Strongbow A276
Strongbow is an Anchor pony, bred by the late Mrs R Wallace. Scroll down for show results.

I first met Strongbow during my Monty Roberts training when he was one of four moor-bred foals sent to Maya Horsey's yard in Dorset for socialising after the autumn gathering in 2000. It was planned, at the time, for him to return to Exmoor as an Anchor stallion and I gave up hope of ever owning him. It was over two years later when I asked about 'Harry'. It turned out that he was in-ground at Ashwick at three years old and it was decided that I could take over Harry's ownership.

'It took about four months to socialise Strongbow again, as he had been running with a herd of colts since his exceptional young showing career (including Youngstock Champion at Dunster Country Fair 2003) . Slowly, he began to trust me and a bond of trust and friendship became established that grows all the time. Early in 2005, I began to back Strongbow and it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. We worked slowly (you can see more on the Discovering Exmoor Ponies DVD) and Strongbow responded by being sensible from almost the first ride. He has a lively, willing attitude and is game for anything. In fact, just a month after backing him, he coped with filming up on the gallops for the DVD. Camera crews need shots and when they asked us to canter this way and that, we managed to oblige.

The first time I ever rode Strongbow at a horse event was a local evening dressage test. He marched into the arena and produced a reasonable walk and trot test, achieving almost 60%. His 2005 show season exceeded our expectations with Res Champion Exmoor at Royal Bath & West 2005, as well as other good in hand and early ridden results. There was a moment at Cutcombe Show, where we had just come 2nd and, when asked to do a final canter, I could feel his little show saddle was a bit loose. I exchanged nervous looks with the steward as we set off and, spooked by something the other side of the hedge, Strongbow's saddle slipped and he gave the spectators a perfect display of bucking me off. The laughter reberverated around the ring! And, it was all caught on film by Sue Baker...

After stopping riding him after Exford Show and finishing in hand showing at the 2005 Exmoor Pony of the Year Championships at Rugby in September, Strongbow was given a well deserved holiday and brought back into work in January 2006. I was wondering how he would respond after almost five months off from ridden work. There were no worries - I put on his tack and loose schooled him with the other horses. He seemed so happy, we leaned over him briefly in the school and then took him out for a hack.

Strongbow proves to me that Exmoor ponies can be enormous fun, have great characters and, if you are prepared to take the additional time to win their trust and friendship, will reward you many times over with their extraordinary intelligence and enthusiasm for life.'


Strongbow schooling in 2006 aged 5 yrs

From an Exmoor National Park Press Release June 2005:
Four year old Exmoor Pony gelding, Strongbow (A276), from the Anchor Herd, bred by Mrs R Wallace, has taken Reserve Champion Exmoor at the Royal Bath & West Show 2005. It is rare for an Exmoor Pony gelding to win such a prestigious award at County level as they compete against stallions and mares, often in the same class. What makes Strongbow's win at Royal Bath & West exciting is that it will hopefully help people to realise that Exmoor geldings are well worth taking on and producing. With moor bred ponies, once they get used to a more domesticated environment and learn to trust and form bonds with humans, they can be brought on and make ideal riding, driving and showing ponies.

The Exmoor Pony is a recognised rare breed, thought to be unaltered by man for thousands of years and, through the dedication of Exmoor farmers and breeders, is still able to live and flourish on the open moor. However, there are only about 1,200 pure-bred Exmoor Ponies worldwide (less than Giant Pandas!) with several herds living free on Exmoor. It is the colt foals that are most at risk each year as the surplus ponies are taken off the moor at weaning time and it has been difficult to always find the right homes, where they can make the transition from free-living, unhandled ponies to domesticated ponies.