Edinburgh University Exmoor Pony Trekking

About the Exmoor Breed

A listed rare breed, Exmoors have all the qualities required for survival in Britain's wilderness and moorlands. Exmoor ponies are small at 11 to 12.2hh and are bay, brown or dun, with black points and mealy markings on the muzzle, round the eyes and inside the flanks. They have strong compact feet and a 'toad eye' which consists of an extra rim of flesh to protect it from rain. Another breed characteristic is the 'snow chute tail' formed by short hairs at the root of the tail, which form a channel down which snow and rain can run off the body.

The Exmoor makes an excellent riding pony for both children and adults, yet the number of ponies in the UK has fallen. Other types of pony have been introduced onto the moors and the number of pure bred Exmoors has decreased.

The Exmoor pony aids conservation. They prefer to eat the wild grasses and leave wild flowers untouched, which provides a better environment for these plants to grow. Conservation grazing will help support the continuation of this ancient breed. However, greater awareness of their presence and usefulness is needed to ensure the future of this very special pony.

Our Exmoor Ponies

Avery

Herd: 309/1
Born: 1996

Avery was bred by Alison Downing, and has been with the herd since summer 2005. He is good fun to ride and loves going for a good gallop as well as popping over jumps. He thinks he is a very good looking pony and enjoys showing off his talents at the Scottish Area Show. He has been placed in ridden, in-hand and working hunter classes each year we have attended!

B'elanna

Herd: 309/2
Born: 1997

B’elanna was bred by Alison Downing and was on loan to the section in winter 2005. She spent her first summer trekking with us in 2006 and with very little riding experience, B showed us that she was ready to take on a full trekking career. She is always very enthusiastic and is becoming a very reliable trekking pony, being calm and steady even when caught in a colossal thunder-storm! B officially became ours at the end of summer 2006.

Cal (Callanish)

Herd: Unregistered
Born: 2000

Cal joined the herd as a youngster and over the years, he has become a wonderful trekking pony. Although he can't always work out where the best place to put his hooves is, he is great fun to ride. He really enjoys being one of the lads, and is regularly found playing in the field with the youngsters in the herd.

Chakotay

Herd: 309/3
Born: 1998

Chakotay came on loan to us from Meg Pollock in 2010. He is full brother to B'elanna. He is a real confidence giver and is not scared of anything so he can take beginner trekkers. He is very cheeky and has mastered the art of pulling the electric fence posts out with his teeth allowing him and all the other ponies to escape!! Apart from this, he is a great addition to the herd and we really would be lost without him!

Dessie (Airdeasaidh)

Herd: 21/40
Born: 1996

Dessie is a very pretty mare and is a lovely trekking pony. She is quiet and sensible giving novice riders a lot of confidence, while also being great fun for more experienced riders. Being one of the older members of the herd, she makes sure the younger and newer members of the herd are put firmly back in their place, should they step out of line!

Freddy (Gait Barrows Firecrest )

Herd: Unregistered
Born: 1999

Freddy belongs to Exmoor Ponies in Conservation and used to spend his life eating as a career. However, his owners realised that Freddy had the potential to do more and he came to the section in spring 2006 to see if we could teach him to trek at the ripe old age of 7. Freddy has had to learn lots of difficult lessons, particularly that people aren’t ponies and that sometimes you’re not supposed to eat grass. His biggest problem is that he is just too smart and certainly not afraid of anything! He has really come along in his education in the time we have had him and is becoming a valuable member of the trekking herd.

Geordie (Culgowrie)

Herd: 21/75
Born: 2003

Geordie came on loan to us at the beginning of summer 2007, broken and ready to start work. Over the summer period, we realised he would become a great trekking pony and he became ours at the end of the summer. Over the past few years, he has really progressed and found his place in the herd. He is always the first to come and greet you in the field and although he is sometimes too eager going up and down hills, he has become the favourite of many of the trek leaders.

Veitch (Heathpool Veitch)

Herd: 93/36
Born: 2001

Another new addition to herd, Veitch arrived with his older brother Urq in spring 2009. He is a handsome, forward going, little exmoor with lovely paces. Veitch was a little nervous to begin with but has improved so much since he came in 2009. He now happily takes advanced trekkers and is a real favourite with everyone.

Venlaw

Herd: Unregistered
Born: 1995

Ven is owned by Scott Borthwick and is one of the darker coloured ponies. He is very handsome and is convinced he should be 'top dog' in the herd. He is a wonderful trekking pony, very forward-going and is great fun for more experienced trekkers.

Whichit (Cillechuimen Warriewhichit)

Herd: 276/9
Born: 2000

Whichit is just back from having a foal (Diosa) and is settling back into trekking with no problem. She is very friendly and laid-back, and is always the first to greet you alongside Geordie & Freddy. She is Geordie's auntie, so is nice and big like him. We are sure Whichit will soon be taking beginner trekkers soon as she is a real confidence giver. We would be lost without her!

Yarrow

Herd: H67/53
Born: 2003

One of the youngest members of the herd, Yarrow joined us on loan to the section in autumn 2007, from Jo Chapman-Cambell. He is absolutely adorable and is always aiming to please. He is trying very hard to learn all his trekking lessons and is progressing very well and has started to take some novice and beginner trekkers.