The Moorland Mousie Trust

To promote and conserve the Exmoor pony


Lavendar, the image of The Moorland Mousie Trust

Registered charity no. 1116710

Welcome to The Moorland Mousie Trust, a registered charity since March 2000, working solely for the benefit of the Exmoor Pony.

The history of the Exmoor pony is a fascinating one.  Their ancestry is believed to trace back to the original British hill pony.  The ponies have lived on Exmoor for as long as anyone can remember.  They are part and parcel of the unique landscape.  In the past they have enjoyed popularity, due in no small measure to the “Moorland Mousie” children’s stories of the early part of the last century.  Since then, their numbers have depleted for several reasons.  The arrival of the combustion engine meant that farmers no longer needed to rely on the ponies to look after their land and take them to market.  Their children would start to look at other, more “fashionable” breeds for their pleasure riding.  The final catastrophe came during the Second World War when some of the ponies were used for target practice, but even more ponies mysteriously disappeared, it is believed, to supply the depleted meat market.  Their numbers dwindled to 50 and it is thanks to the dedication of the hill farmers, that over the years the numbers steadily grew and the worldwide population is now over 1,200.

Sadly, despite their versatility and their rarity value, the Exmoor ponies are not given the recognition they deserve.  They are strong, hardy ponies, relatively easy to manage once tamed and have an added bonus in that they are excellent grazers - a fact that is now recognized as they are used on many conservation sites very successfully.  Each year, foals are born, the breed continues to sustain its numbers, but unfortunately many youngsters, particularly colts remain unsold.  The dedication of the breeders needs to be reflected in the successful sales of the foals.  At the moment the return from sales is not enough and help is needed if we are to encourage the continuation of what is a true British breed.

Exmoor Ponies - photograph by Mike Sherwin

How do we intend to help the situation?  At present, the ponies have no focal point on Exmoor.  One of the most common complaints we hear is  “I spent a week on Exmoor and never saw a pony”, or “The only way to see an Exmoor pony on Exmoor is through binoculars”.  We hope to rectify this at the Exmoor Pony Centre.  This will be a place where people will be welcome not only to learn more about the ponies, but they will also be able to interact with them.  What could be a more perfect way to see Exmoor’s natural beauty that on the back of one of its native ponies?  The centre is educational in every sense of the word.  When the foals come off the Moor in the Autumn, several, in particular the colt foals face an uncertain future.  A wild Exmoor foal needs patience during its initial handling.  Once this is done, these youngsters go on to make super family ponies.  For many potential owners this handling is not something that they want to take on.  The Moorland Mousie Trust takes the surplus foals at weaning, gets the handling work done, and then places them in permanent, or foster homes until they are old enough to be backed and brought on as ridden ponies.  The Exmoor Pony Centre has been established with the help of one of the largest herd owners, and the Exmoor National Park Sustainable Development Fund and DEFRA Rural Enterprise Scheme.  Buildings are in use and we have the best facilities for the ponies’ needs.

The Trust does not operate on a society basis.  We want to be as diverse as possible and be available to talk to anyone and everyone.  For this reason we do not ask for a membership fee, but donations are always very gratefully received.  All private donations always go directly towards the welfare of the ponies.