Kirkcarrion Highland Ponies

Disclaimer: this is my personal home page: any views expressed here are purely my own, not representative of the University of Dundee, the Highland Pony Society, or any other body.

The Exmoor Pony

Exmoors are one of the oldest breeds with a primitive appearance which has changed little since the stone age! An Exmoor typically has a real tough native nature and of course that enduring appeal of the mealy muzzle and large soft eye. Despite jokes about the rather uniform nature of the colour scheme ("yes, it's brown!") the standard makes for easy recognition and it is very pleasing to report an increase in popularity of this breed outside it's original habitat of Exmoor. Partly because of the relative low numbers (less than 1500 ponies in total) and RBST endangered status, and partly for the breed's ability to graze in habitats not favoured by other breeds, the Exmoor has cornered a niche market in conservation grazing and small herds run in several areas of the UK under the auspices of environmental conservation.

Also, due to the very welcome increase in willingness of small adults to consider small native ponies as a suitable mount (against the traditions of ponies being only for children) the hardy Exmoor has found new friends and new activities to prove itself, including Le Trec, endurance and trekking.

Exmoors are strong minded ponies, like many natives, and not all of them would suit a small child any more than some other native breeds. This development of adult rider interest will thus be very positive and helpful in promoting and securing the breed for the future.

Breed Standard

Exmoors are unusual in having two height limits for the breed - geldings and stallions may be up to 12'3hh where mares must be 12'2 maximum. As stated above the muzzle is characteristically "mealy", and similar colouring may be found around the eyes, under the belly and the top of the hind leg. The rest of the coat will be some shade of brown, dun or bay and no white markings are permitted. The coat is particularly well adapted to bad weather, which the ponies running on the moor have adapted to deal with. Foals are rounded up each autumn for examination by qualified inspectors and those meeting the breed standard are branded on the shoulder with a unique mark combining the herd number and individual number plus a star or anchor depending on the origin of the bloodlines - useful for a prospective purchaser to know!

The Breed Society was formed in 1921 and runs a stud book as well as carrying out the inspections, licensing stallions and promoting the breed around the world. The web site for the society is at http://www.exmoorponysociety.org.uk/home.htm (or find the link under Breed Societies elsewhere on this site) and publicises all activities as well as sales lists, show details etc.

According to statistics provided by the Society, 210 foals were inspected in 2001 and all but 27 of these were passed, which bodes well for the future of the breed. However, because of the shortage of mares of breeding age, riders are generally encouraged to use geldings for riding ponies rather than limit the gene pool still further by using mares as ridden ponies only. This is combined with a Hill Premium paid to encourage hill/moorland breeding in the natural environment and other schemes to increase numbers of quality stock for the future.

E-mail: a.douglas@dundee.ac.uk
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