Blog Post

New Heritage Exmoor Pony & Equus Survival Trust DNA Project

MEPBG • Nov 28, 2021


Exmoor ponies in Exmoor National Park are to benefit from a new collaboration between the Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group (MEPBG) and USA-based Equus Survival Trust (EST).

The Heritage Exmoor Pony & EST DNA Project will enable DNA profiling and lineage tracking of MEPBG Exmoor ponies - particularly semi-feral Exmoor ponies who are excluded from the closed Exmoor pony stud book.

The Equus Survival Trust (EST) will provide funding and establish a DNA parentage baseline, where the new database of DNA markers and parentage relationships will provide pedigree and DNA test information to breeders, owners and potential owners. Ponies will be DNA profiled so that lineage can be established and, if necessary, foundation base lines created. Updating with future progeny will be ongoing and the EST and MEPBG will allow accredited genetic studies of the gene pool data.

“We’ve started by collecting DNA samples and field data from the long-standing Moorland Herd 99 on Molland Moor,” said Dawn Westcott, MEPBG project coordinator. “Almost all the Exmoor ponies in the herd are categorised as ‘non pedigree’ due to the fact that when DNA parentage verification was brought in for moorbred Exmoors as a pedigree registration requirement in the early 2000’s, a DNA baseline was not established. This caused confusion and ultimately, rendered the ponies and their progeny outside of the Exmoor pony stud book. As the stud book has no upgrading system, Exmoor ponies like these have no status or recognition. There are populations on Exmoor, in the UK and overseas in a similar situation."

"The new Heritage Exmoor Pony & EST DNA Project presents an enormous opportunity to authenticate lineage and recognise their moorland heritage.”

“Exmoor ponies are one of Great Britain’s most ancient native pony breeds and they are endangered. So maintaining the widest possible diversity in their tiny gene pool is vital. The free-living Exmoor moorland herds are particularly important in that the ponies retain the learned and genetic behaviours and characteristics of extensively grazing, free living animals. In other words - they remain true to type, hardy and resilient.”

Despite the previous DNA problems, the Dart family and Molland Estate have continued to safeguard their long-standing Exmoor pony herd. With increasing interest in rewilding and conservation grazing projects, for which these moorland Exmoors are suitable and desirable - as well as for riding ponies - they need status and recognition. Now there is hope.

Christina Williams, of the Molland Estate, comments, “When we gathered the Herd 99 Exmoor Ponies off Molland Moor last week, everyone was impressed with their quality. It is heartening to think that, with thanks to the EST, DNA profiling will enable these ponies to be lineage tracked and hopefully eventually included in the Exmoor pony stud book. These ponies are true to the Exmoor moorland type, move well and have the resilience to thrive in tough moorland conditions, making their genetics important in this critically endangered breed. If anyone who knows about pony breeds had been there, their heart would have been won over - now we can start to prove the science."

“The new DNA project will also help pedigree Exmoor ponies,” says Dawn Westcott. “More MEPBG herds are committing to the project and it is hoped that by establishing new and correct DNA baselines, it will also help to resolve anomalies affecting pedigree registrations. We are very grateful to the Equus Survival Trust for giving Exmoor ponies this opportunity.”
More information at www.mepbg.co.uk

This article appeared in the Western Morning News on Friday 27 November 2021.

Photography by Sarah Hailstone and Jamie Waters ( Shelduck Photography )

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New DNA Profiling for MEPBG Exmoor Ponies

By Dawn Westcott • 22 Nov, 2021
We are pleased to announce the start of The Heritage Exmoor Pony & Equus Survival Trust (EST) DNA Project
. The purpose of the project: The Equus Survival Trust (EST) is to provide funding and establish a DNA parentage baseline for the moorland Exmoor Ponies stewarded by the Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group (MEPBG) i n the Exmoor National Park .

 The Equus Survival Trust will create a database of the DNA markers and the parentage relationships and provide pedigree & DNA parentage test information to breeders, owners, and potential owners.
 Statement of Intent / Scope of Project: 1) DNA Parent Test all ponies (until grant is exhausted). Owners of ponies will receive copies of DNA reports. 2) Solve relationships between the ponies sampled and/or create foundation base lines for ponies that cannot be fully parent verified due to missing parents, but who have been inspected by MEPBG and qualify as purebred moorland Exmoor Ponies. 3) Compile a DNA database with census information & DNA markers; MEPBG Liaison will receive a spreadsheet of this data to share with member breeders/owners. 4) Update database annually with any additional pony census /DNA 5) EST will allow accredited genetic studies of the gene pool data with appropriate accreditation of EST & MEPBG. This project offers an enormous opportunity for the MEPBG Exmoor ponies to establish correct DNA baselines for their herds (pedigree, purebred, true to type Exmoor ponies) , in a format which allows accessible research by the herd owners and also to accredited experts, as agreed with the herd owners. Molland Moor - Moorland Herd 99 Exmoor Ponies The Heritage Exmoor Pony & EST DNA Project has started with DNA profiling and collection of field data from the long-standing Molland Moor herd of Exmoor ponies, Moorland Herd 99 . This herd has become stranded outside of the closed Exmoor Pony Stud Book through failure to establish a DNA baseline for the herd when DNA parentage verification was brought in as a pedigree registration requirement in the early 2000's. However, the Dart family and Molland Estate have managed to maintain a healthy herd of resilient, robust, good quality, true to type, free-living Exmoor ponies to this day. With the tiny, endangered Exmoor pony gene pool, it is important to ensure that this moorland Exmoor pony herd receives appropriate recognition and status and is safeguarded for the future. The Moorland Herd 99 Exmoor ponies retain the desirable learned and genetic characteristics and behaviours of extensively grazing, free living animals, through living on one of Exmoor's toughest moorlands. These ponies are also awarded the MEPBG (Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group) Certificate of Authenticity - born and bred in Exmoor National Park by an MEPBG herd owner. It is exciting to be DNA profiling the Molland Moor herd and establishing the all important DNA baseline for these lovely ponies. Molland youngstock are available for sale now. More information and contact details for the Molland herd and the Dart family at https://www.mepbg.co.uk/moorland-herd-99

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Inspecting the Foreland Exmoor pony herd 

By Dawn Westcott • 09 Nov, 2018
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Beautiful Exmoor Ponies - NEW Short film

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Farmers gather in the Exmoor pony herds 

By Dawn Westcott • 27 Oct, 2018
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Short Film: Exmoor Pony Foals - A Good Future

By Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group • 25 Oct, 2018
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