Days out on Exmoor - Exmoor Ponies in the wild

One of the best days out on Exmoor is seeing the gorgeous and rare Exmoor ponies in the wild. Just a 10-minute drive from Woodleigh Cottage, these beautiful herds of native ponies living and roaming free in the splendour of Exmoor are a wonderful sight.

Discovering Exmoor Ponies

Exmoor ponies are one of the UK's most ancient native pony breeds. They are very strong, intelligent, and well-formed, with distinctive markings. An Exmoor pony’s colouring can range from dun (a smoky-brown) to bay (red-brown) or brown (dark brown). Their mane, tail, and points are dark brown or black. Unsurprisingly, in winter, Exmoor ponies grow a thick, two-layered protective coat.

Endangered Exmoor Ponies

The Exmoor pony has gained "endangered" status from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and "threatened" status by The Livestock Conservancy. The Exmoor Pony Society was established in 1921 to conserve and promote the Exmoor pony as a recognised breed in the British Isles and to hold the official studbook.

After the Second World War, the numbers of Exmoor ponies reached a critical level, with under 50 ponies believed to be in the UK. These 50 ponies have formed the foundations of today’s population worldwide. There are now around 20 different Exmoor pony herds, all belonging to different farmers or organisations such as the National Park. The ponies roam free and wild on Exmoor all year round.

Exmoor Foals

Exmoor foals are born in the spring and early summer. They spend the summer running with their mothers. These foals need to build up a store of fat to take them through the hard winter ahead. It is truly a life-affirming sight to see the mares with their foals on the moor.

Photographing Exmoor Ponies

One of your most treasured memories from a holiday in Somerset with Woodlands Holidays is likely to be your collection of photographs of Exmoor ponies and foals in the wild. The ponies are usually easy to spot from the car and sometimes come surprisingly close to the road.

Alternatively, park at one of the designated spots and take a look around. The ponies often gather around clumps of trees or walk calmly across the moor. They are typically very calm, allowing you to get relatively near—definitely close enough to take great photos. However, keep your distance when foals are present. Always maintain a safe distance to ensure you do not frighten the animals or inadvertently get injured!

Photo credits: 1& 2 - Sarah Hailstone; 3 - Shaun Davey; 4 - Exmoor National Park

Riding an Exmoor Pony

Exmoor is famous for its superb riding. Everyone, whether an experienced rider or a beginner, can enjoy the experience of riding an Exmoor pony. The Exmoor Pony Centre runs Activity Afternoons and Activity Days. These events are a great way to get up close to some of the ponies that have been taken into their care while having a fun time at the Centre.

These activities are held in all weather, with riding under cover if necessary. Booking is not required, and entrance to the Centre is free. There are small charges for the individual activities.

Annual Exmoor Pony Gathering

Every autumn, the herds are gathered for inspection and registration. Some of the colts and filly foals must find new opportunities off the moor and are available for experienced riders to buy.

This wonderful short film shows Withypoole Herd 23, the oldest family-owned herd of Exmoor ponies in the world, being gathered in from Withypool Common in Exmoor National Park in October 2020.

Exmoor Ponies in the Czech Republic

You might be surprised to learn that Exmoor ponies are also proving a popular addition to wildlife in the Czech Republic! The Podyjí National Park welcomed the third consignment of this native rare breed at the conservation project run by Ceska-krajina, funded by European Wildlife.

The initiative started in 2015, and the ponies have proved extremely effective at grazing alongside the wild European bison. They help control the vegetation while adapting to the Czech climate.

Exmoor Pony Events and Organisations

The Exmoor Pony Centre

The Exmoor Pony Centre is a small charity-run business owned by the Moorland Mousie Trust. It works to promote and protect the endangered rare-breed Exmoor pony.

Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group

This group is a collaboration of Exmoor farmers and landowners with Exmoor pony herds. They work together to improve breeding practices, moorland management, welfare, promotion, and opportunities for the Exmoor ponies of Exmoor National Park. They also safeguard the genetic integrity of the species.

If you’d love to see Exmoor ponies in the wild, then book with Woodlands Holidays.