35 GMT

Our Exmoor Pony Experience becomes part of the National Park Experiences Collection

We're delighted to announce that Exmoor Pony Project has been chosen to join The National Parks Experiences Collection with our wonderful Exmoor Pony Experience and we'll be offering dates, as the Covid situation allows, from June through to September.

The Exmoor Pony Experience

Meet the captivating Exmoor pony herd at Nick and Dawn Westcott's Exmoor farm, adjacent to the beautiful Dunkery Commons moorland, who feature in Dawn's Wild Pony Whispering books - including adorable Monsieur Chapeau who was rescued from the moor as an orphan foal.

Over thirty Exmoor ponies from a range of moorland herds live together naturally in a large herd and Dawn specialises in liberty connection, which includes the herd coming to her call. Exmoor ponies are one of Great Britain's oldest native pony breeds - and they are endangered. The Exmoor Pony Project helps to safeguard, find opportunities and promote better understanding and treatment of the ponies.

After a welcome and chat about Exmoor ponies - including how they’re equipped to survive the challenges of Exmoor and how this unique herd helps to support the project by producing Exmoor Compost for gardeners - Dawn will call the herd for you to meet the ponies. The pen panels will enable you to experience their captivating herd energy and interactions from a safe perspective. This is really like being amongst the herd and you'll discover the unique characteristics and personalities of Exmoor ponies close up.

There will be time for you to watch and connect with the ponies, which many people find an enriching and enchanting experience.

We’ll have light refreshments including tea, coffee and cake. Personalised, signed copies of Dawn’s books (published in hardback: Wild Pony Whispering, Wild Stallion Whispering and Wild Herd Whispering) and bags of well-matured Exmoor Compost for the garden will be available to purchase.

A truly unique Exmoor Pony Experience on a working Exmoor farm. The Exmoor Pony Experience is helping to support the Exmoor Pony Project.

For dates, availability and booking please visit EXMOOR PONY EXPERIENCE BOOKINGS .

Exmoor ponies and Hojita Verde!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 12:33:41 GMT

A bit of fun with the Exmoor ponies accompanying Reuben Darling Khan's beautiful Hojita Verde

We all know that well-conformed Exmoor ponies move with a lovely, balanced, rhythmic tempo. Here are some clips of the Exmoor Pony Project herd accompanied by Reuben Darling Khan's beautiful version of Hojita Verde . Reuben and his family have their own herd of gorgeous Exmoor ponies so it was even more special to bring his music together with the ponies.

You can buy and download Hojita Verde at https://reubendarlingkhan.bandcamp.com/track/hojita-verde

I've created an approx 4 minute and a 2 minute version of the Exmoor ponies and Hojita Verde . The longer version gives more examples of their Herd Recall . It's important for me to emphasise that these ponies aren't 'herded'. So no one is behind them, making them move. They are coming to my call. This is what I love about their energy and connection - and it's evolving all the time. Something that has absorbed my learning and training, way beyond working individual ponies on a rope.

My book Wild Herd Whispering explores how I was faced with the daunting situation, a few years ago, of taking on many more Exmoor ponies than we'd planned. Having to step in to literally save lives - across a range of situations from orphan foals to the entire crop of foals in a moorland situation. The result has been the creation of a large herd of Exmoor ponies from a range of moorland herds.

How can I possibly individually train them? How can I maintain my training to top level in showing and liberty/agility to win championships? The answer is, I can't. And that reality has caused me to change direction, put my competitive side on hold and look to the herd for inspiration and guidance on how we can progress their development and an enriching life.

The result has been the most incredible, ongoing education with the herd regarding learning about herd energy and dynamics and building a relationship with the ponies based on two-way communication - where they often respond as a huge herd. This brings incredible interactions and ongoing inter-herd learning. With the ponies having to evolve many relationships and live within a complex herd infrastructure that includes multiple males, females, young stock and previous working stallions.

In these two short films, you'll see some glimpses of the energy and responses between the herd and me, and within the herd This is an ongoing, huge learning curve which has literally exploded my views and perceptions of what 'horse training' is all about. It's amazing and reinforces my long held view, that the best equine teachers are the ponies themselves.

I hope you enjoy these two short films and Reuben Darling Khan's wonderful music.

Dawn Westcott

The 4 minute film first, followed by the 2 minute film:

Exmoor Ponies in the Snow!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 12:40:04 GMT

We had a flurry of snow at the Exmoor Pony Project and the herd loved it

Exmoor ponies are one of the UK's oldest native pony breeds and they are endangered. At the Exmoor Pony Project we are helping to safeguard and promote the Exmoor breed and we have over thirty ponies here in the herd. This weekend we had a flurry of snow and as you can see, the herd provided some lovely photo opportunities!

The ponies have 24/7 access from their pasture areas, to bark chip corrals and large barn loafing areas, where we use fine quality alkaline sea sand to give them a good surface to rest and relax on. It's also excellent to help maintain good hoof condition and remove mud from their coats. The herd also has access to hay in large tractor tyres, which helps maintain a healthy gut as the grass is affected by frost and sometimes snow.

You can see their barn space and environment in the short video below.

Every effort is going into maintaining and safeguarding this herd and continuing to work with and help other herd and pony owners to promote the breed, the ponies and help find opportunities for ponies where needed. If you'd like to help support the ponies during these challenging times, then please visit our crowdfund at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/exmoor-pony-project-2020

Limited Edition Prints by Rebecca de Mendonca

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 13:29:32 GMT

These beautiful prints of favourite Exmoor Pony Project characters are a fundraiser for the project

Beautiful portraits of some very special Exmoor pony characters and a fundraiser for the Exmoor Pony Project.

We're thrilled that acclaimed artist Rebecca de Mendonca , a member of the Royal Society of Equestrian Artists , is offering limited edition prints from her stunning pastel paintings of our Exmoor ponies - in Editions of 100. These are extremely faithful reproductions, produced with great care. Prints can be bought mounted and packed flat, or unmounted and rolled  - and Rebecca is generously making a donation from each sale to the Exmoor Pony Project . Thank you Rebecca!

Rebecca’s work has become widely known over recent years for its energy, life and movement. Now living in Devon, Rebecca paints horses, people, landscapes and architecture, always seeking out the atmosphere and emotion in her subjects. She teaches pastel courses, and demonstrates to art groups around the South West and South of England. Rebecca writes for Leisure Painter Magazine, for the SAA, and teaches online for ArtTutor.com. She and fellow pastel artist Nel Whatmore founded The New Pastel School in 2013, running courses in Yorkshire, Devon and Italy. Find out more about Rebecca de Mendonca's book Pastels for the Absolute Beginner at https://rebeccademendonca.co.uk/pastel-painting-book/

This beautiful collection of pastel prints features some well known and much loved characters from the Exmoor Pony Project, and Dawn Westcott's books Wild Pony Whispering and Wild Herd Whispering - including Monsieur Chapeau and Lady Stumpkin Pumpkin, Firestar, D'Artagnan and Dick Turpin.

Each is a Limited Edition Print from a pastel original. These high quality fine art prints are produced on 100% natural cotton rag paper with an acid free base.

Each print is 12″ x 12″, available as either;

1. The print only, rolled for easy shipping. NB Please select this option for overseas orders… or

2. Mounted, and the mount will fit into a 16″ x 16″ frame.

By buying this print you are helping to raise funds for the Exmoor Pony Project

Prints vary from 12" x 12", (30.5 x 30.5 cm), when mounted size 16" x 16",(40.5 x 40.5 cm), up to

12" x 16", (30.5 x 40.5 cm) mounted size 16" x 20" (40.5 x 50.5) - priced from £29 to £39 each.

To buy these prints, please visit Rebecca De Mendonca's online shop at https://rebeccademendonca.co.uk/product-category/limited-edition-prints/

Thank you for supporting the Exmoor Pony Project!

Exmoor Compost awarded Exmoor National Park Partnership Fund Grant

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 13:10:06 GMT

Exmoor ponies gallop to the rescue of their Exmoor Pony Project - with Exmoor Compost!

After Covid restrictions obliterated normal income streams for the Exmoor Pony Project, it is the Exmoor ponies themselves who have galloped to the rescue - with their compost. Exmoor National Park Authority has now awarded a Partnership Fund Grant to help Exmoor Compost evolve a production process.

Exmoor Pony Project founders Nick and Dawn Westcott, who farm in the Porlock Vale on Exmoor, saw their 2020 plans for pony workshops, talks, events and activities dashed with the lockdown in March, and worse, Dawn found herself falling through the gaps with Government’s Covid support.

“As a self-employed author channelling income to run the Exmoor Pony Project , which is a conservation project rather than a business, I didn’t meet the ‘criteria’ for central Government grant support and found myself one of the millions of #ExcludedUK. We have over thirty Exmoor ponies, including orphans, from various moorland herds in our direct care and their management must be maintained - yet the overheads continue regardless. When income streams disappear like that, those costs put immense pressure on the farm."

Of course, caring for a large herd of Exmoor ponies also produces a large amount of manure, which the Westcotts have discovered has slowly matured into excellent compost.

“Earlier this year, when I established our kitchen garden, Nick suggested I try some of the pony compost. It was superb stuff and in June, after hearing there was a shortage of good compost in the area, we offered some bags of Exmoor Pony Multi-Purpose Compost as a fundraiser for the pony project, hoping local gardeners would give it a try. We soon found ourselves delivering bags across the area, from North Devon to the Quantock Hills,. We’ve had great feedback from gardeners and, importantly, significant repeat orders already.”

The Westcotts are evolving a preparation and screening process that is resulting in a dark, friable, easy to handle compost that keen gardeners describe as ‘black gold’. Anne Lawton from Minehead said, “ It’s the most fabulous black crumbly compost ever. Highly recommended and it’s supporting Exmoor ponies, who are the producers of this wonderful stuff.”

Since June, over 1000 bags of the compost have been sold and the Westcotts are hopeful that their new Exmoor Compost venture will develop to help maintain the Exmoor Pony Project for the long term.

“It’s rather lovely that the ponies themselves are providing the means to contribute to their own care. This year is all about survival and these ponies are certainly survivors - many of them would not be here without this project. They’re already benefitting from the compost sales and we’ve been able to buy a paddock sweeper to keep their grazing areas clean - as well as to more efficiently collect manure for future compost.”

While the couple have sourced and even built some of the equipment and machinery needed to process the compost, some big items remain to be purchased.

“We’re very fortunate that the Exmoor National Park Authority is awarding Exmoor Compost a £2,500 grant from the Partnership Fund to help us acquire some vital equipment over the next few months. This includes a bag sealer and compost turner. At the moment we’re still bagging, writing out and tying the bags by hand. The grant is a great help at a critical time.”

“We’re excited to be farming in this way to help safeguard the endangered Exmoor pony breed and also provide an important, sustainable local resource for gardeners and growers across the area. It’s good to be doing our bit for the environment and we appreciate everyone who is helping us to turn a Covid nightmare into something positive.”

Dan James, Sustainable Economy Manager at Exmoor National Park Authority said “We are pleased to be able to support this innovative idea to not only support the work of the Exmoor Pony Project but also to recognise the enterprising nature of many organisations across Exmoor. We initially gave a grant to the project from our Covid-19 Response Fund and have now awarded this Partnership Fund grant in a bid to sustain the Exmoor Pony Project into the longer term. Our Partnership Fund this year is prioritising applications from not-for-profit groups for project ideas that can help to look after the National Park, engage people with its special qualities and help with the area’s recovery from the impacts of Covid-19. We wish the Exmoor Pony Project and Exmoor Compost scheme well in the future. ” For more information about the ENPA Partnership Fund visit https://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/living-and-working/grants-and-funding/partnership-fund.

How to Buy Exmoor Pony Multi-Purpose Compost

More information about Exmoor Compost can be found here. Please email dawnwestcott@hotmail.com with order enquiries or telephone 07812 382891.

If you or your organisation would like to help support the Exmoor Pony Project and Exmoor Compost please email dawnwestcott@hotmail.com
More information at www.WildPonyWhispering.co.uk .

Critical ENPA Covid Response Grant for the Exmoor Pony Project

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 13:06:06 GMT

Exmoor National Park Authority awards a £1000 Covid Recovery Grant to Exmoor Pony Project

A huge thank you to Exmoor National Park Authority for awarding the Exmoor Pony Project a £1000 COVID19 Recovery Grant to help with the essential care and management of the ponies - specifically for high quality mineral/nutrient blocks, parasite control and hoofcare.

With no other Government support and our normal income streams vastly compromised, it is nail-biting maintaining the high standards of care and welfare that we and the ponies insist on.

We're managing and evolving new income streams, including our new Exmoor Compost venture, with our very well-matured Exmoor Pony Poo Multi-Purpose Compost - and it is getting a big thumbs up from gardeners across Exmoor, West Somerset and North Devon.

Thank you Exmoor National Park for helping us to bridge the gaps while we work to evolve and safeguard this incredibly worthwhile Exmoor pony conservation project. ��

#ExmoorNationalParkAuthority #Coronavirus #CovidRecovery #SomersetWestAndTaunton #ExmoorPonies #RareBreeds #Compost #Gardening #BuyLocal #ClimateChange

Compost to the Rescue for the Exmoor Pony Project!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 10:02:55 GMT

How our new Exmoor Pony Manure Multi-Purpose Compost is helping us to avoid Coronavirus disaster

Coronavirus looked like it might flatten the Exmoor Pony Project, but the ponies had other ideas and their wonderful, very well-matured pony manure compost is helping us to keep the project on its feet!

When the Coronavirus pandemic hit in March, the resulting lockdown saw the income streams that normally help to keep the Exmoor Pony Project running, vanish. With over 30 endangered breed Exmoor ponies in our direct care on the farm, the overheads continue relentlessly and high animal welfare standards simply must be maintained. It has been a nail-biting time.

When the Government announced a wide-ranging package of Coronavirus support, I breathed a sigh of relief that we would be able to navigate through. That was short-lived when it turned out that the Exmoor Pony Project and also me, as a self-employed author channelling my income into the project, fell through all the gaps. No furlough (I take no salary), no grants or bounce back loan (it's not a business)....nothing. Like many other animal conservation projects and self-employed not making large profits, we were left high and dry.

The Exmoor Pony Project was facing a very bleak situation. Our small group of loyal Patrons , who were battling with their own Coronavirus lockdown issues, have thankfully stayed with us. A smallish crowdfunding appeal has helped us eek along. But with continued lockdown and social distancing rules, it's very clear that I'm not going to be able to rely on our usual income streams with the ponies - and that is ongoing.

However, there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel and we've had some welcome glimpses of it in these past few weeks - Exmoor Compost .

Over the years, we have been composting the Exmoor pony manure and forage waste and it has matured into the most wonderful compost. Trying it out first of all in our kitchen garden, we're getting reassuringly good results.

So we brought a big tractor bucket load of compost up to the farm, had a good rake through, bagged it up (buying a job lot of unused but discarded sacks) and I put out a few social media posts to see if local gardeners would be interested in trying it out.

