Blog Post

The Tippbarlake Gathering 

Dawn Westcott • Nov 15, 2017

Bringing the Exmoor ponies in from 5500 acres of the Brendon Commons

Sunday saw the gathering of the magnificent Tippbarlake Herd 387 from Brendon Common and the surrounding moorland areas, which amount to some 5,500 acres, by the Floyd family.
With hail and wind initially lashing the riders and spectators, there was some doubt if the gathering could go ahead, but the weather cleared a little to allow the riders to head out to Hoaroak Valley and Cheriton Ridge to begin sweeping the moor and rounding up the ponies. The various social bands had spread far and wide, but they were gradually all brought across Lancombe Ford - this time also accompanied by some of Nigel Floyd's enthusiastic Red Devon cattle - and driven up to Scobhill Gate.
There, they left the moor onto the lane leading down past Brendon Manor and Brendon Manor Riding Stables, along to the home farm at Brendon Barton. They rested in the holding paddock, giving the spectators the opportunity to view these lovely ponies at close quarters, before being directed up into some large fields, where they'll remain until the foals are weaned and inspected.

The Tippbarlake herd was established in 2002 when Bob Westcott bequeathed Nigel Floyd a number of his top quality Exmoor mares, bearing ancient and important bloodlines. The herd has evolved to breed quality ‘true moorland type’ Exmoor ponies, capable of surviving and thriving in an authentic semi-feral situation, on some of Exmoor’s wildest and most challenging terrain. These ponies are incredibly hardy, strong, resilient and resourceful - retaining their desirable characteristics and behaviours. Interestingly, living and breeding in their natural indigenous environment also enables them to retain their striking good looks, including dramatic mealy-coloured markings around their eyes, muzzle and underbelly, often with flashes of bright blond highlights in their manes and tails.

Nigel Floyd is related to George Molland (of Simonsbath), who was a co-founder of the Exmoor Pony Society in the 1920’s and the ponies are woven into the history and heritage of a long standing Exmoor farming family. The Tippbarlake herd, like others, is maintained for reasons of tradition and passion rather than agricultural income, and safeguarding the herds can be a challenge. Moorland grazing quotas are strict, so some of the foals must find good homes after being brought in and weaned. With kind and patient handling, these intelligent ponies have enormous ability and can excell at the equestrian disciplines, from jumping to agility.

This year, the Tippbarlake herd has a small number of colt and filly foals available. To find out more, contact Maria Floyd on 01598 741201 and email mariafloyd@gmail.com.

MEPBG - update and new appointments Oct 2023

By Dawn Westcott • 25 Oct, 2023
How we are evolving Founder Chairman Nick Westcott's legacy

New Heritage Exmoor Pony & Equus Survival Trust DNA Project

By MEPBG • 28 Nov, 2021
DNA profiling for Exmoor ponies to authenticate lineage and safeguard their moorland heritage.

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

Withypoole Herd 23 Exmoor Pony Gathering

By Dawn Westcott • 17 Oct, 2021
The historic autumn gathering of the Milton family's Withypoole Herd 23 in Exmoor National Park

NEW Exmoor stallion joins Tippbarlake Herd

By MEPBG • 11 Mar, 2021
Stunning young moorbred Herd 23 stallion, Withypoole King, bred by the Milton family, has joined the Tippbarlake herd mares on Brendon Common.

MEPBG Runs Out of Patience 

By MEPBG • 08 Nov, 2019
Five years and counting to improve registration issues and nonsense for moorland Exmoor ponies. The MEPBG has had enough.

2019 Heritage Exmoor Pony Festival

By Dawn Westcott • 24 Feb, 2019
This year, the Heritage Exmoor Pony Festival runs from June through to the end of September. We're currently adding events to the Calendar and already have a host of wonderful Exmoor pony experiences available, which you can find here http://www.mepbg.co.uk/2019-heritage-exmoor-pony-festival The Heritage Exmoor Pony Festival is organised by the Moorland Exmoor Pony Breeders Group (MEPBG) and the Exmoor Pony Project and its aims are to celebrate the Exmoor Ponies of Exmoor National Park and promote the moorland foals looking for good homes in the autumn. This year, you can watch the magnificent Tippbarlake Exmoor pony gathering , enjoy watching (or taking part in) Exmoor pony classes at local and county shows (inc a special Exmoor Pony Parade) , treat yourself to a ' Connecting with Exmoor Ponies & Yourself' workshop, take part in a wildlife photography workshop on location, join the Wild Pony Whispering Walk on the Dunkery Commons, and the National Trust's amazing Foreland Herd Walk. There's something for everyone and we look forward to welcoming you to our events. 2019 Heritage Exmoor Pony Festival Calendar of Events http://www.mepbg.co.uk/2019-heritage-exmoor-pony-festival

Inspecting the Foreland Exmoor pony herd 

By Dawn Westcott • 09 Nov, 2018
An opportunity to see how the West Exmoor National Trust's Exmoor pony herd is doing - at their autumn gather and check

Beautiful Exmoor Ponies - NEW Short film

By Dawn Westcott • 06 Nov, 2018
Some amazing Moorland Exmoor pony footage for Exmoor pony lovers - enjoy!

Farmers gather in the Exmoor pony herds 

By Dawn Westcott • 27 Oct, 2018
Finding good homes for the small number of Exmoor of foals is boosted this year by the NEW MEPBG Certificate of Authenticity
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