Pam & Paul Cox (Based near Bridgwater, Somerset).
"I’ve always been involved with horses since a child but it wasn’t until we moved to a property with our own land that the ‘Exmoor thing’ happened!
I had a Welsh Cob at the time who was in livery at my Aunts farm, so when we moved we needed to get him a companion. Paul had enjoyed many trips over Exmoor armed with his binoculars looking for the ponies and just loved the breed. So it was no surprise when he was quite insistent that the companion should be an Exmoor pony. I reluctantly agreed as like many people who had no knowledge of the breed had the misconception that they could be a bit on the ‘wild side’! – As fate would have it I was doing a show jumping competition with the Cob at a nearby Equestrian Centre and to my disbelief Paul came running up with a huge grin and very excitedly explained that not only was there an Exmoor pony in the stable yard, but that it was also for sale! – We’ve just got to have him it was meant to be. How could I refuse? We went up the next day and brought him home.
He was a cheeky little gelding and it soon became apparent after the first couple of rides why he didn’t fit the bill as a suitable children’s riding pony for a Riding Centre! So I’m thinking my misconceptions and all that I had ever heard were pretty much the case! – However, the main thing was that the two boys got on well and were happy in their new home. When we investigated the life of this pony, it transpired that he had been bought and sold-on many times over. He had also been ill treated along the way so it was no wonder that the poor little chap was quite adverse to being ridden and handled by yet another new owner. So, we went back to basics and took things steady. As time went on he gradually gained our confidence to the point where I had him going well enough to take him to a show. As we all know, ponies are not born bad, it’s all down to their original upbringing and this little chap had been one of the unlucky ones, nothing to do with him being an Exmoor. I am pleased to say that he turned out to be a loveable character in the end and genuinely wanted to please. And so the addiction was born. We joined the Exmoor Pony Society in order to understand more about the breed and made some very good friends along the way whilst learning a great deal from the long established breed experts.
Many years on, we have built up our own small stud run by Paul and myself. We still do our ‘day jobs’ as well to finance this operation. Our foundation mares are formed on Hawkwell (12 Herd) and Waltersgay (H29 Herd) lines. Having them since foals, they have been well handled and have all grown up to have superb temperaments. Our key aim is to breed Exmoors that will be good all-round performance ponies with good temperaments suitable for children and adults, combined with bone and substance and with quality to produce for the showring."
Stallion Standing At Stud
Our resident Stallion is ‘Waltersgay Nightingale’. Affectionately known as ‘Bill’ at home, he is 5 yrs old and we have had him since a 2 yr old. He was bred by the formidable Misses Williams & Nash and is by the prolific winning Stallion ‘Siskin’ out of Waltersgay Moss Rose. ‘Bill’ has been very successful in the showring winning numerous In-Hand Championships & Supremes in both breed classes and mixed Mountain & Moorland classes, representing the breed across the Country. He is now showing great promise under saddle and will be making his ridden debut in the 2006 season. He is a quality stallion of superb temperament with an abundance of bone and substance. He is still young and has a long way to go before he proves himself but we are hoping that he will pass on these important characteristics and quality onto his youngstock. He sired his first foal in 2005 – a lovely Colt named ‘Cheritonridge Merlot’ and has several foals due in Spring 2006 to last years visiting mares.
Above left: Waltersgay Nightingale; above middle: At his first show; and above right: The foal, Cheritonridge Merlot
There is no doubt that our lives have been enriched greatly since these lovely ponies came to us. We have always had a great interest in all the native breeds but the Exmoor has such a lot of history attached – years on we are constantly learning. They have touched our hearts (and our bank balance)!! - Our lives wouldn’t feel complete without them now.
Exmoor ponies are strong, substantial and full of character. Like any breed of pony, if brought up properly, Exmoors will make safe childrens ponies and will easily carry a small/medium weight adult. Suitable for hacking, hunting, jumping, pony club activities and showing, they just make the ultimate family all-rounder.
In the main, we concentrate on promoting the breed through the Showring. We have youngstock and ridden geldings that have been schooled and trained for this particular discipline sometimes for sale.
For any enquiries on the Cheritonridge Exmoors we would welcome your call.
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