2017 Heritage Exmoor Pony Festival Events

15 Nov - Taunton Literary Festival - Exmoor Pony Talk Dawn Westcott will be giving a talk on Wed 15 November, at 6.30pm, about Exmoor ponies and her best-selling books as part of the Taunton Literary Festival - at Brendon Books in Taunton. Tickets from Brendon Books www.brendonbooks.co.uk.

Oct - Launch of Wild Herd Whispering Wild Herd Whispering is about the incredible Exmoor ponies as they reveal their true natures through the world of herd energy and dynamics. Starting with the dramatic winter arrival from the moor of a tiny five week old wild-born foal who faces the bleakest future, it is the big herd at Holt Ball Farm that decides how she will survive and thrive. The book follows the adventures of the ponies, revealing characters and behaviours that take you on a heart-rending, thought-provoking and enriching journey of equine enlightenment. This is an opportunity to catch up with adorable orphan Monsieur Chapeau and his friends and majestic stallion Bear, as their lives evolve and entwine with the wild herds of Exmoor. It follows the endearing, exciting and at times perilous experiences of the ponies – including unwelcome night time adventures, the quest to find foals lost in the wilderness and an entire moorland herd in jeopardy. With an expanding herd and challenges to face, author Dawn Westcott looks to the ponies themselves for help and inspiration: they in turn respond in a way that offers magical insights into what is going on in their hearts and minds. This book is an invaluable reference for people interested in better understanding and winning the trust and friendship of ponies. It also highlights the challenges of safeguarding the endangered Exmoor ponies of Exmoor National Park. "A captivating, must-read book of interwoven stories that reveal much about herd dynamics and how ponies think and learn - thoroughly enjoyable!" Jo Browne, Editor, HORSE MAGAZINE Wild Herd Whispering follows on from Dawn Westcott's previous two equestrian best-sellers, Wild Pony Whispering and Wild Stallion Whispering.

1 Sept-31 Oct - Running Wild Photography Exhibition The RUNNING WILD Photo Exhibition runs from 1 September - 31 October, 2017 at Lynmouth National Park Centre, The Esplanade, Lynmouth, EX35 6EQ. The curator, photographer Nina Dodd brought together ten Exmoor-based photographers and the result is an engaging collection of images, presented in a multiple of genres and post-processing styles. A show of taking on a traditional topic and running wild with it. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Geoff Baylis, Alex Dodd, Nina Dodd, Gaynor Gough, Laura Grant, Alan Jones, Paula Kirby, Jack Mccausland, Stuart Warstat, Dawn Westcott More information can be found at www.facebook.com/pg/RunningWildPhotographyExhibition

Wed 9 Aug - Exford Show - Mountain & Moorland Classes See and exhibit Exmoor ponies in the Mountain & Moorland classes at the Devon & Somerset Stag Hounds Exford Show. The Exmoor Pony Society breed show also takes place at this location on the same day - so a great day out for Exmoor pony enthusiasts!To enter Exford Show visit http://exfordshow.co.uk

6 Sept Exmoor Pony Walk with Exmoor National Park Authority Join a special Exmoor Pony Walk with Exmoor National Park Authority's Rob Wilson-North. Follow an Exmoor pony as we travel back in time past the source of the River Exe and down into the Hoaroak Valley and seek out the traces of Irish labourers, Scottish shepherds and a more ancient past stretching back 6000 years. Bring a packed lunch and expect the walk to last around 4 hours. The walk is over rough moorland and is graded moderate to strenuous, so please wear appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear. Start in the layby at Prayway Head on the B3223 about 2 kilometres north of Simonsbath (SS 7674 4103). Free of charge, donations welcome. Contact: Elaine Woodcock at ENPA on 01398 322231 or EWoodcock@Exmoor-NationalPark.gov.uk.