Well, they are indeed! Within two days, We were off to Stogumber with a truckload of bags and, after our client told her friends, we were back over there a few days later with over 50 bags! Since then, we've sold a steady stream of bags from the farm and we're off to places like Porlock, Minehead, Alcombe, Bossington, Morebath, Wootton Courtenay and as far as Challacombe with deliveries. A new client is coming over from the Blackdown Hills at the weekend for a car load of bags. The word is spreading well - as indeed is the compost.

Currently, we really are a little cottage industry 'start up' - preparing the compost, bagging it up, labelling and tying the bags (with baler twine from munched hay bales) - all by hand! It's hard work, but it's so rewarding to see this wonderful, natural resource being put to such good use in people's containers and gardens. And customers are coming back for more.

We've got a plentiful supply of well-matured Exmoor Pony Manure Multi-Purpose Compost , which is available in (around) 50 ltr bags. And a superb resource of quality Exmoor Pony Manure Potting Compost is in the pipeline. Both of which will be available in smaller quantities too.

We're in the process of sourcing some machinery that can help us with the compost preparation, weighing and bagging - and also help us more efficiently sweep the pastures to collect manure for future compost. My dream of a paddock sweeper has finally been realised - thank you ponies!

We're getting excellent and encouraging feedback from the local gardeners who've started using our compost and I very much hope we can progress the Exmoor Compost project into a sustainable farm diversification to help safeguard the Exmoor Pony Project .

"It's fantastic compost," said Jenny from Porlock.

Isn't it amazing and wonderful that the Exmoor ponies have come to their own rescue and it is their by-product that is now helping to maintain their care and management?!

Isn't it also wonderful that what they're producing is so good for home-grown vegetables, fruit and flowers? Eating local produce is of enormous benefit to our health - and helps to reduce food miles.

I'm chuffed that, in looking for ways to support and safeguard the Exmoor Pony Project, we've also found a way to help local food production, that has a positive impact on environment and climate change. And it's promoting both the endangered Exmoor pony breed and Exmoor National Park .

Thank you to everyone who is supporting Exmoor Compost and the Exmoor Pony Project. Please help spread the word!

Link to the Exmoor Compost page

John Deere and the Exmoor Pony Project

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 13:53:31 GMT

John Deere features Exmoor Pony Project in their new Gator feature 'In Tune with Nature'

We were delighted when John Deere approached us to take part in their new Gator feature 'In Tune with Nature'.

View it at https://gator.johndeere.com/story/in-tune-with-nature/

You may remember that we discovered the newly orphaned young foal, Lady Luna, in the remote Hoar Oak Valley, in Exmoor National Park , back in September 2017. Her mother had sadly died that morning and the young foal was nestled in the bracken next to her. We had two Exmoor ponies, Monsieur Chapeau and Monty with us, along with walkers who'd joined our Heritage Exmoor Pony Festival Walk that day. Everyone was upset a the situation. Even worse, as the mare and foal were in such a remote moorland area, far from any road or even a track accessible by a four wheel drive and trailer, the foal's future looked bleak. Wild-born foals are virtually impossible to catch without being gathered in with the herd to the pens or the farm. And Lady Luna was all on her own.

As the walkers took a break for sandwiches by the ruins of Hoar Oak Cottage, I sat with Lady Luna and started to make a tentative connection. She remained calm and eventually let me gently stroke her face and neck. Even then, I knew it was still very unlikely that we could catch hold of her, and there was no possibility of her following us off the moor. In these situations, the farmer will usually come out and despatch a young foal so it doesn't starve. The little foal had won all of our hearts and we left her to finish the walk feeling very sombre.

Nick and I consulted with the herd owners, the Floyd family, and later on that day, we all returned to Hoar Oak Valley to see if we could somehow catch the foal. We left our truck and trailer at Cheriton Ridge and made our way into the valley on the quad bike. Crucially, Nigel Floyd had brought his John Deere Gator , which was the only vehicle with its small stock cage, that could get down there and transport the foal.

Everyone waited patiently while I approached the foal, who was still standing by her mother's body. She made a sorry little sight in the gathering twilight as it started to rain. Bad weather was on the way and this would be her only chance of being rescued. Fortunately, she remembered me from earlier and we made our connection again. She stayed still enough for Nick and Nigel's son Tom to approach and gently embrace her. Soon she was safely in the Gator and we made our way back off the moor and transferred her to our truck and trailer. It was decided that her best chance of surviving was to come to our Exmoor Pony Project for her rehabilitation. She required round the clock car for a couple of weeks, then started to gain strength and gradually recover.

We were all thankful for the John Deere Gator . Without it, Lady Luna would not have been rescued. Now, she is a beautiful three year old filly, happy and settled in her new herd at our farm.

I am in the process of writing Lady Luna's story, which I hope will be published alongside my other books in due course.

You can find the John Deere Gator 'In Tune With Nature' feature with Exmoor Pony Project here at this link, which has various photos and video segments https://gator.johndeere.com/story/in-tune-with-nature/

The Challenges of COVID19

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 12:47:21 GMT

What the Exmoor Pony Project is doing and how you can help

COVID19 is a global challenge which will affect everyone. As Governments act to try and manage the spread and impact of the pandemic in a way that allows our health services, infrastructure and population to cope - we're already all feeling the impact in some way.

Firstly, to all our supporters - I hope you stay healthy and safe and for those who encounter the virus, I wish you all a speedy and full recovery.

Here at the Exmoor Pony Project and farm, we're pretty much self isolating and doing the best we can. This means no volunteer help and it's also meant having to put workshops, visits and other activities on hold.

So income streams for the Exmoor Pony Project are being cut off. Our Patrons are facing their own challenges and a huge heartfelt thank you to those of you who can stay with us. It's understandable that crowdfunding is proving difficult - because everyone and everything are challenged.

However, the Exmoor Pony Project overheads continue relentlessly and yet, the high standards of care and management of the ponies must be maintained, including those with special requirements. Like so many others, we're facing the crisis of loss of income, reduced resources, a lot more work and a lot of animals who depend on us staying fit and healthy. It's tricky and unnerving.

With everyone in the same boat, it's important not to panic and to face these problems calmly, with resilience, and to keep trying to work out ways to keep going.

We've come all this way with these very special ponies and we're not letting them down now.

So if you do find yourself able to lend the Exmoor Pony Project some support, here's how you can help:

Managing this project week by week is critical and if enough people can contribute something, no matter how small, we have a much better chance of getting through this.

Sponsor The Exmoor Ponies
Follow this link to read about some of the Exmoor ponies in the project who need sponsorship . There are over 30 ponies in our direct care. Every sponsorship/donation makes a significant difference and is greatly valued. https://www.wildponywhispering.co.uk/sponsoring-exmoor-ponies

Become an Exmoor Pony Project Patron
I’m very grateful to the Patrons who’ve helped to get the Exmoor Pony Project Patreon Scheme up and running. There are various tiers of support, starting at around £10 a month. The Patreon platform is in dollars and everything is managed through secure PayPal, so it is safe and efficient. Regular income helps to get the Exmoor Pony Project onto a more stable footing - every little helps and every new Patron makes a positive difference.
Visit www.Patreon.com/ExmoorPonyProject

The Exmoor Pony Project CrowdFunding Appeal at JustGiving
The Exmoor Pony Project JustGiving Crowd Funding Appeal can be found at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/exmoor-pony-project2019

If you can help to give it a boost and share the link with any people you think may be interested in making a donation, that would be brilliant. Thank you!

The Exmoor Pony Project GoFundMe Veterinary Appeal
This crowdfunding is set up to specifically help with the veterinary bill.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/exmoor-pony-project-vet-costs?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

Direct Donations to Exmoor Pony Project
If you’d like to make a direct donation to the Exmoor Pony Project , this can be done at any time as a one-off donation, or you can set up a regular donation, through PayPal. Please use the reference ‘ ExmoorPonyClub@hotmail.co.uk '. (Note that the reference is ‘ club ’ not ‘project’ in the email address). Or you can email dawnwestcott@hotmail.com and set up a regular direct donation through your bank. Thank you for your support!

The Wild Pony Whispering Books
Copies of Wild Pony Whispering, Wild Herd Whispering and Wild Stallion Whispering purchased from www.WildPonyWhispering.co.uk/store are author-signed and proceeds directly help Exmoor Pony Project .

If you have any other ideas regarding fundraising and sponsorship , then please do get in touch at dawnwestcott@hotmail.com

Stay safe and healthy everyone! Please help the Exmoor Pony Project if you can. Together, we can get through this.

Thank you for your support!

Dawn Westcott
Co-Founder, Exmoor Pony Project

2020 Exmoor Pony Workshops!

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 16:08:40 GMT

Evolving the Connecting With Exmoor Ponies & Yourself Experiences this year

Notice - March 2020: Due to the CORVID19 pandemic, I'm not posting Workshop dates yet. Please continue to register interest to dawnwestcott@hotmail.com and we'll hopefully be able to run some workshops later in the year. Stay safe and well everyone!

Last year, we ran some Connecting With Exmoor Ponies and Yourself Workshops . They were a great success - enjoyed by people and Exmoor ponies - and I'd like to build on that this year.

They were about Mental Wellbeing, Positive Energy, Mindfulness, Self-Awareness, Self-Development, Letting Go of Stress, Observation, Relaxation and Connection .

The aim was to get people thinking about letting go of everyday stresses and chaotic thoughts, to still their minds, sit in the present moment, quieten (and understand) their egos - and become more aware of reaching a state of calm mindfulness . Through this, they could improve their observation skills and their awareness of their core energy - and the energy radiating from others.

Then we met the herd of ponies and the workshop participants used their enhanced awareness and mindfulness to explore a connection with the Exmoor ponies.

The workshops had a profoundly positive effect on people who attended and I was thrilled to see this concept working with women, men, young and old - and particularly helpful in a mental health capacity. The format helped people to better understand themselves - and improving your ability to calmly connect with yourself and others is empowering and healthy .

The workshops were all conducted non-ridden , and actually 'non-handling' as the ponies remained at liberty . So no horse experience is necessary to participate in these workshops.

It's clear that our wonderful Exmoor ponies herds have a major role to play in this area going forwards and I'd like to build on that this year and expand our Connecting With Exmoor Ponies & Yourself Workshop programme.

Keep In Touch
If you're interested in hearing more about Connecting With Exmoor Ponies & Yourself Workshops this year, please join our mailing list. Like last year, we can also arrange tailor made Workshops for special groups - working with you and your objectives to create experiences that best suit you.

Please contact dawnwestcott@hotmail.com to express your interest and find out more.

Feedback:

“The welcome was great. Sometimes it can be a bit uncomfortable coming somewhere you don’t know, but it was not this way at all. The content was ideal - the exercises and meditation made such a difference. The ponies were amazing and it was such a wonderful experience. We would definitely want to come back. My daughter gained confidence."
Sharon

“Very well thought through and put together. I got a great deal from this workshop, spiritually as well as further knowledge gained from the beautiful ponies. Lovely people and a lovely place, a very peaceful atmosphere.”
Allie

“What a fantastic experience. I bought this as a birthday gift for my wife who loves horses and follows Dawn's work. I am not horsey but love animals and sensed the order and balance in their feral energy, changing from an excited to settled state as they processed our own 'feral' energy. I would recommend the experience to anyone who is open, curious and happy to let go.”
John

Evolving Non-Ridden relationships

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 10:19:26 GMT

Why I don't see Exmoor ponies as animals we HAVE to ride

How many times have you heard people say that ponies should be ridden and are no use as 'field ornaments'?

It's in our equestrian psyche, often leaving a nagging feeling of guilt when you have ponies grazing in a field. "I should be riding and schooling them," I've frequently said to myself over the years. And yet, I haven't actually met a pony yet who I can honestly say is thrilled to do 'ridden schooling'. Don't get me wrong, I've had some fantastic ridden experiences with Exmoor ponies and hope to have many more in the future.

But there's more to life with ponies than riding them, as I'm continuing to discover.

Having found ourselves evolving the Exmoor Pony Project and taken on various orphans and other endangered breed Exmoor ponies in tight spots, I've had to adapt and adjust to new responsibilities and reorganisation of our resources and activities. Currently, and for some time now, I don't get time to ride. It's a luxury that always seems just out of reach amid a mountain of chores.

What started as a practical issue of not being able to fit in riding with all the socialisation, care and management of the ponies, something amazing is growing, in terms of the interactions and understanding them - and what they can teach us.

With the sheer scale of dealing with a number of herds, including a large one, and an age range from foals to veterans, time is often tight and I've had to look to the ponies to help me. This means developing the communication and connection between us, with things like calling the herds, asking ponies to come in, or step out from the herd - or come this way, or do that, etc. If I need ponies to come to me from the farthest corners of their pastures - they will. If they are a number of fields away at twilight and I need them to come back to the farm - my call must result in the herd responding straight away.

Ponies that rarely have a head collar on understand that if I need them to wear one, have their feet done, have a groom, check them over, etc - they need to do that. I can't rely on continual handling to keep them tame, because I can't handle over 30 ponies a day. There are many different characters within the herds - some are bold and confident, others remain wary and shy. Some are bossy and some are meeker and more sensitive. Some generous, some defensive, some gregarious, some jealous. It's a massive mix of personalities, emotions and social interactions and status within the herds. And all of them need to connect with me. Frequently with no head collar or any form of 'restraint', my only tool is my request and our mutual ability to ensure we understand each other.

I started exploring this in my third book Wild Herd Whispering - how the need to connect with herds has evolved my thinking about our overall relationships with equines.

I very much looking forward to getting back in the saddle, and when I do, my approach and attitude will have enhanced empathy - continuing with bitless and barefoot.

However, I now completely value all the non-ridden stuff and don't simply look at ponies as animals we have to ride. There is so much more - a world of communication and connection with these highly-intelligent, sentient creatures that extends far beyond getting on their backs. And which is incredibly special and rewarding.

So don't worry if you're not riding, can't ride or don't want to ride the ponies - non-ridden connection and communication with ponies is a wonderful tonic for the mind, body and soul - and for our mental health, wellbeing and self-development.

I ran some workshops last year which were about Connecting With Exmoor Ponies and Yourself . The aim was to get people thinking about letting go of everyday stresses and chaotic thoughts, still their minds, sit in the present moment, still their egos - and become properly aware of a state of calm mindfulness, and their observation skills. Then we met a herd of ponies and they used that enhanced awareness to explore a connection with them.

The workshops had a profound effect on everyone who attended and I was thrilled to see this concept working with women, men, young and old - and particularly helpful in a mental health capacity. This was all conducted non-ridden, and actually 'non-handling' as the ponies remained at liberty. Helping people to better understand themselves and connect is empowering and healthy. I think non-ridden equines have a much bigger role to play in this area going forwards.

Keep In Touch
If you're interested in hearing more about Connecting With Exmoor Ponies & Yourself Workshops this year, please join our mailing list - email dawnwestcott@hotmail.com.

When They're Gone, They're Gone

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 13:13:28 GMT

Why we need to pull our socks up in critically* endangered Exmoor ponies

One of the barriers to successful life off the moors that Exmoor pony foals face is that many people (even experienced horse people) are not equipped with the skills to humanely and sensitively create a suitable environment/facility or carry out the initial socialisation/taming of semi-feral ponies.

