THE Heritage Exmoor Pony Festival Week was a resounding success, with a variety of events to appeal to animal lovers.
The main event of the week was the Moorland and Exmoor Pony Breeders Group (MEPBG) Exmoor Pony Show held on Sunday, August 9 at Brendon Show.
The show is unique in that it allows pedigree, pure-bred and cross-bred ponies to compete in their own sections and then collectively for the supreme champion title.
Jess Floyd's stallion Waltersgay Nutcracker won the Overall Supreme Champion of Show, with Anchor Imperial Topaz, shown by Kate South standing reserve champion.
The show gave visitors the chance to see an eclectic mix of Exmoor ponies including two-time International Horse Agility champion Hawkwell Versuvius.
All the stallions were shown bitless, marking a progressive step forward in the handling and horsemanship techniques for Exmoor ponies, according to the MEPBG.
Activities were put throughout the week with two special workshops held by wildlife photographer Jamie Waters, an evening talk by Dawn Westcott, who also gave a pony whispering workshop.
Following the Pony Show there was the stunning Tippbarlake 'Wild Westcountry' Pony Herd Gathering.
Owned by the Floyd family, the rounding up of the world's largest free-living family herd drew a crowd keen to see these majestic ponies cascaded down to the water at Lancombe Crossing.
The festival finished with the Exmoor Cross Country Chase, which featured 30 riders and their horses and ponies enjoying a ride with optional jumps amid beautiful Exmoor scenery.
MEPBG chairman Nick Westcott said: "The farmers have been very encouraged by the response to the Heritage Exmoor Pony Festival and it demonstrates the importance of engaging directly with the general public to promote the qualities of our Exmoor ponies and ensure the right messages are being put across about the herd owners as well as the ponies.
"With this kind of enthusiastic collaboration between the farmers and growing interest from the younger generation, the future for Exmoor ponies is looking promising."
MEPBG Exmoor Pony Show RESULTS:
Unhandled Mares and Foals:
Best Mare - Farleywater Herd H67 - Kate South
Best Foal - Herd 423 - James Bryant
Runners up: Herd 387 - Nigel Floyd
Fully registered Exmoors 2 & 3 year olds:
1 - Waltersgay Nutcracker (2 year old colt) owned by Jess Floyd
Fully registered Exmoors
1 - Que Sera Sera owned by Bethany Rawle
2 - Yellowcombe Lapwing owned by Rosalie Hughes
Champion Registered Exmoor - Waltersgay Nutcracker owned by Jess Floyd
Reserve Champion Registered Exmoor - Que Sera Sera owned by Bethany Rawle
Exmoor Type 4 years and over
1 Lorna owned by Anna Johnston
2 Hawkwell Bramble owned by Debbie Sellick
Exmoor Type Youngstock
1 Anchor Imperial Topaz owned by Nick and Dawn Westcott
2 Monsieur Chapeau owned by Nick and Dawn Westcott
Champion Exmoor Type - Anchor Imperial Topaz owned by Nick and Dawn Westcott
Reserve Champion Exmoor Type - Monsieur Chapeau owned by Nick and Dawn Westcott
Champion Moorbred Exmoor Pony - Anchor Imperial Topaz owned by Nick and Dawn Westcott
Reserve Champion Moorbred - Que Sera Sera owned by Bethany Rawle
MEPBG Overall Supreme Champion of Show - Waltersgay Nutcracker owned by Jess Floyd
MEPBG Reserve Supreme Champion of Show- Anchor Imperial Topaz owned by Nick and Dawn Westcott and shown by Kate South
Qualifier Final: The MEPBG/ AH Saddles Exmoor Type Championship Final
Overall Supreme In Hand Champion - Anchor Imperial Topaz - owned by Nick and
Dawn Westcott and shown by Kate South
Reserve Overall Supreme In Hand Champion - Monsieur Chapeau - owned by Nick and Dawn Westcott
Overall Supreme Ridden Champion - Hawkwell Bramble - owned by Debbie Sellick
and ridden by Cara Whitfield Smith
Finalists forward on the day: Lady Molly of Molland Moor (presented for the
final only), Hawkwell Bramble, Anchor Imperial Topaz, Monsieur Chapeau.
Ridden Champion - Hawkwell Bramble ridden by Cara Whitfield Smith and owned by Debbie Sellick
Stallion Parade in the Main Ring
Hawkwell Versuvius owned by Nick and Dawn Westcott
Tippbarlake Jamie owned by Nigel, Marie and Jess Floyd
Waltersgay Nutcracker owned by Jess Floyd
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