3 Sept - Wild Pony Whispering Workshop 'Discover Exmoor Ponies' Workshop on Sun 3 Sept - Join Dawn Westcott for an afternoon at the Exmoor Pony Project to meet Exmoor ponies - including characters like Monsieur Chapeau, Topaz and Pumpkin! Find out more about this very special,  ancient native pony breed - Dawn will talk about the Exmoor pony type, their wonderful characteristics and behaviours and how positive, interactive, trust-based methods help to tame and train them. We’ll also look at how thoughtful management helps them to live more naturally, in herds, suiting their social,  nutritional and physical needs. ‘Exmoor ponies are  great teachers, and we’re listening to them,’ says Dawn, author of best-sellers Wild Pony Whispering and Wild Stallion Whispering. Her new book, Wild Herd Whispering is published this autumn. Ideal for people interested in the breed and those  who’d like to build a more understanding relationship with ponies. Coffee, tea and cake provided. No handling involved but robust footwear is advised - this is an authentic working farm with everything that entails! Undercover areas for whatever the weather brings. Plenty of parking. Disabled access possible - please enquire. Advance booking only and places limited. Time: 2.30 - 5.30pm.Location: Holt Ball Farm, Exmoor National Park. Cost: £60 per person (child discounts available) with proceeds helping to fund the Exmoor Pony Project. Contact: Email dawnwestcott@hotmail.com. Tel 01643 862466. Workshops: Sat 19 Aug, Fri 25 Aug and Sun 3 Sept - Book Now! More info at www.wildponywhispering.co.uk/wild-pony-whispering-workshops

25 Aug - Wild Pony Whispering Workshop 'Discover Exmoor Ponies' Workshop on Fri 25 Aug - Join Dawn Westcott for an afternoon at the Exmoor Pony Project to meet Exmoor ponies - including characters like Monsieur Chapeau, Topaz and Pumpkin! Find out more about this very special,  ancient native pony breed - Dawn will talk about the Exmoor pony type, their wonderful characteristics and behaviours and how positive, interactive, trust-based methods help to tame and train them. We’ll also look at how thoughtful management helps them to live more naturally, in herds, suiting their social,  nutritional and physical needs. ‘Exmoor ponies are  great teachers, and we’re listening to them,’ says Dawn, author of best-sellers Wild Pony Whispering and Wild Stallion Whispering. Her new book, Wild Herd Whispering is published this autumn. Ideal for people interested in the breed and those  who’d like to build a more understanding relationship with ponies. Coffee, tea and cake provided. No handling involved but robust footwear is advised - this is an authentic working farm with everything that entails! Undercover areas for whatever the weather brings. Plenty of parking. Disabled access possible - please enquire. Advance booking only and places limited. Time: 2.30 - 5.30pm.Location: Holt Ball Farm, Exmoor National Park. Cost: £60 per person (child discounts available) with proceeds helping to fund the Exmoor Pony Project. Contact: Email dawnwestcott@hotmail.com. Tel 01643 862466. Workshops: Sat 19 Aug, Fri 25 Aug and Sun 3 Sept - Book Now! More info at www.wildponywhispering.co.uk/wild-pony-whispering-workshops

19 Aug - Discover Exmoor Ponies Workshops Sat 19 Aug, Fri 25 Aug & Sun 3 Sept - Join Dawn Westcott for an afternoon at the Exmoor Pony Project to meet Exmoor ponies - including characters like Monsieur Chapeau, Topaz and Pumpkin! Find out more about this very special,  ancient native pony breed - Dawn will talk about the Exmoor pony type, their wonderful characteristics and behaviours and how positive, interactive, trust-based methods help to tame and train them. We’ll also look at how thoughtful management helps them to live more naturally, in herds, suiting their social,  nutritional and physical needs. ‘Exmoor ponies are  great teachers, and we’re listening to them,’ says Dawn, author of best-sellers Wild Pony Whispering and Wild Stallion Whispering. Her new book, Wild Herd Whispering is published this autumn. Ideal for people interested in the breed and those  who’d like to build a more understanding relationship with ponies. Coffee, tea and cake provided. No handling involved but robust footwear is advised - this is an authentic working farm with everything that entails! Undercover areas for whatever the weather brings. Plenty of parking. Disabled access possible - please enquire. Advance booking only and places limited. Time: 2.30 - 5.30pm.Location: Holt Ball Farm, Exmoor National Park. Cost: £60 per person (child discounts available) with proceeds helping to fund the Exmoor Pony Project. Contact: Email dawnwestcott@hotmail.com. Tel 01643 862466. Workshops: Sat 19 Aug, Fri 25 Aug and Sun 3 Sept - Book Now! More info at www.wildponywhispering.co.uk/wild-pony-whispering-workshops