This can lead to misunderstanding, fear and reactive use of containment/force/coercion, which can cause deep-rooted wariness and defensiveness in the ponies.

Too often, the youngsters are then left running in fields or otherwise unhandled, maturing to be defensive, feisty, fearful and resistant to human contact. This can exacerbate fearful and aggressive reactions in the 'handlers' and cause Exmoor ponies, at 3 or 4 years of age to be routed to unscrupulous people, dealers or slaughter, or foisted on charities.

It's no good skirting around the issues - how can we help Exmoor pony foals make a successful, humane and satisfactory transition from the moor to other opportunities - without compromise to their welfare and wellbeing?

This question needs answering and solving.

I wrote Wild Pony Whispering to endeavour to help people understand more about the behaviours, psychology and human, trust-based methods of socialisation and handling that help the ponies make a successful transition from their semi-feral start in life. The book has had three reprints and topped equestrian and animal best-seller lists. The following year I wrote Wild Stallion Whispering to help people understand more about training older Exmoor ponies through the story of our moorbred stallion, and after that Wild Herd Whispering which conveys more real-life Exmoor pony stories and insights into herd connection and dynamics. All have sold successfully. But let's face it, they are still a drop in the ocean with regard to getting the message out there to help Exmoor ponies and how they're treated.

This year, we've seen a depressing apathy return to the breed with regard to trying to find homes for foals, and also older ponies and stallions. Routing ponies to slaughter, particularly when in foal, simply because they may be difficult to rehome - is inexcusable.

The Exmoor pony genome project is unfortunately floundering.

There's been no audit into the Exmoor pony registration system that causes such long delays, or failure, to properly register Exmoor ponies.

There is still no progress in establishing a suitable upgrading system to embrace the perfectly good purebred Exmoor ponies languishing outside of recognition, status and the dangerously small breeding gene pool - due to a ridiculously and stubbornly closed stud book.

Apathy, frustration and indifference permeates various of the younger generation of Exmoor pony herd owners with regard to finding good opportunities for foals bred, or actively socialising and taming foals in preparation for life off the moors.

The Exmoor pony breed is critically endangered and we humans are letting them down. And this is happening on our watch.
No blaming previous generations.
The buck stops with us.

Take a look at the pedigree foal registration numbers for 2019. RIP foals who didn't even get put forward for registration - or who didn't even get to be born due to their dams being sent for slaughter, in foal.

It's time that all of us involved in the Exmoor pony breed dealt with the rot in the system, kicked into touch the nasty bunch of bullying 'enthusiasts' who taint the breed's image and repulse so many from being involved in the ponies - and get a grip on what's happening.

Because if we don't, we risk losing perfectly good Exmoor ponies and herds, not just on Exmoor but across the UK and overseas too.

By now, we should have:
- sorted out the incompetent registration and DNA verification delays ;
- have an exciting Exmoor Pony Genome Project progressing - and it is not;
- have a system for upgrading excluded purebreds to the stud book;
- dealt with the bullying, discrimination and cronyism within the breed society;
- vastly improved methods for transitioning semi-feral foals from the moor;
- established an effective promotion and marketing programme for the moorland ponies of Exmoor, and beyond;
- be running a highly successful and profitable annual Exmoor Pony Festival that is inclusive and embracing to all;
- pulled our bloody socks up with breed management.

Instead the situation is regressing.

Who to contact:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Exmoor-Nationalpark
Rare Breeds Survival Trust

It needs sorting out.
Because when they are gone, Exmoor ponies are gone.

*Critically endangered: Exmoor ponies are on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust's Endangered Watch List as 'Endangered' which means 300-500 breeding mares. However, when you consider the number of actively breeding semi-feral mares living in the free-living herds of their indigenous natural moorland environment of Exmoor National Park, they are questionably and unfortunately 'critically endangered' (300 or less active breeding mares)?

Exmoor Pony Project Fundraising!

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 11:22:18 GMT

Sponsor a Pony, Buy A Bag of Feed, become a Patron - some ways to support the Exmoor Pony Project ponies...

FUNDRAISING for Exmoor ponies!

The gorgeous 2020 Exmoor Pony Project CALENDAR: Thank you to everyone who ordered the calendar, which is a fundraiser for the Exmoor ponies - it's now Sold Out!

Here are some other ways you can help the Exmoor Pony Project:

Sponsor the Exmoor Ponies and/or Buy A Bag of Feed - more details here https://www.wildponywhispering.co.uk/sponsoring-exmoor-ponies

Exmoor Pony Project CrowdFunding Appeal
We have an Exmoor Pony Project Crowdfunding Appeal here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfun…/exmoor-pony-project2019
It seems to be stuck on 21% of target reached. Please help to give it a boost!

Exmoor Pony Project Patreon Scheme
It would also be great to have more Exmoor Pony Project Patrons ! You can find our Patreon Scheme here: https://www.patreon.com/ExmoorPonyProject

Gift the Wild Pony Whispering Books
If you'd like to gift these books, Wild Pony Whispering, Wild Stallion Whispering and Wild Herd Whispering , then author signed copies can be purchased at www.WildPonyWhispering.co.uk/store .

Sales from our online shop directly help the Exmoor ponies. (Unfortunately proceeds from books purchased elsewhere seem to benefit other people's pockets.)

Help us to keep helping Exmoor Ponies
Along with looking after all the beautiful Exmoor ponies here, from many different moorland herds, we're also helping to place moorland foals, support herd owners and pony owners, find opportunities for older Exmoor ponies, and continually promote the Exmoor pony breed.

We're facing a mountain of costs this winter - including lorry loads of sand, feed and supplements, footcare, wormers, vet, management etc.

Please give the Exmoor Pony Project a hand and support us where you can. Thank you!

Our breezy Wild Pony Whispering Walk!

Sat, 10 Aug 2019 20:11:14 GMT

A lovely turnout for our Wild Pony Whispering Walk despite some lively Exmoor weather!

The Wild Pony Whispering Walk, scheduled to take place on Friday 9 August, came complete with storm warnings and the promise of wind, rain and even some lightening! Nevertheless, the weather forecast showed a promising window of a few hours which didn't look too bad.

Emailing around the people who'd booked onto the walk, nearly all the participants were keen to do it. So we decided to go ahead. Early morning brought a torrent of rain as we prepared the four Exmoor ponies taking part. This included, of course, Monsieur Chapeau who is the star of Wild Pony Whispering and now six years old. He was joined by his well known chum Imperial Topaz , along with Monty and his daughter Princess Khaleesi.

After being separated from the big herd for a week to help them get used to working together as a group and familiar with the Core Connection Exercises that enable them to bond with their handlers - they were ready to meet the visitors.

Loose schooling the ponies that morning, I marvelled at how quickly they remember the nuances of these interactions and soften their boisterous behaviour, from running most of the time in a big and almost semi-feral herd. This was apparent when Millie went out to groom them at liberty and they stood quietly around her as she smartened them up. Some considerable smartening up was required as, although we'd given them all a good wash the previous day, they'd decided to have a good roll in copious amounts of sand which, as you can imagine, took a bit of brushing out. The ponies can migrate in and out from barns to pasture as they wish. Soon we had four smart ponies, their handlers had arrived and it was time to meet the Wild Pony Whispering walkers.

Despite frequent showers and a stiff breeze, the worst of the weather held back as we made our way from the farm, out onto the Dunkery Commons and through the Luccombe Plantation, up onto the moor. It was a robust climb up to Dunster Path and over towards Webber's Post, where the spectacular views across Cloutsham Ball, the Horner River Valley and up to Dunkery Beacon, never fail to amaze and delight locals and visitors.

Here, we enjoyed a bite to eat and some very kind walkers had brought apples for the ponies. Nick arrived with chocolate, flapjacks and millionaire's shortbread and made himself very popular!

As the clouds threatened a rather larger dumping of rain, we made our way through the forest and meandered down hill all the way back to the farm, for a welcome cup of tea.

It was a wonderful group of walkers - some horsey and some not - who were keen to understand more about Exmoor ponies and captivated by their characters and intelligence. It's great for people to have the opportunity to get to know the Exmoors up close and experience their alert, enquiring, mischievous and characterful temperaments.

Thank you to everyone who came along and I appreciate the book sales and support for the Exmoor Pony Project .

Dawn's Books: Signed copies of Wild Pony Whispering, Wild Stallion Whispering and Wild Herd Whispering are available at our Online Store here - or otherwise, they're available nationally in bookshops, including Waterstones, and online.

You can follow the Exmoor Pony Project on Facebook

Millie grooming the Exmoor ponies before the walk - as you can see, she's done a great job!

Kate and Topaz practising their liberty connections

Enjoying the walk

A video clip of Exmoor Pony Project volunteer Kate connecting with Topaz before the walk

Wild Pony Whispering Walk on 9th August!

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 10:09:39 GMT

Join our Wild Pony Whispering Walk on 9th Aug & the Connecting With Exmoor Ponies & Yourself workshop on 18th Aug.

We've got two wonderful events coming up this summer! Come and join the Wild Pony Whispering Walk on Friday 9th August and meet some favourite characters from the Wild Pony Whispering books.

On Saturday 18th August you can join the Connecting With Exmoor Ponies & Yourself Afternoon Workshop here at the Exmoor Pony Project.

Both are fundraisers for the project and the Exmoor ponies in our care.

More details on both events can be found here http://www.wildponywhispering.co.uk/events-workshops-talks

Looking forward to seeing you!

Connect With Exmoor Ponies & Yourself Workshops

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 12:44:42 GMT

The Exmoor ponies were amazing at the June workshop

June's Connecting With Exmoor Ponies & Yourself Workshop proved that this format works really well for both people and ponies!

Here's some feedback from some of the participants:

“Fabulous afternoon, well-organised, gentle, powerful, lovely! Meeting the ponies up close was just amazing.”
Isabel

“First class workshop. Interesting and idyllic. Dawn and co are consummate professionals. Great parent-teen bonding.”
Nancy

“Thanks for a fascinating afternoon and great to meet you. The herd coming in will be a lifetime memory!”
Kathy

The next ones are on 13 July and 18 August and there are a few spaces left so please get in touch if you'd like to come!

More details about the workshops here: http://www.wildponywhispering.co.uk/events-workshops-talks

Below: Some footage of the ponies enjoying a dip in their pond during the workshop (look out for Monsieur Chapeau - star of Wild Pony Whispering - at the end!)

Below the video: Some pictures from the workshop.

Yogi Bear becomes a licensed Exmoor stallion!

Wed, 29 May 2019 14:34:43 GMT

Our 3 year old moorbred colt, by Bear, passed his stallion inspection today.

I'm very pleased to announce that our 3 year old moorbred colt, Farleywater Yogi Bear, has passed his stallion inspection and is now a fully licensed Exmoor stallion.

Yogi Bear is by Bear , out of Foxglove , and was born out on Buscombe, in Exmoor National Park, into the South family's Farleywater herd. I remember saying to Kate South, who selected the mares for Bear to cover in 2015, "I very much hope Foxglove has a colt who could be run on to see if he has stallion potential." And she did.

Yogi Bear joined Holtball Herd 11 after coming off the moor (eventually!). His story is told in Wild Herd Whispering .

Yogi Bear is very well put together and light on his feet, moving freely and beautifully. He has plenty of bone and clean, straight limbs. He's always been the natural leader of his colt band, with presence and exuberance.

Yogi has the wildness, zest and intelligent, questioning nature I look for in a stallion. He's retained a natural wariness and is gradually building trust - teaching me in more depth about the nuances of equine/human interactions necessary to make successful progress. Although oozing the wariness of the stallion who must protect his herd and stay ultra alert, he is immensely kind in his interactions with me - never biting or kicking out.

I'm looking forward to evolving a willing, respectful partnership with this young stallion.

Join the Exmoor Pony Project Patron SchemeJoin the Exmoor Pony Project Patron Scheme

Tue, 07 May 2019 11:48:40 GMT

We're helping Exmoor ponies, promoting the breed and working for welfare improvements - and we need your support.

Would you consider becoming a Patron supporter of the Exmoor Pony Project?
(Starting from around £1 a week!) www.Patreon.com/ExmoorPonyProject

The Exmoor Pony Project is helping Exmoor ponies and we have over 30 ponies in our direct care here on the farm. As you know, some are orphans, some have genetics currently excluded from the stud book, most are excellent examples of the breed, and many would not be here today if it wasn't for this project.

We work to find good opportunities for foals and older ponies - helping to connect people and ponies and secure new homes. And as you know, we campaign for welfare improvements.

We are continually creating and promoting pictures, video footage and updates about the Exmoor ponies to increase awareness and interest in the breed. Along with running the Exmoor Pony Project , MEPBG and Heritage Exmoor Pony Festival social media, we organise and promote the Heritage Exmoor Pony Festival .

We encourage better understanding, treatment, handling and training of Exmoor ponies and we are always available to discuss owner issues, problems, ideas and we help out where we can.

All of this takes considerable time and resource and the Exmoor Pony Project needs your support. So would you please consider becoming a Patron , and encouraging your friends and colleagues to do the same? Contributions start from as little as around £1 per week. However, every contribution, no matter how small, helps a lot.

Thank you! The link to the Exmoor Pony Project Patreon Scheme is www.Patreon.com/ExmoorPonyProject .

If you would prefer to make a Donation rather than join the Exmoor Pony Project Patron Scheme, then you are welcome to do that through Paypal , using the reference exmooponyclub@hotmail.co.uk . (Please note that the reference is 'exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk' as that is our original email).

You can help to make a real positive difference to the project and I very much appreciate your support.

Exeter Inn names room after Monsieur Chapeau!

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 11:23:25 GMT

The newly refurbished Exeter Inn has dedicated the Master Chapeau room to Wild Pony Whispering's most famous Exmoor pony!

How lovely that the newly refurbished Exeter Inn, near Bampton in Devon - on the outskirts of Exmoor National Park - has named a room after our very own Monsieur Chapeau , whose real-life story features in Wild Pony Whispering !

They have also decided to support the Exmoor Pony Project along with Devon Air Ambulance, for which we are extremely grateful. :)

Last night we paid Exeter Inn a visit to see the amazing refurbishment and the 'Master Chapeau' room. New landlord, Simone, and her family gave Nick and I very warm welcome and after enjoying some of the delicious food, it's clear they're going to do a wonderful job. The inn opens today so do check it out!

Exeter Inn, Bampton, Tiverton EX16 9DY. Tel 01398 331345. Traditional 15th-century pub and restaurant offering relaxed rooms.

#ExeterInn #Bampton #ExmoorNationalPark Exeter Inn #WildPonyWhispering #MonsieurChapeau #MasterChapeau

Below: Here I am with Simone Taylor, the new landlord of the Exeter Inn, as we check out the gorgeous Master Chapeau room

NEW Exmoor Pony Workshops for 2019!

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 14:22:33 GMT

How the amazing Exmoor ponies can help us better understand and develop ourselves - come and find out at the Exmoor Pony Project

Let's look at how Exmoor ponies can help us better understand - and develop - ourselves through learning how to connect with them.

