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.

If this is what you think you might want to do, it is advisable to talk to the Exmoor Pony Society and also to contact the Exmoor pony breeders directly. 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. Alternatively, the links below take you to useful sections of the Exmoor Pony Society website, which are full of contacts.

For example, in the Stallion List section, you can find contact details for many of the breeders; there is a For Sale List that is updated regularly; and the online studbook will help you to trace and understand bloodlines.

Whatever you decide to do, you will find lot of Exmoor Pony people only too willing to help and advise you.

What should you expect to pay for an Exmoor Pony? Although 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 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 may pay a little less than a 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.