14 winners in our Photo Competition in December
Tag: Exmoor Ponies
Exmoor sunrise
Exmoor Ponies at Sunrise
Exmoor Ponies on Haddon Hill
Letter from Exmoor: ……..the path I walk’s in the wrong direction……..
Text and photos by Gary Scarlett
(first published Saturday, 21 December 2013, on his blog “Chunky Mamil“)
Went out on the road bike last week, the weather forecast was a bit dodgy but I wanted to get up the Toll road one last time before the year was out. You can break up the ride up into two really, the first half just past the toll house is nice and sheltered in the trees and I did my best time of the year. The second half is more exposed and if the wind is in the wrong direction it’s hard going, and it was. Once up and after catching my breath I went straight back down, battling across the moors in the wind didn’t appeal. Did a loop around some lanes and a sprint down the seafront, the wind in my favour this time.
This week I’ve been mainly mountain biking, wet,windy and freezing cold on the road bike didn’t appeal so I rode up some hills on the big green bike for a couple of days. Quite pleased with how I’ve progressed this year with my fitness. Eighteen mile mtb rides used to be a major expedition and take most of the day but now I just want to keep riding, what used to be two separate rides I’m now doing as one.
On Thursday I did a loop which took in some hard climbs, even trickier when its wet, muddy and still mulchy out on the trail. It’s a balancing act going up hill on the mtb, trying to keep your weight distributed, fighting to keep the front end down whilst the back wheel is slipping did get a bit annoying and led to some expletives. Whacked my shin slipping off, it smarted, didn’t cry though.
Lucky with the weather again though but it was cold on top of the hill before heading back to home. A herd of Exmoor ponies came and said hello though which was nice., went like this.On Friday I went in the opposite direction but just went where the mood took me. I did consider keeping low and riding some lower paths but that doesn’t make sense so headed up then down Dunster Path to the red mud. Went this way to see how I fared on the fireroad slog up after riding yesterday, not my quickest but did it, nearly 6000ft of climbing in 36 miles, is that classed as hill repeats?
News from Exmoor National Park
The welfare, breeding and management of the free-living Exmoor Ponies within the National Park is the subject of a new, independent report commissioned by the Exmoor Moorland Landscape Partnership Scheme, the Exmoor Pony Society and Exmoor National Park Authority.
The report, The free-living ponies within the Exmoor National Park: their status, welfare and future, compiled by local veterinarian Peter Green MRCVS, confirms that the free-living Exmoor ponies are in good health, are a distinctive local breed and a valuable asset to the amenity and heritage of the National Park. It seems likely that there is a need to adapt current arrangements to safeguard the future of the Exmoor pony breed and the famous free roaming moorland herds.
Sarah Bryan, Exmoor National Park Head of Conservation & Access said: “The key to success is the different organisations working together with the moorland herd owners and land owners to improve the situation and this report will be used to inform an action plan.”
The full report is available at: http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/environment/wildlife-and-ponies/exmoor-ponies and anyone with an interest in the future of Exmoor ponies is welcome to comment via the form provided.
Jason Ball, manager for the moorland partnership said: “This is an excellent independent report – the moorland herd owners have discussed Peter Green’s findings directly with him at a presentation evening and Exmoor National Park Authority will be collecting their feedback.”
Sue McGeever from the Exmoor Pony Society commented: “The society is delighted that the Exmoor Moorland Landscape Partnership commissioned this report to look at the long-term future of moorland herds and is looking forward to continuing its working relationship with the Exmoor National Park Authority, the Rare Breed Survival Trust and the moorland farmers to ensure that it fulfils its role as ‘Guardians of the Breed’ whilst working within the current EU/DEFRA legislation.
“The Exmoor Pony Society was founded in 1921 by a group of moorland farmers with the aim of keeping the free-living ponies living on Exmoor ‘true to type’ and in their words ‘without foreign blood’. In order to do so, they introduced a studbook and an inspection process which has continued throughout the decades – the low point was post the Second World War when just 50 ponies remained on the moor and there are now nearer 500 registered ponies running in 21 herds.”
PS: The study was commissioned as part of the Empowering Moorland Managers project on the Heart of Exmoor Scheme, and the findings will help shape future management practices on the moors. The scheme is grateful to the Leader Funding from West Somerset Local Action and from Leader for Torridge and North Devon; also the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Impressions of an Exmoor Safari
A beautiful day at the end of November. While we were out on a full day safari on Exmoor, we captured a few impressions of the day.
In this video you will see some typical group behaviour of the Exmoor Ponies, a large flock of starlings swarming over the car and a field, and a big herd of red deer with an impressive stag (12 points on his antlers) proudly parading among them.
Christel Thys, Experience Exmoor, 30 November 2013
Date for the Diary: BBC Countryfile helps gather Exmoor Ponies off the Moor
Tune into BBC Countryfile on 1 December to watch the Anchor Herd gathering – it was a very wet day!
Photo: Exmoor Pony Centre Staff & Volunteer on their ponies with Adam Henson & BBC team
Photo Competition: 170 October entries
Please vote for your favourite photo(s) – the top ten images will go through to the final!
PS The image with the most (combined) likes on Facebook, on the website and on Pinterest, will receive an #ExmoorClubCard as a prize, worth £25.00, valid for a year, providing access to hundreds of pounds worth of savings across Exmoor!
The October Winner
For more info about the Exmoor4all Photo Competition, please click here
Morning has broken….
Exmoor 4 all 