2015 MEPBG Exmoor Pony Show - Report and Results

The stallions also behaved marvellously for their parade in the main ring, with excellent commentary by Gethin Rees telling their stories. And what stories there were! Nine year old Tippbarlake Jamie has lived wild and free all his life and only came in from the moor a few weeks ago to learn to wear a head collar, lead and take part in the stallion parade! When Nigel Floyd exhibited an extremely well behaved Jamie, there was a feeling of deja vu as years ago, he also exhibited Jamie's great grandfather, moorland stallion Knightoncombe Lackey, to win at the EPS breed show. It was lovely to see his daughter Jess Floyd following the family tradition with her stallion prospect Waltersgay Nutcracker also in the ring, led by Arthur Bulled, and he and Hawkwell Versuvius 'Bear' with his owner Dawn Westcott gave lovely displays. Hawkwell Versuvius has twice stook International Horse Agility World Champion. Yesterday was a wonderful opportunity to promote the Exmoor pony breed, and particularly the Moorland Exmoor ponies, to the general public and local community at this historic show.

The MEPBG is very grateful to judge Mr William Dart and all the other farmers who managed to attend during anextremely tricky few days in the season where everyone is trying to make hay and combining during the catchy weather conditions this year.

The MEPBG Exmoor Pony Show uniquely recognises pedigree, purebred and cross-bred Exmoor ponies and allows them to compete on an equal footing for the MEPBG Supreme Championship of the Show for Best Exmoor. This year the Overall Supreme Champion was 2 year old colt Waltersgay Nutcracker (pedigree registered) owned by Jess Floyd with the Reserve Championship going to Anchor Imperial Topaz (Section-X registered), the two year old gelding owned by Nick and Dawn Westcott. Topaz has a tiny pale patch on the undersole of one foot which precluded him from being pedigree registered and run on as a stallion. Last year's Supreme Champion Que Sera Sera, owned by Bethany Rawle shone once again this year standing Reserve Champion Registered Exmoor and Reserve Moorbred Champion. All ponies forward were a credit to the breed.

This show also hosted the MEPBG/AH Saddles Exmoor Type Championship Final which had qualifiers at all South West Pony Association and other local shows during the past year, including Holnicote, West Somerset Vale and Stoke Rivers shows. 

The Overall Supreme In Hand Championship went to Anchor Imperial Topaz, shown by Kate South, with the Reserve Supreme going to the orphaned foal Monsieur Chapeau (now 2 years old) - both owned by Nick and Dawn Westcott. The Overall Ridden Championship went to Hawkwell Bramble, owned by Debbie Sellick and ridden by Cara Whitfield-Smith.

The MEPBG would like to thank everyone who sponsored classes and championships - including A & B Contractors, AH Saddles, Rosettes Direct and all of the MEPBG members who have sponsored trophies. As well as enormous thanks to everyone who helped to organise and run the show.

MEPBG Chairman Nick Westcott said: "This year's show was an excellent opportunity for the Exmoor farmers and owners to showcase their pedigree, purebred and cross-bred Exmoor ponies, enabling the general public to meet stallions, mares, youngstock and performance ponies and understand why the breed is so important to Exmoor's history and heritage. While the Unhandled Moorbred and In Hand exhibits represented the breed very well, it was a shame that the Exmoor Pony Society had organised its Festival Exmoor Pony Ride and Anchor Herd Open Day this year to clash with the show's Exmoor pony ridden classes, which severely compromised the ridden entries. Hopefully more sensitivity can be incorporated in the planning for next year. Overall it was a very good second show, especially with Nigel Floyd's incredible achievement in taming the wild mature stallion Tippbarlake Jamie in a few short weeks to behave so well for the MEPBG Stallion Parade. We were privileged and grateful to have a judge of William Dart's calibre and experience with moorland stock."

Unhandled Mares and Foals - superb representation with four mare and foal combinations from the South (H67, Bryant (Herd 423) and Floyd (Herd 387) families.

1 - Waltersgay Nutcracker (2 year old colt) owned by Jess Floyd

1 - Que Sera Sera owned by Bethany Rawle

2 - Yellowcombe Lapwing owned by Rosalie Hughes

1 Lorna owned by Anna Johnston 

2 Hawkwell Bramble owned by Debbie Sellick

1 Anchor Imperial Topaz owned by Nick and Dawn Westcott

2 Monsieur Chapeau owned by Nick and Dawn Westcott

Hawkwell Versuvius owned by Nick and Dawn Westcott (parading not competing)

Tippbarlake Jamie owned by Nigel, Marie and Jess Floyd (parading not competing)

Waltersgay Nutcracker owned by Jess Floyd