16 Aug - Photographing Exmoor Ponies in the wild. On Jamie's popular photography workshops, he'll show you how to get lovely photographs of free roaming Exmoor Ponies and give hints and tips on how you can improve your photography. Wed 16 August 2017. Cost : £25.- per person Duration : 2-3 hours Meeting point to be arranged. Please contact Jamie direct either by email: shelduck54@yahoo.com phone : 0791 9967500

15 Aug Foreland Herd Walk & Talk A wonderful opportunity to see the free-living Foreland Herd 423 Exmoor ponies and find out more about the work of the the North Devon National Trust at Countisbury. Julian Gurney will be leading the Walk & talk around Kipscombe, Countisbury, Exmoor National Park. It will take take place on Tuesday 15 August, from 12 noon to 3pm and the meeting point is Kipscombe Lane. Moderate walking is involved so stout boots and sunglasses recommended. The walk is free of charge and to register your interest in attending please contact: Kelly Bezer MRICS, Killerton House, Broadclyst, Exeter, Devon, EX5 3LE. Telephone: 01392 883136. Email kelly.bezer@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Sun 13 Aug - MEPBG Exmoor Pony Show at Brendon Show The MEPBG Exmoor Pony Show at Brendon Show will be running the Mountain & Moorland and also classes for all Exmoor ponies - however registered with Championships. There will also be classes for Unhandled Exmoor ponies (mares and foals/youngstock) who are exhibited in their own pens. There will be a full range of horse & pony, sheep, dog and stags horns classes, and gymkhana and the opportunity to see Red Devon cattle, Exmoor Horn sheep and a sheep shearing display. The secretary is Mrs Maria Floyd. Entries on the day except unhandled pony classes. Contact mariafloyd@gmail.com

Mon 7 Aug - Tippbarlake Herd Pony Gathering The gathering of the Tippbarlake Herd 387 Exmoor ponies from Brendon Common - the largest Exmoor pony herd in the world! If you'd like to join this event please telephone Mrs Maria Floyd on 01598 741201. See footage from last year's gathering here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehK_V8FQT9Q

Sun 23 July - Holnicote Show The MEPBG Exmoor Pony Class at The Minehead Harriers Holnicote Show welcomes all Exmoor ponies - however registered, of all ages. The best pedigree-registered Exmoor goes forward to the M&M championship. Holnicote Show location - off the A39 between Porlock & Minehead. OS Grid Ref SS 907 465. Postcode TA24 8TJ. Entries on the day.

5 June 2017 - Society of Equestrian Artists The Society of Equestrian Artists visit to Holt Ball and the Exmoor Pony Project to study Exmoor pony conformation and observe equine behaviours and body language. (Painting by Rebecca de Mendonca)

Exmoor Pony Moorland Walks Discover and learn about beautiful Exmoor National Park, accompanied by Exmoor ponies. We'll be organising some dates to explore Exmoor National Park with Exmoor ponies this year. Please register your interest at moorlandexmoorgroup@hotmail.co.uk

May - Withypool/Anstey Common Herd 23 Exmoor Pony Walks Join Herd 23 owner, moorland farmer Rex Milton for a walk to see the newly arrived free-living Exmoor pony foals! Date TBC.
Contact Rex and Banger Milton at partridgearmsfarm@gmail.com or tel 07770 814179 or 01398 341217

26 May-1 Sept Running Wild Photo Exhibition The RUNNING WILD Photo Exhibition Opening Night is on 26 May 5pm-7pm (Dunster Visitor Centre) is a fund-raising event for the Exmoor Pony Centre and Exmoor Pony Project. Runs 26 May to 1 Sept. The curator, photographer Nina Dodd brought together ten Exmoor-based photographers and the result is an engaging collection of images, presented in a multiple of genres and post-processing styles. A show of taking on a traditional topic and running wild with it. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Geoff Baylis, Alex Dodd, Nina Dodd, Gaynor Gough, Laura Grant, Alan Jones, Paula Kirby, Jack Mccausland, Stuart Warstat, Dawn Westcott More information can be found at www.facebook.com/pg/RunningWildPhotographyExhibition