Working with characterful herds of intelligent and engaging Exmoor ponies has brought me to a place where I’m acutely aware of how much they can help us with our self-development - and mental wellbeing. There’s an important reason why ‘self development’ needs to ideally come before ‘pony handling’. This is because reaching a place of mindfulness and inner calm - in the present moment - is vital to making a real, trust-based connection with equines.

This sounds obvious, but in the rush to ‘do things’ with our horses, people can sometimes forget to establish a proper, sentient, respectful ‘connection’ with them. And it’s this ‘connection’ that can perhaps be described as ‘horse whispering’. Or ‘pony whispering’ in my case. For me, the Core Connection Exercises (CEC) that have helped Exmoor stallion Bear and me to win two world championships in international horse agility - are an invaluable practice. It’s been a 'drip-drip' process, over a long period, that’s helped me to understand the true benefits of these exercises - and I’m still discovering their nuances. Horseman Juan Caballero Cana commented how dynamic and complex the interactions in horse training can become, even though they are so subtle . And he has a good point.

Initially, I thought it would be straightforward to run day, or afternoon, workshops - where I'd explain and demonstrate the principles of the Core Connection exercises - that people could then go and practice. They form the basis for achieving 'whole body connection' with horses and ponies and pave the way for being able to better navigate various challenges and tasks, at liberty, and also ridden. (There's a chapter on these exercises in my book Wild Stallion Whispering , which provides a detailed ‘step-by-step’ and accompanying photographs.)

Yet while people are concentrating on learning the practical methodology of the exercises, sometimes they're not focusing on themselves, or really reading the ponies responses. Their minds can be preoccupied elsewhere. This can create a kind of disconnection between the pony and handler. The 'mechanics' of the exercises are being noted, but myriad subtle communications are being missed.

The Core Connection exercises

The CEC exercises are quiet, gentle and one-step-at-a-time. The handler is looking to achieve willing responses from the ponies, from a place of mindfulness, as they move in various directions and ways, on request. However, the point is not simply to go through the ten exercises perfectly (ie, with no resistance). Which you might think it was. The real point is to use the practice to read and receive - and convey - information with the ponies. So that we can understand how they are feeling, see how they are responding, and use the opportunity to bring us together with them, into a place of willing cooperation to then progress to whatever we're going to do - agility, riding, etc. It’s as much an opportunity for the pony to communicate, as it is for us. This is an opportunity for expression - not an end goal.

The Human Ego

The quest is to get participants (horses and humans) absolutely in the present moment, observing and responding to each other - with 100% focus. That can be the tricky part for the humans and it’s here that people can sometimes get stuck. If a pony doesn't respond straight away, or at all, to a request to move in a certain direction - it is the natural human tendency to start trying to 'make it move'. Suddenly, the relationship between pony and human can shift to a place of coercion - however subtle: 'You must do what I'm telling you - or I will look as if I can't do this'. The human ego naturally kicks in, particularly with other people watching. There can sometimes be a tendency to do this in every day life too.

Tuning In
But remember, the pony has just come from their herd, has no idea what you have planned and is brimming with all the thoughts and emotions of their day - not necessarily at all tuned into you and your objectives. They also need to read us, understand our emotional state and mindset that day - and adjust accordingly to work with that, and with us. The idea is that the pony and handler use the time during these exercises to 'tune in' to each other - and the key point here is to let all outside thoughts go. ’Being' with the pony in front of you (or beside you) and seeing what's actually there. So you can more effectively receive and exchange information through your mutual core energy connection.

For years, equine teaching has been based on immediate practical application, where time given over to 'tuning into yourself and into your horse' beforehand, has been either short or relatively non-existent, before the physical activities begin.

It turns out that the process of achieving focused mindfulness is actually not that easy. And this isn't just relative to 'pony handlers'. It reaches across the demographic population - through all walks of life. Why? Well perhaps it's because, these days, we lead incredibly busy, full lives, with the accompanying stresses and strains. We're bombarded with stimulus not just in our physical lives, but through the internet, media and all manner of technological evolution that is designed to help us - but which also fills our brains with overload a lot of the time, from the minute we wake to the minute we go to sleep at night. We pack a lot in. Maybe too much!

When do we really get time to relax? To still our minds? Bring ourselves into a place of inner calm? Where everything is quiet enough - inside our heads and with our emotional responses - to simply ‘be'? Actually, not that often. This leads to a naturally 'assumptive' thought process, where our minds are used to quickly jumping around, judging, assuming, justifying, explaining, deciding - taking in as much information as we are able to and processing it as quickly as we can, in order to deal with the constant trainloads of information buzzing around us. That can be quite stressful and remaining constantly 'stimulated' can be extremely tiring. It can also obstruct our natural observation skills, our energy fields and our intuition. This can be disconcerting and even alarming for equines when faced with a chaotic, unfocused human who is 'somewhere else' in their head.

This brings me to the matter of ' Mental Health and Wellbeing'. Ask people what helps them to feel calm, mindful and relaxed and they will offer suggestions like being near the ocean, a waterfall, beautiful landscapes, tranquil forests, up a mountain - and with animals.

Many people take great comfort in the company of their pets and they love to see pictures and footage of animals in the wild. And whether horsey or not, many people are drawn to equines and feel a great warmth at the sight of horses and ponies. Particularly when they're running wild and free in their natural environment.

There is no doubt that connecting with horses and ponies can help people feel better. It's perhaps something to do with their beauty, magnificence, power and presence. And it's most definitely to do with how they make us feel. We respond to them - whether we know it or not - from our core energy centre. Instinctively, there is a draw, a comfort, a strength and an emotional bond with the horse. From our heart to theirs. An unconditional truth, an authenticity, a purity - horses bring us effortlessly to that sacred place of inner calm - of being.

So this year, I’m focusing my workshops on 'Connecting With Exmoor Ponies & Yourself'. We’ll be looking at how to bring ourselves into a place of focussed mindfulness where we can explore how to start making an authentic connection with the ancient wisdom and intelligence of Exmoor ponies. This is the very basis for what can be described as ‘horse whispering’ and it is enriching and enlightening for horsey and non-horsey people alike. We can all learn from reaching a place inside ourselves where it’s possible to make an authentic connection with these ponies.
(Participants wanting to take this further can attend subsequent workshops to learn the Core Energy Connection Exercises).

These initial Afternoon Workshops take place at the Exmoor Pony Project on 22June 2019, 13 July 2019 and 18 August 2019 and cost £65 per person. (Proceeds benefit the Exmoor Pony Project). If you'd like to take part, please email dawnwestcott@hotmail.com.

Our working farm is located in one of the most beautiful parts of Exmoor, the National Trust Holnicote Estate, nestling at the base of the 5000 acre Dunkery Commons moorland wilderness, in the Porlock Vale. There are plenty of lovely places to stay in the area. We have over 30 Exmoor ponies in our direct care, who live in various herds. Our quest, alongside safeguarding and promoting Exmoor ponies, is to help people connect with and better understand this very special ancient native pony breed.

Dawn Westcott is co-founder of the Exmoor Pony and author of Wild Pony Whispering, Wild Stallion Whispering and Wild Herd Whispering . More info on Exmoor Pony Project Workshops at http://www.wildponywhispering.co.uk/events-workshops-talks

Our Exmoor Ponies in Winter

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 17:49:56 GMT

The sun came out today and it was a great opportunity to take some photos of the Exmoor ponies!

February is always a good time to take stock and see how our Exmoor ponies are over-wintering. The sun came out today and, after all the cold, wet, windy weather, it was a perfect opportunity to see their coats dry and check their condition.

Our Exmoor ponies have access to pasture and shelter and migrate in and out as they wish. They also have access to ad lib dry forage, mineral and salt licks and a range of different surfaces, including alkaline sand loafing areas. So although at this time of year there's not much grass and it can get muddy, this management system helps them to move around, get enough to eat and take care of their coats and feet.

It makes all the mucking out, clearing up and hard work well worth it when the ponies look this good towards the end of winter.

Below: Firestar and Lady Stumpkin Pumpkin

Below: Monsieur Chapeau

Below: Annie Ridd

Below: Otis

Below: Holtball Kilimanjaro and Yogi Bear

Pierre Parfait, Kilimanjaro and Yogi Bear

Holtball Kilimanjaro

Below: Lady Stumpkin Pumpkin

Below: Monsieur Chapeau

Below: Young stallion Yogi Bear

And not an Exmoor, but here is one of our Arabians, who are now completely happy barefoot and rugless and grow the most wonderful winter coats.

Exmoor Ponies in the Snow!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 12:13:45 GMT

Our Exmoors looking fabulous in the recent snow

When the snow hits Exmoor, the amazing Exmoor ponies come into their own. Their incredibly thick, double-layered winter coats fluff up and they're out in the elements without worry. Well, that is unless there's a warm, dry barn on offer and intelligent Exmoor ponies will make full use of all facilities!

While the snow clouds dumped their contents on the farm, the ponies headed for their barns and haylage tyres, and didn't poke their noses outside for some hours. But once the sun came out, so did they, and here are some pictures of them enjoying their beautiful environment - and looking glorious!

Photos: Dawn Westcott and Nick Westcott

As the temperature plummeted, Monsieur Chapeau sensibly decided the best place was undercover!

The herd

Below: Bear's daughters Jenny and Lapwing, with Herd 23's Anstey Princess in the background

Lady Luna's herd having a hooley

Stallion Bear with his mare and foal

Dear little Goldilocks

Stallion Bear

Bear's sons, Kilimanjaro (far right) with Yogi and Pierre

Bear's son Yogi Bear

Imperial Topaz

Below: Dartagnan

Penelope Pitstop

Monty

Bessie

Below: Lady Martha of Molland Moor

The mighty Lady Stumpkin Pumpkin

Below: Dick Turpin and Lady Luna

Pierre Parfait

Princess Cristal

Anstey Princess and Jenny

Stallion Zeus & gelding Sitka travel overseas!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 11:10:41 GMT

Zeus journeys to a new home in Langeland, Denmark and Sitka to his in Germany

Wild-born Exmoor stallion Farleywater Zeus has recently made the long journey from Porlock Hill in Exmoor National Park, to join the semi-feral Exmoor herd on Langeland island in Denmark.

Farleywater Zeus was born and bred on Buscombe into the South family’s Farleywater H67 herd. As a five year old, he became a fully licensed Exmoor stallion in 2014 and spent a year with mares out on the Chains, before joining the Coldicutt family’s Porlock 100 Exmoor pony herd. There, he’s been the resident stallion for over three years and has sired some beautiful foals.

With his fillies now starting to mature, it was time to find Zeus a new job. He has never been tamed or lived anywhere except the moor, so it was desirable to secure this charismatic stallion a role with another semi-feral herd.

The perfect solution turned out to be Langeland in Denmark, when it transpired that The Danish Nature Agency was seeking a suitable stallion to run with their Exmoor mares. In 2003 and 2006, The Danish Nature Agency bought a number of wild, non-pedigree Exmoor ponies from a herd on the island of Tærø, which had been established from Exmoor ponies imported from the UK in the 1960's, and placed them on the island on Langeland. In 2006 they bought their first Exmoor breeding stallion “Felix” from Germany. In 2013 he was exchanged with a Exmoor stallion called Nemo . So the currently Langeland herd consists of the original ponies from Tærø and descendants of Felix and Nemo.

It was decided that Zeus should take over as the new sire. While any foals he sires cannot currently be entered in the Exmoor Pony Stud Book, it is hoped that once a system is in place to confirm purity (following the completion of the Exmoor Pony Genome Project ), the purebred Exmoor ponies in this herd can be recognised and embraced within the breed.

The plan was for Zeus to make the journey in LOC Transport’s 3.5 tonne luxury van, where he could enjoy his own ‘travelling stable’ which would minimise stress and maximise his comfort. The challenge was going to be separating him in from his mares on Porlock Hill and successfully loading him for the journey.

“There was a little apprehension about how Zeus might feel being separated from his mares and detained at the farm, but he proved to be the perfect gentleman,” said Matthew Coldicutt, “Thanks to a tip from the Exmoor Pony Project about putting him in our stock box first, then transferring him into the luxury side loading van, the operation was both safe and ordered. Special thanks to Billy Binding and Joe Floyd for their skills in handling livestock.”

“Zeus is a very good example of the breed, having lived wild and free all his life and retaining all the characteristics and behaviours of a truly semi-feral Exmoor stallion,” said Exmoor Pony Project founder, Dawn Westcott. “It’s been great to find him a good new opportunity where he can continue breeding. I remember the day we released him onto Porlock Hill after his year out on the Chains, and watched the way he confidently gathered up the mares and bonded with his new herd. We wish him all the best in his new job.”

“We’ve also recently sent a young moorbred Exmoor gelding, Farleywater Sitka, to a new home in Germany, travelling in the same way, this time with Campbell Equestrian . It vastly increases the quality and comfort of the journey when the ponies can enjoy their own ‘travelling stable’ inside these luxury vans, particularly when they are young, or not used to being handled. There is no unloading and loading en route and they get plenty of space to rest and eat forage. It is good to see the Exmoor ponies getting treated so well and having these great opportunities to promote the breed overseas. We'll be following his progress on Langeland and who knows, he may come back to Exmoor one day.”

Dawn Westcott

Some pictures of stallion Zeus - photos by Martin Buschman, Marc Lubetzki, Kirsten Muus, Kirsten Bruns, Heike Bartkowiak, Priska Huber, Maureen Harvey, Jan Johansen, Dawn Westcott, Croft House B&B Lynton

Watch my short film about Zeus and his journey to Langeland in Denmark here below: https://youtu.be/Eow3eGLrQo0

Above: BBC Somerset Radio interview about stallion Zeus on the Clare Carter Breakfast Show https://youtu.be/oj_A0tScrw4

And Farleywater Sitka - who will have a separate blog about his journey. Sitka's early life features in Wild Herd Whispering. Picture by Priska Huber.

Working with the Police

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 10:38:09 GMT

Despite resource challenges, Avon & Somerset police are providing some great support and security advice - link to ITV special programme

We're glad to be working with Avon & Somerset Police to help combat rural crime and unwelcome interference. It's really good to see awareness and effectiveness of the FarmWatch and HorseWatch schemes growing, along with help and advice from their wildlife crime, security and PSCO's & PCs.

This week, PSCO Linda and PC Ben visited the Exmoor ponies to continue their community support and security advice, after some unwelcome recent interference with our ponies.

ITV West Country News broadcast a special news programme "The Police at Breaking Point" last night (17 January) about the challenges the Avon & Somerset police are facing in trying to keep us all safe, while battling with inadequate resources. We feature in the programme at about 17 minutes in. Here's the link on the ITV West Country News Facebook page if you'd like to watch it: https://www.facebook.com/ITVWestcountry/videos/246869299537806/

Regarding people causing trouble with ponies, if you have any information about this, please contact Avon & Somerset police. Thank you.

