If you want to purchase an Exmoor Pony, you need to consider if you would like to buy a socialised, well-handled youngster from a breeder/producer, an established older pony, or a young, weaned foal who is possibly straight 'off the moor'. If you do decide to buy a foal, you will need to be aware that socialising a free-living young Exmoor requires patience, positive-trust-based methods of horsemanship and lots of time. It can be one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have. Read more about Exmoor Pony Socialisation. Also see a case study Penelope's Progress about the socialisation of a wild moor bred foal.

To find a suitable pony, you can contact the Exmoor Pony Society for an up to date sales list. Also see the above breeders for direct contact details. You can read about various herds and breeders in our Exmoor Ponies & People section, many of whom will be delighted to talk with you and help you find the pony you want. You can find an extensive list of Exmoor pony breeders in the Stallion List section of www.exmoorponysociety.org.uk. If you join the Exmoor Pony Society, you will have access to the online studbook which will help you to trace and understand bloodlines.

What should you expect to pay for an Exmoor Pony? Some of the ponies straight from the Moor have, in past years, sold for very little money which is not at all helpful to the breeders who are endeavouring to protect vital and rare bloodlines. The growing popularity and appreciation of the breed is at last resulting in the ponies achieving much more realistic sales prices. If you are looking for show and ridden quality ponies, from championship-winning herds, you should expect to pay equivalent rates to other mountain and moorland breeds. If you are prepared to take a young, virtually unhandled foal directly from weaning, you would expect to pay less than an equivalent well-handled yearling, but again, this very much depends on the pony's bloodlines and its Herd.

Remember, please don't try to drive too hard a bargain as, not only will you inevitably be getting a superb quality, highly versatile and intelligent pony, the money you pay goes back into protecting the rare Exmoor pony herds for the future. These ponies are rare not rescue! And a lot of hard work goes into maintaining healthy herds and superior quality bloodlines.