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* sections are being constructed
| Links to Foal Handling & Socialisation articles: |
1) Oct 2010 - 'Socialising and handling an Exmoor moor bred filly foal' - Article with pictures CLICK HERE TO READ
2) Oct 2010 - 'Loose Schooling an Exmoor Colt Foal & Stallion' - Article with pictures CLICK HERE TO READ |
| Handling & Socialisation |
Exmoor ponies are unusual in that they are one of the few remaining free living breeds of ponies in the UK. The various herds live naturally on parts of Exmoor and other areas of the UK and are as self sufficient as it is possible to be in modern times. Without a committed network of farmers and breeders to enable this to happen the Exmoor ponies would not be here today.
In order to manage the herds, an age old system of gathering is carried out each autumn. The herds are brought off the moor and inspected. Herd numbers allowed to live out on the moor are restricted so there is always a surplus of younstock which can not be turned back out on to the moor - and homes have to be found for these ponies. Youngsters need to be identified and the current method used is hot branding. There is much discussion about branding, and whether an alternative method of identification can be used to avoid it. However, freezemarking requires the youngsters to stand still for a period of time, which is not practical, and while microchipping is more humane, it is only effective if someone can get close enough to the ponies out on the moor to read their ID. For ponies that are definitely not going back out onto the moor, microchipping instead of hot branding is definitely an option and more people are choosing this method of identification for their in ground Exmoor ponies.
The sheer size of the task involved in gathering, checking, inspecting and sorting the herds required much organisation and many volunteers each year. The fact that, until this point, the herds and their young have been living freely and relatively undisturbed out on the moor means that this is obviously a stressful time for the foals. Due to restriced facilities, youngstock are often handled for the first time, and branded and weaned, on the same day. Sometimes, the foals can be wary because they are unused to human contact during the first five months of their lives. Some foals become socialised very quickly and others can take a long time. Patience is required, and positive, trust-based methods of horsemanship should be used to win their trust and friendship.
The Exmoor Pony Society runs a sales list for Exmoor ponies and has the contact details of the Exmoor pony breeders who are likely to have youngstock available for sale in the autumn each year. Obviously, if foals can be purchased directly from the breeders, it helps the sustainability of the breed and is greatly encouraged. www.exmoorponysociety.org.uk
Environment: The foals can benefit greatly from the company of an older mare or gelding. They definitely need the company of other youngsters, so they are best not isolated or kept on their own. It is also certainly not advisable to take a foal and just put it out in the field simply as a companion for another horse - you may be trying to catch it for some time!
The foals need care, attention and careful work to help them make the crucial step into a more domesticated life with human contact. Once this is achieved, they can go on to provide years of fun, friendship, satisfaction and pleasure. The Exmoor pony is hugely versatile - they make wonderful riding ponies (larger and fully fit ponies can carry up to 12 stones) and driving ponies and they are also enormous fun to show in hand in Exmoor and Mountain and Moorland classes.
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Boy Harry - Milton Herd 23 |
Otis (a 2004 colt foal), from the Milton (Herd 23) . Here he is pictured playing with an older Exmoor pony - who is supposed to be teaching him how to behave in the yard! As you can see, Exmoor ponies enjoy a good play more than anything, but there's always time for a break when the hay arrives... He is now ridden gelding and still lives with Harry and the rest of the ponies and has been in the same home since he came off the moor.
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For more information:
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| www.equinetourismcommunity.com - See The Exmoor Pony & Native Pony Forum and the Exmoor Pony Club |
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