ITV News West Country Avon and Somerset Constabulary #HorseWatch #FarmWatch #ExmoorNationalPark #AvonandSomersetConstabulary #ITVWestCountryNews

The World Bitless Association & Light Rider Bridles appoint us Champion Ambassadors!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 10:54:08 GMT

Monsieur Chapeau gets a new global role this year!

Monsieur Chapeau and I have just been made World Bitless Association Light Rider Bridles Champion Ambassadors, and runner up Champion Ambassadors for the World Bitless Association for 2018 - bless him!

WORLD BITLESS CHAMPION AMBASSADOR 2018
*** Dawn Westcott & Monsieur Chapeau ***
Dawn's entry photograph showed the personality of the Exmoor Pony. Dawn is another inspirational equestrian working to protect the native UK Exmoor Ponies and is an excellent World Bitless Ambassador.

Monsieur Chapeau is a wild-born Exmoor pony who Dawn and her husband Nick rescued as an orphan foal. After nearly starving and with pneumonia, he made a great recovery at the Exmoor Pony Project to become a fantastic ambassador for his breed. Monsieur Chapeau has rewarded Dawn with his trust and friendship and plays an integral role in helping to socialise other wild-born foals and ponies. Monsieur Chapeau enjoys liberty walks, agility, connecting with visitors and has even been to London to appear live on ITV This Morning, with his best friend, Lady Stumpkin Pumpkin. His story is told in Dawn’s book Wild Pony Whispering .

Read more about Dawn and the incredible true story of Monsieur Chapeau in the links below.
http://www.WildPonyWhispering.co.uk/

For more info about the World Bitless Association visit www.WorldBitlessAssociation.org

Article on Bitless Bridles: What, why and how , in Horse & Hound https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/feat…/bitless-bridle-673466…

Founder of Light Rider Bitless Bridles, Cynthia Cooper said:

"I'm so proud of Dawn Westcott in the UK and all she has done with the Exmoor ponies. Not only has she won a championship with Monsieur Chapeau using the LightRider English Bitless bridle, but also with her Exmoor stallion 'Bear' and his champion progeny. What a great ambassador for Bitless In-hand showing you are Dawn and I hope you inspire many others to start their bitless journey too. I've awarded Dawn First place in the LightRider section of the World Bitless Association Ambassadors for 2018, with second place going to Kallie Zeinstra in the USA and third place to Leah Sharp in Australia. Congratulations to all of you for being the best bitless ambassadors!"

Thank you Cynthia Cooper! Once I discovered the English style Light Rider, it literally changed our lives here. Before, there was such a contrast between head collars/halters - and then having to switch to bitted bridles for the show ring and ridden competition/activities. Once I had the Light Rider, it opened up a whole new world with our Exmoor stallion Bear. He visibly relaxes and releases out riding, loved his riding club show jumping and I only wish British Dressage allowed bitless. I love how the World Bitless Association recognises that bits are part of many people's journeys - particularly in competition - and puts emphasis on empathetic, considerate riding, whether bitted or bitless. That's the key - working towards the lightest possible riding and handling whatever equipment you're using. I'm delighted and honoured to be an ambassador for this work. Thank you for everything you do to make things more comfortable and enjoyable for horses and ponies Cynthia.

I'm very pleased to be representing and supporting such a great association and progressive step forwards for empathetic horsemanship globally. Along with a great opportunity to promote the Exmoor pony breed.

Dawn Westcott

Photo by Geoff Baylis.

#BitlessBridles #WorldBitlessAssociation #LightRiderBridles #MonsieurChapeau #WildPonyWhispering #ExmoorPonies

Below: Holtball Princess Khaleesi , Bear's granddaughter - shown as a 3 year old in 2017, where she enjoyed prolific wins on her four outings, including standing MEPBG Supreme Champion and Overall Res Supreme of Brendon Show. She was shown in the Light Rider Bitless bridle all season.

Our Exmoor stallion Bear , at the MEPBG Stallion Parade at Brendon Show, where he was allowed to parade bitless. In fact, all three Exmoor stallion exhibited that day were bitless - and well behaved.

Our Exmoor stallion Bear riding out in the Light Rider

Monsieur Chapeau at the MEPBG Exmoor Pony Show this year

Bear jumping bitless

Beautiful Exmoor Ponies - NEW Short Film!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 11:18:53 GMT

5 minutes of free-living Exmoor ponies looking amazing - enjoy!

Watch the magnificent semi-feral, free-living Exmoor ponies herds running in Exmoor National Park cascading down escarpments, galloping across the moor and coming into the handling pens. They make such an awesome sight!

The ancient, endangered Exmoor pony breed has been grazing the moors for thousands of years and it's here, in their natural indigenous environment, that they retain their True Moorland Type - their beautiful characteristics and their learned and genetic behaviours. And the toughness and resilience to survive whatever challenges the Exmoor environment throws at them.

Each autumn, a small number of quality moorbred Exmoor foals are weaned and need to find good homes. Some fillies are kept in the herds, with a very small number being offered for sale - if you're lucky. All the colt foals must come off the moors and these chaps really do need to find good opportunities. They are great ambassadors to help promote the breed and make wonderful performance ponies, family friends and conservation grazers.

Be prepared to be patient, kind and compassionate with your handling and with the environment you give to newly weaned moorbred foals, and you'll be rewarded with the most intelligent, endearing and characterful ponies!

And be prepared, please, to pay at least a few hundred pounds for foals. Because the herd owners are facing substantial costs in trying to register and passport Exmoor ponies, which have to be covered, if these important moorland herds are to survive into the future. Thank you.

Hope you enjoy this short film!

The 2019 Exmoor Pony Project Calendar!

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 17:08:19 GMT

Our gorgeous 2019 Calendar has now SOLD OUT! Thank you to everyone who has supported our project

The 2019 Exmoor Pony Project Calendar! Now SOLD OUT - thank you for your support!
We've put together a gorgeous 2019 Exmoor Pony Project Calendar and it features some beautiful free-living Exmoor pony images from Exmoor wildlife photographers, Lisa and Jamie Waters , along with some of our favourite characters from the Exmoor Pony Project, taken by Dawn Westcott .

The Calendar is a handy A4 size that opens up to A3 (portrait) when hung up. This gives a spacious A4 (landscape) page for each month with plenty of room for you to feature your important events.

The Calendars cost just £8.50 each, plus P&P (UK).
(Please ensure you click on the right Calendar purchase for your area - UK, Europe or Worldwide).

Proceeds from the Calendars purchased here from the Exmoor Pony Project Online Shop will help to fund the Exmoor Pony Project . Thank you for your support!

My new film 'Exmoor Pony Foals - A Good Future'

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 13:55:08 GMT

Short film about the Exmoor pony gatherings - and how the new MEPBG Certificate of Authenticity will help boost status for the ponies

I've recently made a short film about the Exmoor Pony Gatherings and the quest to find the small number of moorbred foals good homes. I very much appreciated the help of Millie Ker and Stefanie Schmidt in capturing the herd from various different angles to bring you this footage with photographs. And thanks also to Herd 23 owners, Rex Milton and Robin Milton, for being interviewed in the film.

During October, the Exmoor farmers have been busy gathering in their Exmoor pony herds so the foals can be weaned and inspected - and it’s been a magnificent sight. Exmoor ponies are an endangered breed and an iconic part of Exmoor.

The pony gatherings have been taking place for many generations and one of the herds, Withypoole Herd 23 , is celebrating its 200th Anniversary. Owner, Rex Milton , said, “It’s tradition, every year we round up the ponies on Withypool Hill and Anstey Common and Herd 23 has been here for a very long time, since the 1800’s. We present the foals for inspection and registration and then hopefully find some good homes for them to go to. We’ve got to manage them in a traditional manner, they’re part of Exmoor and we’ve got to do the best we can for them.”

Herd 23 Exmoor ponies are famous for their bright bay and golden colouring. They're strong, up to height and retain the desired ‘true moorland type’ through living and breeding in their semi-feral, free-living environment. They make excellent riding and driving ponies as well as conservation grazers. The stallions, The Aristocrat, Knightoncombe Royal and Combe Royal , run out on the moor with the mares.

Rex’s brother, Robin Milton , co-owns the herd. “The family has been farming and keeping the ponies here for many generations. It’s part of the heritage and they’re part of Exmoor. It’s one of those iconic things that are specific to Exmoor. Pretty much every visitor and tourist you talk to wants to come and look at the scenery, the ponies and the red deer.”

Like other herd owners, the Miltons intend to keep one or two filly foals to perpetuate their herd. But colt foals cannot return to the moors and must find homes elsewhere as soon as possible after gathering. Exmoor ponies are an endangered breed and foal registrations are in alarming decline, with under sixty female foals pedigree registered for 2017 - worldwide. While care is being taken not to over-breed - and some herds are even taking a breeding rest - it’s also important to breed enough ponies to maintain a healthy gene pool. This autumn, MEPBG herds with some foals available include, Withypoole Herd 23 , Porlock Herd 100 and Tippbarlake Herd 387 .

With some of the farmers frustrated by lengthy delays in registering their ponies, which has in the past resulted in lost sales, this year the Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group (MEPBG) has decided to offer its breeders the opportunity to issue a special MEPBG Certificate of Authenticity for the pedigree and non-pedigree Heritage Exmoor ponies they have bred on Exmoor. It will feature a special ‘Born & Bred’ Exmoor National Park logo and map of the herds.

“The aim of the Certificate of Authenticity is to give the Exmoor ponies of Exmoor National Park better recognition and status - particularly the perfectly good population of Exmoor ponies currently languishing outside of pedigree registration through the absence of an upgrading system to the paper stud book.” said Dawn Westcott, MEPBG spokesperson and Exmoor Pony Project founder. “The general feeling within the MEPBG is that we should act to safeguard the ponies and this involves building their brand image and recognising their true type and authenticity. The new certificate will help to do that.”

If you're interested in finding out about the breed and this year’s foals, contact details for the herd owners can be found in the MEPBG Breeders Directory at http://www.mepbg.co.uk/about-MEPBG-directory

Short film Exmoor Pony Foals - A Good Future

https://youtu.be/Ox_6SH_zgO8

This article appears in the Western Morning News (26 October 2018) and the West Somerset Free Press (26 October 2018)

Photographs/film footage: Dawn Westcott, Millie Ker, Stefanie Schmidt

And this is our very own 'Uncle Otis' (Boy Harry by Prince Harry II) from Herd 23, who has just been beautifully photographed by Stefanie Schmidt

The Photographers visit us from Germany!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 10:30:19 GMT

International wildlife photographer, Martin Buschmann, brought a team of talented photographers to study our Exmoor ponies

This week we were honoured for internationally-renowned wildlife photographer, Martin Buschmann ( www.my-reisefotografie.de ), to bring his team of talented photography students, from Germany and Switzerland, to Holt Ball to study the Exmoor ponies and the work we are doing here to win their trust and friendship.

All working at an extremely advanced level, the photographers are studying the spectacular landscapes and animals of Exmoor National Park , with particular emphasis on the ancient, native Exmoor pony breed.

On arrival at Holt Ball, we first looked closely at the the conformation and characteristics of Exmoor ponies - ably demonstrated by Bear's son Monty, his daughters Princess Khaleesi and Princess Cristal and Bear's daughter Yellowcombe Lapwing .

Then it was off to see the amazing buckskin Exmoor crossbred, Tippbarlake Lady Luna and her small herd, which includes Bear's daughter Jenny , Herd 23 mare Anstey Princess , her young son Dick Turpin and Lady Molly of Molland Moor. Here, the photographers were able to get up close out in the open, with a striking backdrop of long grass.

We then visited the big herd, out enjoying their summer grazing and they responded to our call by cantering from their farthest field to greet the visitors. This gave the photographers the opportunity to study some inter-herd interactions and behaviours and get to know the different Exmoor pony types and characters - including Monsieur Chapeau, Lady Stumpkin Pumpkin, Imperial Topaz and Lady Martha . Used to photographing wildlife, the team's careful movements and understanding of body language reassured the ponies, who were happy to stand around and engage closely - offering some lovely moments.

We had a fascinating afternoon, making some great new friends and can't wait to see the results from the photographs taken.

Martin and his team stayed at the Lorna Doone Hotel in Porlock, whose owners have kindly been able to accommodate the very early starts and late finishes as the photographers are keen to study Exmoor at times of optimum and dramatic light.

Some pictures below of the ponies interacting with the photography team - and also a couple of early results from photographer and horsewoman Kirsten Burns, which demonstrate the incredible level of technical ability of the team.

More pictures will follow as we see the results of the workshop!

And of course, Monsieur Chapeau must always go one step further! Here with Martin Buschmann

Success at the MEPBG Exmoor Pony Show

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 04:55:22 GMT

Bear's progeny and Monsieur Chapeau do well at Brendon

Despite a shocking weather forecast, Brendon Show went ahead on Sunday 12 August - and included the MEPBG Exmoor Pony Show. Fortunately, the worst of the rain was over by mid morning and our Exmoor ponies were in good form.

Bear's lovely daughter, Yellowcombe Lapwing (owned by us and bred by Rosalie Hughes), stood MEPBG Overall Supreme Champion, Pedigree In Hand Champion and Overall Reserve Supreme Mountain & Moorland Champion. Lapwing has been with us for a few months now and we are thrilled to have been entrusted with this beautiful mare.

Bear's handsome young son, Farleywater Kenai (owned by Marion Adams/Helen South and shown by Helen South) stood MEPBG Overall Reserve Supreme Champion, Moorbred Champion and won his Mountain & Moorland class.

The wonderful Monsieur Chapeau stood MEPBG Non-Pedigree Champion and Reserve Moorbred Champion. It is such a shame that DNA still hasn't identified his dam from the pedigree Exmoor ponies running out on the Dunkery Commons, which means he can't take part in affiliated breed showing. It was lovely to be able to show him at Brendon, in the non-pedigree section at least. He thoroughly enjoys his outings and wears a bitless bridle.

It was good to see two Herd 423 (now Foreland Herd) ponies in the ridden class, with Bethany Rawle's Que Sera Sera standing Best Ridden Exmoor.

Pictured above and below: Yellowcombe Lapwing (with me and kindly shown by Anne Whittle in the championship), then Monsieur Chapeau, and then Farleywater Kenai and Helen South. The judge was Mrs Vanessa Gilbert.

Photos by Geoff Baylis.

Introducing a very special new herd member

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 10:13:06 GMT

When a new mature Exmoor mare recently arrived, our challenge is how to safely and successfully introduce her into a new herd

Recently, we've had the challenge of successfully introducing a mature Exmoor pony mare, Yellowcombe Lapwing, into a herd here at the farm. It's been interesting and, as always, a good learning experience - and I'm sharing a few insights for anyone interested in herd dynamics and introducing new members - safely.

This particular herd includes orphan wild-born buckskin Exmoor-X foal Lady Luna (now around 10 months old), along with her 'guardian', our homebred Exmoor mare, Jenny, moorbred mares Lady Molly and Anstey Princess - and Anstey Princess's 8 month old colt foal, Dick Turpin. They've been together since last September and are now a fairly well-established group, so introducing a new adult mare was not going to be particularly easy.

