The Exmoor Pony

Gaoth (and Laura) and Becks (and Meg) go cross country!

On the 29th November we travelled to the annual Exmoor Pony Christmas Show for foals and youngstock. And wow what a day we had!
Clever Albert was best yearling, colt champion and then overall supreme champion.
Love-In-Idleness (Lola) his half sister was second in the 2 year old class and then the two of them paired up to win both the Progeny and Breeders Pairs. I can't put into words how much all that means to me. I'm still stunned but very very proud of both of them.

Three Clever foals, Dolly, Bernard and Isabelle were all well behaved foals. Dolly and Izzy were 1st and 2nd in the Dartmoor/Exmoor class. This is the third year in a row that we have won this class. Dolly follows in the footsteps of Albert and Sky. Dolly followed up her win with a fantastic third in the Amateur produced class in very mixed company.

Another hunter trial and this time Gaoth and Laura won their first class. Brilliant!

We went to Deer Park Cross Country course for the hunter trials and Laura and Gaoth completed Clear and had a fabulous time.

I must pass on the very sad news that at the grand old age of 28 and a half we lost Cloudy to a sudden bout of colic. I made the decision to have him quietly put to sleep after short investigations which had determined that his pain couldn't be controlled and his only slim chance would be surgery.

I have only known and loved Cloudy since his arrival on Snelsmore Common in 2004 but it has never ceased to amaze me since we took over his care and ownership just how many folk would come and want to talk about him, his chidren, grand children and great grandchildren.

As our 'first' stallion he leaves a huge hole. I can't imagine that if we own Exmoors for the rest of our lifetime that another Stally will ever fill his boots. His last baby will be Bernard as although he has had his lady friend Tosca for company since the spring she had a sneaky outing to another...

Sam and I will both miss him every day as he was such a big character. We will miss lots of things but the hardest thing will be missing him trotting over every morning and evening and then trying to dig his way through the Cotswolds whilst waiting for his brekkie/tea.

Annabelle was a very creditable 3rd in the Small Breeds M&M youngstock qualifying for the in hand final at the Spring Festival.

Gaoth had a new jockey, Holly, and they performed very well considering they have only met a handful of times. He was also 6th in the Winter Novice with Megan.

All three foals passed their inspections. Clever babies. Snowdrop is 428/8, Isabelle is 428/9 and Bernard takes us to double figures 428/10.

Two year old Sky has headed off to a loan home not too far away from us in Earlswood, Birmingham.

Here she is with her cousin Isabelle a couple of weeks before leaving.

At the Midlands Exmoor Show Gaoth jumped two clear working hunter rounds and was reserve Working Hunter champion. He and Laura earnt a Junior Working Hunter ticket for NPS Champs 2010.

At the end of August, Sam and I went up to Scotland to visit Bazil and the trekking ponies. Sadly the Scottish Area Exmoor Show had to be cancelled due to poor weather conditions but we still managed to have a lovely week.

Clever Albert won the yearling class and big brother Gaoth was fourth in the Exmoor ridden class.

A great day for us. Our veteran Dunkery Ptarmigan was 3rd in the geldings and 3rd in the veteran class and his young nephew Dunkery Golden Eagle was third in a strong yearling class behind his two half siblings Dunkery Whimbrell and Dunkery Wigeon!

Ptamigan and Eagle teamed up with Dunkery Shrike to form a 'breeders group' and were reserve champion group. A fantastic result.

Gaoth made us very proud whilst strutting his stuff in his three finals at the National Pony Society Champs at Malvern. He had qualified for the Picton (Novice). Peasedown (Intermediate) and Bowling Family (Novice Workers) finals. Such a clever pony. He also won two "Fit for the Future" tickets in his classes.

Wet wet wet! A horrible day with horrible ground conditions. Yearling Albert was 2nd in a strong class of 7 yearlings. Very very pleased with him. Big brother Gaoth won the working hunter class with a lovely clear round in such nasty underfoot conditions.

A successful day. Gaoth was 2nd in hand in the junior geldings and Becks 2nd in hand in the senior geldings. Laura and Gaoth won the Junior Ridden Class and Meg and Gaoth came 3rd in the Open ridden. Becks was 3rd in the Novice Working Hunter. The boys were placed 3rd and 4th in the Handy Pony too!

Two year old Appley Dapply has headed off to pastures new to a loan home near Brighton. Here she is after her bath ready for the journey the next day.

Gaoth earned his Intermediate ridden ticket for NPS champs at the NPS Area 25 summer show. He was placed 3rd but as he was the highest placed Exmoor he got the breed ticket. So proud of our boy and his rider Megan.

A successful day for Gaoth with a win in the Mountain and Moorland class and a second in the 2ft-2ft 3 working hunter class.

We went to Gotherington Pony and Dog show and Gaoth had a good day with seconds in the working hunter pony, under 13.2hh  (2ft 6in) jumping and handy pony. However he went on to prove what a natural jumper he is by having his first go at 'puissance' clearing 3ft 6 inches!

Becks spent the day in a pen in 'Pets Corner' and loved the attention! He had a short break from the pen to make an appearence in the fancy dress class as 'Peter Pan'.

Good results at Three Counties. Roly Highland was in hand Highland Champion and Gaoth was a well deserved sixth in the Exmoor Ridden class against some top quality ponies.

Becks and Gaoth having some fun!

"Bart" (Beethoven) is in the middle

Dunkery Golden Eagle and Albert were 2nd and 3rd in the Exmoor yearling class. Clever boys!

Clever Gaoth and his rider Laura Chilton completed a brilliant clear round to win the Mountain and Moorland (122-138cm) Novice Working Hunter Class at NPS Area 29 qualifying for NPS Champs. They were also third in the Junior Working Hunter.

Clever Gaoth qualified for NPS Champs at the Highland Pony Enthusiasts Club show at Three Counties Showground

Happy Birthday Albert

Welcome to the world Bernard

http://www.theexmoorpony.com/2009foalsbernard.htm

Welcome to the world Isabelle!

http://www.theexmoorpony.com/2009foalsisabelle.htm

We were very pleased with two well behaved boys. Roly Highland was 4th of 8 in the mixed age large breeds class. We were very pleased as all the other ponies were 2 or 3 year olds and Roly is not yet a year old. Albert was second to another lovely Exmoor yearling.

Baby Barts moment of glory winning a red rosette in the M&M small breeds youngstock. Clever Bartie

More jumping for Gaoth. A second and a sixth place. Also fourth in the Mountain and Moorland ridden and fifth in the Novice WHP.

Roly Highlands first show. Unplaced in huge mixed ages classes but a very well behaved baby boy. Very proud of him!

Laura jumped Gaoth and Becks and managed lots of clear rounds and some placings up to fence height of 2 foot. A great day out.

Gaoth and Laura went show jumping. They achieved 3 clear rounds at 1ft 6in, 1ft 9in and 2ft-2ft 3in earning themselves two 4ths and a 5th place.  

Welcome to the world Snowdrop!

http://www.theexmoorpony.com/2009foalssnowdrop.htm

Laura and Gaoth were 1st in both the Walk and Trot test and the Prelim Dressage. They were also first in Handy Pony and did very well in the Gymkhana games.

A dressage and gymkhana day! Gaoth and Laura won the Walk and Trot dressage test (first of six) and the handy pony. They followed this with wins in some of the gymkhana games. A successful and fun start to 2009.