Exmoor - Part 1

So back to holiday photos..... oh it seems ages ago now that I was in sunny Somerset! One of the places I wanted to visit was Exmoor, particularly the Exmoor Pony Centre at Dulverton. This small centre is a charity and mainly run by volunteers. It's aim is "working to promote and conserve the Exmoor Pony".

I love Exmoor ponies! My old pony, Badger, was thought to have Exmoor blood in him as he had the toad eyes and "mealy" muzzle that is so characteristic of them.  He was also a cheeky character! This lovely boy was brought in from the field to meet us - his reward was a lovely haynet, and a few pats too!

Meanwhile in a nearby field two other ponies were quietly snoozing in the sun, so relaxed their bottom lips were all floppy!

While this pony wanted to see what all the fuss was about.....

It was a lovely relaxed feeling at the centre and the various volunteers chatted to us about the ponies and how they are looked after.  Some of the other ponies were out on a ride across the moor so it was fairly quiet in the yard.  One of the staff who works with handling the young ponies also chatted to us for quite a while, telling us how she goes about getting the ponies used to being handled, and then used to being backed and eventually ridden.  Exmoor ponies make great riding ponies. Ooooh SO want one!!

Anyway we then set off on a "safari" across Exmoor (more of that in my next post) BUT we saw one of the herds of Exmoor ponies on the moor. Ooooh it was a very special moment to see mares with foals at foot and the magnificent stallion.  All the ponies are owned but are able to roam the moor in family herds, being brought off the moor when necessary, so they are really semi-feral.

And a better view of the young foals....

Hallo Handsome!  He is a beautiful boy!

It really was a lovely day to spend around ponies!