Jenny has a three year old daughter, Princess Cristal, and two days before Lapwing arrived, I brought Cristal to be reintroduced to her mother and join the herd . She knew everyone (except Lady Luna and 'Dickie') and although the mares (including her own mother) made it very clear that she was going to have to work her way into the herd, there was tolerance as she is young and also not a complete stranger. Cristal's arrival created some 'change' in the herd dynamic, which I felt would prepare them well for the new mare's arrival.

When we collected Lapwing, she loaded and travelled well and I put her into a large stable/pen in the barn occupied by the herd. The barn opens at both ends and half of it closes off, creating various options for enclosures and access. When the herd migrated in from the field, Cristal was still slightly a herd 'outsider', and happily followed me into the area outside the mare's stable, where they checked each other out, while the rest of the herd watched from the other enclosure. I didn't let them all mill around Lapwing's stable gate at this point, as it would be too overwhelming for the mare - and can also encourage a herd to bully a newcomer.

So Cristal spent the night in the barn, getting to know Lapwing over the gate, while the rest of the herd were free to migrate in and out. The next day, I opened up the whole barn and the schooling corral and let Lapwing out to see how she got on with Cristal - while the others were out in the field. The two of them gave every indication that they were going to become good friends.

When Lapwing was back in her stable, and the rest of the herd came in, I swapped Cristal with Lady Molly and repeated the process. They also looked like they would get on together. Testing the rest of the herd, I briefly let them in to sniff noses with Lapwing over the gate. It was clear that Anstey Princess really did not want this newcomer and identified herself as the main challenge. Jenny is less demonstrative than Anstey Princess but is nevertheless the dominant mare in any herd she runs in - and she kept her composure while closely assessing Lapwing. The young colt, Dickie, was very animated at meeting the new arrival, while young Lady Luna was cautious, careful and polite.

Separating them out once again, the next stage was to let Cristal and Molly and Lapwing have some time together in the corral area, and let them out into the field so Lapwing could enjoy some grass. The rest of the herd munched hay in the barn.

At night, Lapwing and Cristal stayed in half the barn, now able to enjoy the larger space together, without having to shut Lapwing in the stable.

Over the next few days, I created situations where other members of the herd joined Lapwing and Cristal and closely monitored how they got on. There was a really good moment when I let Jenny out with them and Lapwing, recognising the seniority of the older mare, clearly showed her that she was not going to be a threat. She moved to graze around behind Jenny, where she could potentially be kicked - showing her trust in Jenny. Recognising this gesture, Jenny turned to look at Lapwing, who was careful not to stare directly back - and then they sniffed noses. There was no squealing or squeaking and slowly and calmly, both mares turned away to graze, but staying fairly near to each other. An understanding had been reached and Jenny had allowed Lapwing into her space.

Anstey Princess however, was having none of it and when turned out made direct lunges to chase Lapwing and Cristal away. However, Lapwing was fast and soon they were all grazing, with Lapwing and Cristal staying at the required distance from the rest of the group. When they migrated to the barn, the two newcomers were allowed into one end of the barn, or required to stay outside in the corral - with Anstey Princess controlling the space.

One area that proved extremely helpful was enabling the rest of the herd to connect with Lapwing and Cristal, through the post and rail fencing that runs alongside the corral. Here they could all move about and progress their introductions, without any physical bullying. It gave Dickie the opportunity to trot up and down and Lapwing to express her feelings regarding how he should behave towards her - which meant there was a much clearer understanding when they were turned out together in the field. It also prevented Anstey Princess from lunging at Lapwing as the two of them progressed a workable relationship. Throughout all this, Lapwing was very careful and Cristal even more so. Their desire to be part of the herd was very clear.

As the days pass, Anstey Princess has gradually allowed the two mares closer and has at times taken herself out of the herd while she comes to terms with their presence. Recently, I've found them all together inside the barn as Anstey Princess becomes more tolerant. Lady Luna wants to get on with everyone and Lapwing and Cristal are keen to be part of the herd. It's fascinating watching them work everything out and noting that, although Anstey Princess has the most to say and has made the most objection, it is Jenny who holds the highest status in the herd, with her quiet, considered and wise nature.

I've been impressed by how well Lapwing has coped with a huge transition in her life - completely new companions and a new home. Although they don't know it, Jenny and Lapwing are half-sisters, both sired by our stallion Bear, and Lapwing is Cristal's aunt. The two mares have become the firmest of friends and makes you wonder if the family connection has anything to do with it.

What could have been a tricky situation is working out well and once again, it's the ponies who've led the process, with a little help from the versatility of the barn enclosures and opportunities to observe and work out who is likely to get on best with who. The key things have been identifying the most friendly ponies to bond with the newcomer - and giving them plenty of space to sort themselves out. This way, the herd energy and dynamic 'stretches and changes' - but it doesn't break. Ultimately, there is safety in a herd and everyone wants to be part of it.

Dawn Westcott

Further reading about how we're learning from herd dynamics and energy with the amazing Exmoor ponies: Wild Herd Whispering - published in hardback by Halsgrove Publishing (Oct 2017)

Below: A selection of pictures showing the beautiful Yellowcombe Lapwing and how she is successfully integrating into her new herd. Lapwing is the daughter of our stallion Bear, and is an exceptional quality Exmoor mare whose showing achievements include Best Yearling Filly at the EPS breed show, Best Yearling at Dunster Show and Dunster Country Fair - and Best 3 year old at the EPS Breed Show. We are thrilled that she has joined Holtball Herd 11.

A Inspiring Exmoor Spring Conference

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 10:24:35 GMT

Lots to think about and a day well spent at the Exmoor Society & Exmoor National Park Authority's event in Dulverton

Competing with a glorious Spring day, the Exmoor Society's Spring Conference (hosted with Exmoor National Park Authority) had to come up with some good speakers to keep everyone happy sitting inside Dulverton Town Hall on 20 April - and it succeeded. We were all there to hear more about Exmoor National Park Authority's 5 year Partnership Plan and what the future holds for this 'exquisite' National Park and its rural community.

Speakers

Opened by President of the Exmoor Society, Sir Anthony Acland KG and Chairman, Rachel Thomas CBE DL, speakers included Lord Gardiner of Kimble , Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity; Merrick Denton-Thompson OBE FLI, President of the Landscape Institute; Sarah Bryan , Chief Executive of Exmoor National Park Authority; Robin Milton , Chairman of ENPA; Sarah Howes , lecturer in mental health nursing at Plymouth University; Nick Bruce-White , Regional Director of the RSPB; Anne Walker , FWAG SW; Robert Deane , Rural Focus Ltd; and Neil Parish MP, Tiverton and Honiton.

So - what to take away from this inspiring event? Here are a few of the many valuable points made which particularly resonated with me:

Farming on Exmoor

The richest terrestrial habitats are created by the farming industry and extensive grazing is critical to sustaining the landscape we adore. But moorland and hill farming represents highly marginalised systems of management which are very vulnerable to the market forces that can come to bear. Such as Brexit, where trade negotiations could greatly influence - and even determine - the future of Exmoor. 'Exmoor' as we know and love it really is in our hands, because new agricultural policy is being shaped - right now.

Farmers and land owners are urged to have their say in the DEFRA farming 'Healthy & Harmony Consultation' which closes on 8 May, 2018. Link : https://consult.defra.gov.uk/farming/future-of-farming/

The quest is for worldwide sustainably-produced food and with that in mind, the sustainability of our farming systems versus population growth is critical - and very challenging. A hundred years ago, 80% of the population was in the country and 20% urban. Today, those statistics are reversed - and there is an increasing disconnection from 'natural systems'. We must re-connect.

In an area like Exmoor, it's important that the government understands that is not so much about increasing productivity as maintaining quality - supplying high quality food, produced well, which includes producing affordable food - of good quality. Special areas like Exmoor National Park need special attention and one of the concerns is that the proposed areas of DEFRA administration show National Parks being split in the geographical boundaries. Merrick Denton-Thompson feels it's critical that National Parks are recognised as defined places so focus can be put on successfully realising their individual management plans.

The feeling is that DEFRA needs to operate and engage locally, utilising the local resources and expertise - and that farming isn't best looked at in '5 year chunks'. Commitment to farming support must be seen in the long term to secure good quality, sustainably-produced food, with at least 10 year farming plans. This is an opportunity for Exmoor and its farming community to shape agricultural policy and plans post Brexit - and we must take it and get involved.

The Value of Natural Capital

Understanding and utilising the importance of Natural Capital* could be extremely valuable to Exmoor, where the detailed mapping of environmental assets and resources could lead to a points system able to reward good management and conservation. The scale and challenges of accurately mapping and understanding these resources are daunting, but not impossible, and the process is underway.
(* Natural capital can be defined as the world's stocks of natural assets which include geology, soil, air, water and all living things. It is from this natural capital that humans derive a wide range of services, often called ecosystem services, which make human life possible. More info : https://naturalcapitalforum.com/about/ )

Mental Health and Wellbeing
Exmoor has a vital and valuable role to play in benefitting people's mental health and wellbeing and this includes connecting and engaging with urban populations. This is something that needs to be evolved. The countryside provides great urban value - with clean air, clean water, the opportunity to nourish mental health and wellbeing, and enjoy the cultural landscape and environment. This needs investment and support - and we must seek it to maximise the potential.

Exmoor - A Natural Habitat and a National Treasure
While bird and inspect populations are in decline in various areas of the UK, Exmoor is proving to be a rich environment. Although the area has seen the unfortunate loss of the Curlew and Ring Ouzel, the mosaic of habitats across Exmoor are providing safe haven for many species and are vital for biodiversity. Nick Bruce-White stressed that we mustn't take them for granted. Exmoor National Park is an exquisite part of the UK landscape and on many levels can be considered a National Treasure. We need to keep it that way.

And Exmoor ponies?
I asked the meeting how the ENPA 5-year management plan would help and support the Exmoor farmers, including engaging and motivating the younger generation, to maintain and safeguard the semi-feral Exmoor pony herds. Particularly as some important herd owners are facing well-documented difficulties and delays in registering and passporting the ponies - and have become demoralised. With the breed flagged as 'In Decline' on the Rare Breeds Surivival's 2018 Danger List and only around 55 female foal registrations worldwide last year (against recent trends of 100+) there is no doubt that alarm bells are ringing about the breed's future. Sarah Bryan, CEO of ENPA, acknowledged awareness of these issues and confirmed that ENPA is actively working to bring all parties together to find solutions. She also expressed the intention for the Exmoor Pony Genome Project, which is now underway, to assist with improvement in safeguarding the ponies.

The Exmoor National Park Authority Partnership Plan 2018-2023

You can read the ENPA 5 year Partnership Plan here .

Find out more about the Exmoor Society here

Find out more about Exmoor National Park Authority here

Farmers and land owners are urged to have their say in the DEFRA farming 'Healthy & Harmony Consultation' which closes on 8 May, 2018.

Photo by Maureen Harvey

#DEFRA #ExmoorNationalParkAuthority #ExmoorSociety #ExmoorSpringConference #ExmoorSpringConf #ENPA #NaturalCapital #MentalHealth #MentalWellbeing

Moorland Exmoor Ponies are in Crisis

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 18:15:49 GMT

Why are Exmoor herd owners having problems registering Exmoor foals from pedigree parents?

In recent weeks, Exmoor ponies have featured on regional and national TV and press as local farmers managing important semi-feral herds speak out to highlight the problems they are having in registering their endangered breed ponies. They are experiencing months and even years of delays in obtaining pedigree passports, which is obstructing the sale of foals and putting some at risk of being culled.

‘The Exmoor Pony Society (EPS) insists on confirming the parents of moorbred foals through DNA testing and it should be a simple process when a DNA hair sample is taken from a foal. However, this relies on the society having the correct DNA profiles in its database for all ponies in each moorland herd and it has become clear that there are problems with this source data ,’ said Dawn Westcott, author and co-founder of the Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group (MEPBG) and Exmoor Pony Project. ‘Some ponies have been missed out, some have incorrect DNA profile information, some can’t be identified through unreadable brands or failed microchips, DNA samples have been lost, mixed up or corrupted and information is recorded incorrectly at inspections, year after year. When DNA samples need further investigation, this is unfortunately only carried out as a ‘favour’ by Weatherbys, with the EPS telling herd owners that it will ‘take the time it takes’, ‘as and when time allows’ - and this can mean months, even years or remain inconclusive. All this has led to difficulties in confirming the parentage of some otherwise perfectly good, pedigree-registerable Exmoor foals.’

Nigel and Maria Floyd own the Tippbarlake Herd which runs on Brendon Common and Rex Milton owns Withypoole Herd 23 which runs on both Anstey and Withypool Commons. Both herd owners are experiencing problems in registering foals from pedigree parents - and they are not alone. Ponies remain unregistered and unrecognised in herds across the moor, the UK and worldwide.

This should not be confused with the separate issue on Exmoor, where farmers are trying to safeguard the future of a significant population of purebred, non-pedigree Exmoor ponies, who are not currently able to be registered within the EPS stud book - it has no supplement or upgrading system, like other breeds. Various Exmoor ponies have been missed out or excluded through mistakes and ‘anomalies’ in the registration process, or other circumstances, but they are still true to type, authentic Exmoor ponies. The Exmoor National Park Authority, MEPBG, Rare Breeds Survival Trust, EPS and other stakeholders are currently working with Nottingham University on the Exmoor Pony DNA Whole Genome Project, which will eventually provide a structure for confirming the purity of these ponies so they can be recognised and embraced within the Exmoor pony breed. With a dangerously small gene pool, maximum genetic diversity is vital.

With regard to registering pedigree foals, the Tippbarlake herd owners are frustrated, not just at the delays in receiving pedigree passports for 2017 foals, but also for foals that both passed inspection and had DNA confirmed, from 2014! And they’ve had no DNA results back from the EPS for 2015 foals, who remain uninspected and unregistered. This has resulted in pedigree colts being culled. Rex Milton is also experiencing ongoing problems registering foals with pedigree parents. He cannot understand why there is any problem when pedigree parents should already be in the EPS database and have DNA profiles. He has regretfully culled ten foals this year.

So why cull foals? The foals need passports so they can be sold. Some buyers will ‘take a risk’ and buy a foal with a basic ‘Equine-ID’ passport that gives it no status or recognition as an Exmoor pony, but allows it to travel - in the hope of having it upgraded to a pedigree passport as and when DNA results are confirmed. But most people want to know what they’re buying. Last November, there were buyers for Tippbarlake foals after inspection, but the EPS failed to issue even basic ‘Equine ID’ passports until this February. The buyers went elsewhere, causing the herd owner to despair.

It is not easy to find buyers for wild-born, unhandled Exmoor foals, who are able and willing to patiently tame and train them to accept life off the moor. If not sold as ‘cute’ newly weaned foals, they become wilder and stronger as yearlings and it is more difficult to home them. If farms are on wet ground, ponies have to be kept shut in barns for all those months, which is awful for them and unviable for the farmers. So foals must ideally be sold in the autumn - with passports. The upland farms cannot spare the time and resource keeping ponies in ground for months, particularly over the winter. As we’ve all seen over the past weeks, severe weather can make it extremely challenging to keep livestock alive and every square inch is needed.

These farmers maintain their Exmoor pony herds, not for agricultural income, but at considerable cost for reasons of heritage, tradition and a passion to keep them on the moor. Faced with unreasonable registration delays and escalating costs, ponies can get culled and the younger generation of farmers is not so keen on keeping them at all.

‘The EPS has been quoted in the media as saying the blame ‘lies with the herd owners’, that it intends to ‘go on as we are’, and registration in its stud book is ‘voluntary’. However, if herd owners want their ponies to have status and recognition as ‘Exmoor ponies’ the only place to currently register them is with the EPS,’ says Dawn Westcott. ‘Further, they have to pay £50 per pony in advance for DNA testing, along with other registration costs - however long it takes. If the society can’t confirm DNA, it also gets to keep the money… sometimes causing farmers to question whether to put foals forward for inspection at all.

‘Alarmingly, we’ve found EPS officials to be encouraging herd owners not to put perfectly good, pedigree-registerable foals forward for inspection, telling them that it will be ‘too difficult to identify your ponies’ and that ‘there is no market for them’.

‘This happened with James Bryant’s Herd 423 youngstock at Countisbury,’ said Dawn, who has documented the story in her book, Wild Herd Whispering. ‘ As a result, he had already culled his 2 year old colts who were still waiting for an inspection, when we stepped in to help. Working with James we went through his herd, made a list of all mares, matched them with their foals, had the vet microchip foals, then had all this information to hand at the EPS inspection. All foals passed inspection and we insisted that they were issued with Equine-ID passports so they could be sold off the farm. We promoted the foals and secured buyers for all of them. Eventually, parentage was confirmed and pedigree passports were issued for all of them. They had not been difficult to identify and there was a market for them, despite what the herd owner was told. Putting farmers under pressure to cull foals like that is wrong .

There is an alarming decline in the number of pedigree filly foal registrations, with under sixty registered worldwide so far last year. That is barely enough to replace older mares and maintain overall breed numbers - and it is half the number routinely registered a few years ago.

Questions now need to be asked how and why the society may be benefitting from registering less ponies.’

So what’s the solution?
‘Perhaps DEFRA needs to take over registrations, or provide alternative registration, for Exmoor ponies, ’ said Dawn Westcott. ‘DNA parentage testing needs to be suspended as a registration requirement, while the EPS gets its database and service up to standard. And the much-needed supplement and upgrading system for excluded purebreds must be established. The low market value of Exmoor ponies requires fast, low-cost, straightforward registration and passporting to give semi-feral foals the best chance to find opportunities off the moor - and safeguard the future of the moorland breed.’ said Dawn Westcott.

‘With the younger generation of moorland farmers saying that if things don’t vastly improve, they’ll replace ponies with cattle and sheep, there is no doubt that some important free-living herds are in serious jeopardy - and some are gone already. The EPS needs to pull its socks up fast, or alternative registration for Exmoor ponies is needed. Because once the moorland ponies are gone, they will be gone. They’ve survived as Britain’s oldest native hill pony breed for thousands of years - let’s hope it’s not red tape and intransigence that eradicates the ponies of Exmoor .’

More information at www.mepbg.co.uk and www.exmoorponyproject.co.uk .

Some recent TV and press coverage of the Exmoor pony registration issues:

YouTube Clip of Sky News report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16sVxt_vn3E&t=7s
Sky News Sun 25 Feb - Rebecca Williams written report: https://news.sky.com/story/farmers-forced-to-cull-endangered-ponies-over-passport-delay-11266631
BBC Points West News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otxdmJerH1U
ITV West Country News: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q30abIACryg
BBC Somerset Radio - discussion throughout the Claire Carter show 15 Feb 2018: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05w6cww#play
Daily Express 19 Feb 2018: https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/920694/Exmoor-ponies-endangered-put-dow-red-tape-fiasco-passports
Horse & Hound 1 March issue: https://www.pressreader.com/uk/horse-hound/20180301/282969630561342
Somerset County Gazette: http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/16014530.Fears_rare_Exmoor_Ponies_could_be_culled_becaus...

This article appears in the March 2018 issue of the Minehead & Exmoor Chronicle, which can be viewed here https://issuu.com/mineheadexmoorchronicle/docs/minehead-and-exmoor-chronicle-march

Update 4 May 2018: The Exmoor pony breed is now sadly listed as 'IN DECLINE' on the Rare Breed Survival Trust's 2018 Danger List - and pedigree registrations of female Exmoor pony foals is in freefall, with under last year compared to recent trends.

On 2 May, at the Exmoor Pony Society AGM, EPS members (encouraged by various trustees) voted to continue discrimination against the ponies and obstruct their rightful registration in the Exmoor Pony Stud Book - by refusing to amend Rule 8 to allow re-inspection of all Exmoor ponies that were failed for any reason/element that has been subsequently removed as a reason for failure at inspection. For example, as the EPS no longer lifts the feet of foals, they are no longer failed for colour of undersole. Ponies previously inspected once and failed for that reason are being reinspected and upgraded to pedigree status. Ponies previously seen twice and failed for that reason are being refused a re-inspection and obstructed from being upgraded. This has created discrimination within the breed. The resolution to amend Rule 8 should have been a straightforward vote to set matters right and yet, it was not. We are waiting to hear how the EPS Chairman voted, who was designated to vote on behalf of members voting by proxy. Surely, the EPS Chairman would not vote to continue discrimination which obstructs the rightful registration of Exmoor ponies?

Article in Minehead & Exmoor Chronicle

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 13:32:41 GMT

Moorland Exmoor Ponies in Crisis - registration and passport issues

'Moorland Exmoor Ponies in Crisis' - this article is published in the Minehead & Exmoor Chronicle on pages 14 and 15 - the digital magazine is now available to read. The article aims to clarify the situation regarding registration of moorland Exmoor ponies and highlight that rapid improvement is needed.

You can read the article here:
https://issuu.com/mineheadexmoorchronicle/docs/minehead-and-exmoor-chronicle-march

Orphan Foal Lady Luna in the Daily Mail!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Sat, 25 Nov 2017 09:32:54 GMT

Lady Luna takes part in a photo shoot for the Daily Mail

The rescue and rehabilitation of orphan wild-born foal Tipparlake Lady Luna attracted the interest of the Daily Mail and photographer Murray Sanders came to visit us for a photoshoot.

Still only about three months old, we were wondering how Lady Luna would respond to a stranger with a camera, but Murray immediately put her and the other ponies in her small herd at ease. She and fellow foal, Holtball Dick Turpin, even decided to lie down and let me sit with them, giving a good photo opportunity - although Lady Molly was a little too interested in Murray's impressive camera gear!

With inside shots in the bag, it was time for some action shots in the pasture. Murray ideally wanted a cantering photo, with Lady Luna showing how she's recovering her condition, energy and zest. She duly obliged and produced a wonderful canter where the light was amazing. She was also engaging and happy to pose for interactive shots.

Of course, the ponies love their mud wallow and cantered down the hill towards it with enthusiasm. Murray saw the muddy water and gasped, "I hope she doesn't....." as Lady Luna gave a spectacular trot right through the middle of it. Fortunately, she decided not to stop and roll and managed to retain her fluffy coat along with her newly mud-coated legs.

The resulting feature has appeared in Sat 25 November's Daily Mail as a wonderful double page spread, which also mentions the Exmoor Pony Project and my new book, Wild Herd Whispering. So we are very grateful to the Daily Mail for this opportunity to promote the gorgeous ponies of Exmoor National Park, and the work we're doing to help safeguard them, and encourage kind, trust-based handling and management of them.

A Successful Exmoor Pony Talk in Minehead

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 11:45:15 GMT

Organised by the West Somerset National Trust Association

It was incredibly heartening to see a packed Methodist Church Hall of West Somerset National Trust Association members and others, for my Exmoor Pony Project Talk in Minehead yesterday. Nick came along too and we met a lovely group of people with much interest in and enthusiasm for the wellbeing and survival of the Exmoor ponies of Exmoor National Park.

Plenty of books were sold afterwards and the signing gave us the opportunity to chat to lots of new people. The event was very well organised by David Beach. A fun afternoon.

My next talk is for the Taunton Literary Festival, hosted by Brendon Books in Taunton - next Wednesday 15 Nov at 6pm. Tickets are available from https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/EMIGMI

Wild Herd Whispering has arrived!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 09:55:11 GMT

This week brought a surprise when Wild Herd Whispering arrived early!

Busy sweeping up a seemingly endless supply of acorns to stop the ponies eating them yesterday, an email alert announced that my new book Wild Herd Whispering had arrived at my pubishers, Halsgrove! I'd only been expecting an advance copy so this was great news.

After a quick reorganisation of our planned work for the day, Nick and I jumped in the truck and headed to Halsgrove's offices in Wellington to pick up some copies of the book. My first sighting of it was in the foyer display and even though this is my third book and I know it inside out and have seen the running sheets, there's always a jolt when you set eyes on the book itself. Finally, it's real.

Halsgrove's efficient warehouse manager, Les, had already separated our copies from the main delivery, along with some cardboard T's and bubblewrap and we were soon on our way home again. I am hugely grateful to the Halsgrove team for the work they do - from helping me to polish the initial concept, through to their fantastic design and editing, and getting the book to the printers. Then their marketing, publicity, sales and distribution team swings into action and when you realise the extent of that, on a national - and international - level, this is when you truly appreciate having the help of a publisher. The enthusiasm from the Halsgrove team for this project is incredibly encouraging and heartening and I can't wait to get this book out there.

In Wild Herd Whispering , the amazing Exmoor ponies have the opportunity to reveal insights into how they think and feel - through a series of interwoven real-life stories and my aim with this book is to help give them - and ponies generally - a voice. They've shaped this book with their adventures, actions and responses - and I feel like their messenger.

I had always envisaged Wild Herd Whispering as completing this trilogy and it's been the most involved to write - this book has literally been burning inside me. The charismatic characters from my first two books, Monsieur Chapeau and stallion Bear, find their lives entwined and evolving alongside the free-living herds of Exmoor National Park. Once again, it's an emotional roller-coaster as we share their experiences and get to understand them better.

The equestrian world is changing - for the better - with more and more people laying aside their whips, restrictive, painful tack and punishment-based training methods - and taking a long, hard look at the way they interact with horses and ponies. It takes a degree of courage and management of ego for an experienced horse person to say, 'Hold on, I can do this better.' And when you start listening to the animals themselves, you realise that sometimes, they are treated more like captives who are there simply to do our bidding - with all kinds of equipment designed to enforce that will. But there's more - much more - in the relationships we can build with horses and ponies, if we start asking rather than telling, and give them a chance to express how they feel. Walking through that door is not easy because for some, it's easier to issue orders than it is to achieve a willing partnership. But striving for willing partnership brings a whole new level of satisfaction and fulfilment - to horses and ponies and people. It's a good road to be on and many people are choosing to travel that way.

Five years ago was not the time to write Wild Herd Whispering . However, with the growing popularity of open pasture/shelter systems; equines allowed to live in sociable groups and herds; more people choosing bitless and barefoot; the laying aside of whips and violent handling; the walking away from punishment-based training methods; and the emergence of trust-based liberty activities - now Wild Herd Whispering has its place and perhaps the collective voice of these Exmoor ponies will be heard and listened to. We'll see.

So here it is - Wild Herd Whispering . I hope you enjoy it.

If you'd like to purchase author-signed copies of Wild Herd Whispering here, then please visit my Book Store . Copies purchased here help us to fund the Exmoor Pony Project - thank you !

Orphan Lady Luna's Appeal - thank you!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 11:32:40 GMT

How crowdfunding has helped to give Lady Luna this opportunity - report and update

When we discovered newly orphaned wild-born foal Lady Luna on 6 Sept we had not anticipated taking on another pony at our farm at that time. We are already what you can describe as 'full', which requires careful resource planning and some creative thinking. But there she was, nestled into the bracken, next to her dead mother, in one of the most remote parts of Exmoor National Park - the Hoaroak Valley - adjacent to Cheriton Ridge and Brendon Common.

What Happened...

Nick and I were taking part in the Heritage Exmoor Pony Festival Exmoor Pony Walk , led by Exmoor National Park Authority's Conservation Manager, Rob Wilson-North - and accompanied by Exmoor ponies, Monsieur Chapeau (led by Millie) and Monty, along with our friend Kate Hele and the other walkers. As we neared the ruins of Hoaroak Cottage, we came across the foal and her mother, who had died only that morning. Later veterinary examination confirmed that the mare's injuries were consistent with having been hung up in the fencing and it was likely that she had eventually freed herself on the wrong side of Brendon Common, in the Hoaroak Valley. Whether accidentally, or on purpose, the mare had managed to die in a highly visible place on the remote footpath traversing the valley, giving her little foal the best chance of being discovered by people. Literally anywhere else in that remote area, and they may not have been spotted at all.

Lady Luna , as she came to be called because of the full moon at that time, had turned to eating unsuitable things like bracken, and rooting in the soil for anything she could find, trying to sustain herself as her mother had deteriorated. She was thin and growing weaker. It is a fact that Exmoor moorland farming is a tough business and difficult to sustain, with tight margins and resource, and as Lady Luna did not look more than a month old and was already in fairly poor condition - her prospects were not good at all.

After discussing things with the Floyd family, owners of the Tippbarlake Herd of Exmoor ponies running on the Brendon Commons, it was decided that, if it was possible to catch Lady Luna, then she should join our Exmoor Pony Project, to see if we could successfully rehabilitate and rear her. After taking our own ponies home, we returned to the moor early that evening to meet up with the Floyd family and rescue the foal. Not accessible by road, we headed out on quad bikes, with Nigel and Marie Floyd (and Taylor Floyd) taking their gator - the only vehicle that could cope with the terrain and also transport a foal. The mission was successful. Everyone agreed that the time and resource involved would require some additional help, so we decided to see if crowdfunding could provide the solution.

How Crowdfunding helped...
With Lady Luna successfully rescued and safely back at Holt Ball, we set up a crowdfunding page with @JustGiving to see if people would respond. Our Exmoor Pony Project supporters were amazing, and donations started to come in. The local press - West Somerset Free Press and the Western Morning News - both embraced the situation and ran multiple features about Lady Luna. Local radio BBC Somerset (Matt Faulkner) and AppleFM (Luke Knight) both invited me onto their shows to talk about Lady Luna, and gave welcome social media support. On Twitter @aPonyHour promoted her appeal throughout a whole week - and ITV Westcountry also ran an online feature. Friends, acquaintances and complete strangers rallied for Lady Luna, with both support and donations. This included Clare Wheeler going to the trouble of ordering a bag of foal creep pellets and having them delivered to our local feed store. Peter Hotchkiss not only made a generous donation but also brought carrots to the farm for the ponies!

While all this was happening, Lady Luna required round the clock attention for the first few weeks. She had acquired a gripey tummy from eating the wrong things, including munching on poisonous bracken, and without Nick's farming expertise, I'm not sure she'd have made it. Along with veterinary consultations, he knew when to give her things like a Life Aid drench, to provide vital glucose and dextrose, etc, and how to painstakingly get her to drink some mare replacement milk - day and night. Soon, she started to show an interest in the foal creep pellets, which was great - but we also knew that a crucial part of Lady Luna's recovery would be the company of other ponies.

Lady Luna's rehabilitation...
Monsieur Chapeau and Monty started off as her companions and did a great job. While she was weak and recovering from the worst of her tummy troubles, this contact took place over the gate to her barn enclosure, progressing to supervised interactions in the barn and corral area. We then brought in one of our homebred mares, Jenny, who was still feeding her two year old daughter - and Monsieur Chapeau returned to the big herd. With Princess Cristal well integrated into the big herd, it was a good time to wean her for a while and see if Jenny would befriend Lady Luna. Not so keen at first, Jenny nevertheless allowed Lady Luna to have a couple of suckles a day, in exchange for some feed. This progressed to Lady Luna being able to spend some time with Jenny and Monty and then, have some much needed turnout. Monty then returned to the big herd, where his two daughters were very pleased to see him, and young Lady Molly was brought to meet Lady Luna and help Jenny in looking after her. This system worked fairly well for a while with Lady Luna being very careful to adhere to the stringent rules of engagement set out by Jenny and Lady Molly! Nick had set up a foal creep gate so Lady Luna always had access to her own area and her feed. She used this area daily to also take a rest and found it a great comfort. Although still a little grudging of her new job, when Lady Luna was resting, Jenny could often be found standing nearby, waiting patiently for her to wake up.

The logistics of giving Lady Luna a suitable area of barn, corral and turnout to integrate her successfully, meant that the group of ponies in training had to return to the big herd for the time being - as we needed that space. It has required a compromise here and I hope to catch up with that training and development in due course.

Lady Luna's new friend...
At the end of September, we were blessed with the arrival of a beautiful colt foal from Anstey Princess - one of the loveliest colts we have bred. Being the grandson of the legendary moorland stallion, The Highwayman, it was only fitting that he be called Dick Turpin. As Anstey Princess approached her foal heat, it was time to move them and introduce them to Jenny, Lady Molly and Lady Luna. Over the past couple of weeks, the group has been slowly integrating and the foals are getting to know each other. At first, Anstey Princess was incredibly foal proud and would not allow any of the other ponies near Dick Turpin, but she has gradually relaxed and he has grown in confidence - and it looks like a wonderful friendship is developing. Although not the easiest to feed, Lady Luna is responding well to her care programme and enjoying that all important 24/7 access to company and turnout, where she can evolve and mature as a normal pony, rather than an orphan who becomes too dependent on people. It looks promising.

Success with the crowdfunding...
During this time, we have seen the crowdfunding appeal reach its target and taking into account the JustGiving fees, with the addition of some private donations, we have just topped our target of £2000, which is fantastic. It has already required significant time and resource to get Lady Luna this far, and without the help of crowdfunding, it is not possible for projects like ours to operate. It is important for supporters to see what their money is being spent on, so we will ensure that crowdfunding for this project will be for specific projects and ponies - as and when additional help is essential to getting the job done.

Most people have been fantastic about the Lady Luna project and without fail, wherever we go, people ask after her with warmth and concern. There is no doubt that she has reached people's hearts and minds and through that, is doing her own bit to promote the moorland ponies of Exmoor and highlight that sometimes, they need a helping hand to survive and thrive.

Trolling and abuse...
Because the @JustGiving page was public and promoted so extensively, many, many people have kept up to date with Lady Luna's progress through there. And many people also saw the horrible way we were trolled on it. For a few days, the page was relentlessly targeted by a group of people involved in Exmoor ponies, and their relatives, who sought to tear our reputations apart and target me personally with the most vindictive and puerile abuse. @JustGiving thankfully realised the extent of the abuse and removed the comments and closed the mechanism for people to comment on our @JustGiving page. Of course, this also removed the lovely, supportive comments and prevented our supporters from interacting on the page - which is a very great shame.

While it was naturally distressing to see the appeal attacked and potentially compromised in this way, and to see lies and filth written about me, including by people I have never met - it also provided a platform to demonstrate how relentlessly this 'gang' of people has targeted and abused us since Nick and I stood up against the multiple hot branding of Exmoor pony foals in 2009. This 'gang' succeeded in having us (completely unfairly in the opinion of us and many others) thrown out of the Exmoor Pony Society, in a public and horrible way, in 2014 - to which we have had no recourse or recompense. The Exmoor Pony Society refuses to engage in discussion about it and allows their members and officers and trustees to continue the abuse and denigration of ourselves. This means we are prevented from exhibiting our ponies at EPS shows and have to endure vastly increased 'non-member charges' to register our ponies. Along with being ostracised and cut off from interacting with the breed society. This has unfortunately severely compromised our breeding programme and Exmoor pony stud. I wonder what Nick's great grandfather would think of this behaviour, after being a founding committee member of the Exmoor Pony Society in 1921? Not a lot would be my guess.

One good thing that came out of the latest behaviour of this 'gang' on Lady Luna's @JustGiving appeal page, is that it really was in the public eye, and so many more people are now aware of what we have been putting up with. Many have expressed their horror at this treatment, who have not seen examples of it before. With new social media trolling rules and the 'criminalisation' of abusive social media behaviour - we hope that this 'gang' of people can be encouraged to stop and instead find something more positive to do with their lives - rather than trying to further damage ours, and that of our ponies - and the ponies we try to help. An apology from them and from the Exmoor Pony Society would perhaps be a good step forwards. I will leave it there.

A heartfelt thank you...
To all those who have supported Lady Luna and appreciate what it means for her to have this lifeline and opportunity - and who feel as joyful as us to see her cavorting and playing with her new chum, Dick Turpin, thank you. Without you, we could not have given her this chance. It was a leap of faith, at a time of being already stretched with the commitments of the Exmoor Pony Project, to take the decision to help her - and hope that crowdfunding would work. Well it did - and it gives us great heart to know that there are so many people standing with us to help work with and promote awareness of the Exmoor ponies. Whether pedigree, purebred or crossbred. They are all valued and they are all important - and they all have their place in this world.

We are also immensely heartened by the commitment and enthusiasm of the herd and land owning members of the Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group , which is growing in both the number of members and in the proactive way everyone is working together to safeguard the ponies and look for the best opportunities for them. On balance, although there are still various barriers to overcome - and it is not easy to find good homes for wild-born foals - new owners are emerging who value and embrace how special these ponies are, and want to help to safeguard their future. We just need more of them.

So to all of you taking an interest in Lady Luna, in our pony project and in the breed generally - a heartfelt thank you. :)

Dawn Westcott

Some video clips of Lady Luna and Holtball Dick Turpin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eM6jZcsBh0&feature=youtu.be

Wonderful Appledore Book Festival

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 09:15:26 GMT

A sold-out talk, great hospitality and a truly beautiful place

Yesterday surpassed all expectations! I'd been invited to give a Wild Pony Whispering & Exmoor Ponies talk at Appledore Book Festival and arrived to find that all tickets had been sold and the Blue Lights Hall was going to be packed out! The Appledore Book Festival team are amazing and nothing is too much trouble for them. Miche Tompkins and her team made us feel so welcome at what has become a seriously good annual event.

The talk went well and was followed by a busy book signing for Wild Pony Whispering and Wild Stallion Whispering - with plenty of interest in my new book Wild Herd Whispering (out in October) - all brilliantly handled by Waterstones Barnstaple.

We were then treated to some amazing Appledore Book Festival hospitality, before exploring this gorgeous North Devon village, with its higgledy piggledy streets and fabulously painted cottages, with spectacular views over the estuary. Nick wanted to show me the beach at Westward Ho and I wasn't disappointed - the sun was out and everything sparkled in the way that reminds you of childhood excitement of the seaside!

We returned to Appledore to attend a fascinating and entertaining evening interview of Penny Junor about her book The Duchess , by David Fitzgerald .

The day was rounded off with a beautiful meal at The Boathouse at Instow.

Pictured below: A packed out talk; my books on display in the Waterstones Barnstaple pop up bookstore; my husband Nick on the beach at Westward Ho; the ponies grazing alongside sheep and mingling with visitors and the golf course between Appledore and Westward Ho.

A return to showing

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 22:04:10 GMT

Holtball Princess Khaleesi makes her debut

After a few years of promoting Exmoor ponies from other herds and helping to safeguard the future of various ponies who've found themselves in a tight spot - we've recently found a little time to focus on our own ponies. Beautiful Holtball Princess Khaleesi is the three year old daughter of Monty (son of Bear) and she made her showing debut at Holnicote Show on Exmoor on 23 July. Her father Monty accompanied her and we could not have asked more of her. She achieved a credible 2nd place in the Exmoor pony class (about 10 entries) and won the MEPBG Exmoor pony class (5 entries).

A week later, at Porlock Horse Show, she won her Exmoor youngstock class and went on to stand Champion Exmoor.
Both she and Monty (2nd in the senior Exmoor class) were a joy to show. Princess Khaleesi has beautiful movement, a very generous and engaging temperament - and a wonderful ability to connect and respond.

I'm very grateful to Nick and also Millie Ker and Alyson Govier for their help. And to Gareth Latham for his lovely pictures!

It was particularly poignant to win the lovely Porlock Horse Show Exmoor trophy, because Princess Khaleesi's grandfather Bear, and father Monty, have also won it.

Wild Herd Whispering pre-publicity!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 14:35:58 GMT

Delighted to bring you the info about my new book

Wild Herd Whispering, by Dawn Westcott - Author , will be published this October and we will be taking pre-orders for author-signed copies soon.

Wild Herd Whispering is about the incredible Exmoor ponies as they reveal their true natures through the world of herd energy and dynamics.
Starting with the dramatic winter arrival from the moor of a tiny five week old wild-born foal who faces the bleakest future, it is the big herd at Holt Ball Farm that decides how she will survive and thrive. The book follows the adventures of the ponies, revealing characters and behaviours that take you on a heart-rending, thought-provoking and enriching journey of equine enlightenment. This is an opportunity to catch up with adorable orphan Monsieur Chapeau and his friends and majestic stallion Bear, as their lives evolve and entwine with the wild herds of Exmoor. It follows the endearing, exciting and at times perilous experiences of the ponies – including unwelcome night time adventures, the quest to find foals lost in the wilderness and an entire moorland herd in jeopardy. With an expanding herd and challenges to face, author Dawn Westcott looks to the ponies themselves for help and inspiration: they in turn respond in a way that offers magical insights into what is going on in their hearts and minds.

This book is an invaluable reference for people interested in better understanding and winning the trust and friendship of ponies. It also highlights the challenges of safeguarding the endangered Exmoor ponies of Exmoor National Park.

"A captivating, must-read book of interwoven stories that reveal much about herd dynamics and how ponies think and learn - thoroughly enjoyable!" Jo Browne, Editor, HORSE MAGAZINE

Wild Herd Whispering follows on from Dawn Westcott's previous two equestrian best-sellers, Wild Pony Whispering and Wild Stallion Whispering .

More info at www.WildPonyWhispering.co.uk

If you'd like to register your interest in pre-ordering an author-signed copy of Wild Herd Whispering then please email dawnwestcott@hotmail.com

Society of Equestrian Artists Visit!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 09:22:03 GMT

Top artists visit Holtball Herd 11 to study Exmoor ponies

Exmoor ponies inspire fine art

This week we met twenty three of Great Britain's top equestrian artists, when members of Society of Equestrian Artists visited Holtball Herd 11 and our Exmoor Pony Project to study good conformation and equine body language.

The artists are on Exmoor for their Porlock Residential Week at Porlock Vale House, painting under the guidance of expert tutors.

Braving the most awful windy and pelting wet weather, their afternoon with Exmoor ponies included a demonstration of good Exmoor pony conformation with multi-champion stallion Bear and his brood mares. I then called in the Holtball Herd 11 Exmoor ponies from the pasture and they responded with gusto, cantering into the covered area, which gave the artists the opportunity to observe the ponies in movement. They then studied the equine behaviour, expressions and body language of the herd, at close hand - photographing and sketching the ponies while we chatted about the interactions. The ponies were engaging and friendly and some firm friendships were made!

"It was a fascinating afternoon with a lovely group of people and an amazing level of talent and we hope that the information gleened will be reflected in more paintings of our endangered breed and iconic Exmoor ponies," said Dawn Westcott.

Organiser Jennifer Bell said, "“The Society of Equestrian Artists has been holding a residential Summer School at Porlock Vale for a few years now - a week of painting and studying horses with tutors Malcolm Coward and Colin Allbrook (this year’s was the biggest group so far with quite a few local artists coming to paint with us on day visits.) Artists of all standards are encouraged to come, but all share a common passion.

Exmoor is a fantastic place for equestrian artists to work - a sort of horse painter’s heaven - and local horse owners and Exmoor Pony specialists have been very, very welcoming. We hope to be back next year!”

This event forms part of the Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group (MEPBG) and Exmoor Pony Project's Heritage Exmoor Pony Festival which this year runs from May to November. The calendar of events is evolving and can be found on the www.mepbg.co.uk website.

A few days before the visit, we had to make the heart-breaking decision to put to sleep our treasured foundation mare, Maisie. It was therefore extremely poignant when artist Rebecca de Mendonca presented us with her beautiful painting of Maisie with her last (2016) foal Holtball Kilimanjaro, which we will also treasure.

Pictured: Top picture - Dawn Westcott, artist Gillian Melville, Nick Westcott and artist Rebecca de Mendonca
Pictured: Artist Katie Scorgie with her new friend, Imperial Topaz, and a lovely sketch of Lady Stumpkin Pumpkin

Pictured: Below - the awesome painting of Maisie and Kilimanjaro by Rebecca de Mendonca

Pictured: Below - Article about the visit in the West Somerset Free Press (visit www.wsfp.co.uk for digital subscriptions)

NEW! Wild Herd Whispering coming soon

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 15:49:57 GMT

NEW - Wild Herd Whispering will complete Trilogy!

I'm very excited to let you know that, following on from best-selling Wild Pony Whispering and Wild Stallion Whispering, my new book Wild Herd Whispering will complete the trilogy. It's going to be out in hardback later this year! I'll let you have more details and how to reserve a first edition signed copy as soon as possible. I can't wait to bring you this book :)

Monsieur Chapeau does Christmas!

exmoorponyclub@hotmail.co.uk (Dawn Westcott) — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 09:57:15 GMT

A photoshoot for Western Morning News Horses

This week the Western Morning News put out a call for festive horsey pictures and Monsieur Chapeau rose to the challenge! There wasn't much time and he had a quick brush over to see off the worst of his carefully acquired mud, before facing a pile of tinsel and some Reindeer antlers.

Staring quizzically at the tinsel as the thick strands were wrapped around his neck, he stood stoically while it was wound around his head collar. A handful of delicious pony nuts provided motivation to stand beautifully and strike the required pose.

The Western Morning News liked the resulting picture and it's in the paper's WMN Horses section today, Friday 23 December.

Well done promoting Exmoor ponies Monsieur Chapeau!