TECHNOLOGY has been used to enhance the new annual Exmoor Pony Society’s autumn show which was held on Saturday (November 25) on a sunny but cold day.

Acting show secretary Emma Wallace said: “The show was a huge success, with many entries using a great online system.

“Having not had a foal show or opportunity to familiarise youngstock with a show environment at this time of year for the past few years, we were delighted with the support shown by sponsors, competitors, and supporters alike for this new annual initiative by the society.

“The autumn show has proved great training for this year’s crop of foals and youngstock and the addition of ridden classes has encouraged more of the society’s members to wrap up warm and give showing ago.”

Moorbred filly Ilkerton Elsa was champion in the youngstock classes.
Moorbred filly Ilkerton Elsa was champion in the youngstock classes. (Exmoor Pony Society)

The society, which is a charity and has been guardian of the breed for more than a century, held the show at Emmetts, near Simonsbath.

A new online show entry system, supported by showingscene.com, was provided for people to promote and enter their ponies.

The winners were selected by society judge Amanda Hill, who selected the best examples of the breed to take home the tricolour awards.

With 12 classes on the day, Mrs Hill was presented with a lot of filly foals, which are ultimately the breeding stock of the future for a breed which is still classed as ‘priority’ by the rare Breeds Society.

There were a good number of colts and it was this class winner that took the championship tricolour sash, as Tawbitts Baxter, owned by Charlotte Matravers, was judged moorbred champion.

Kestra French’s Blackthorn Poteen was champion of the one ridden classes.
Kestra French’s Blackthorn Poteen was champion of the one ridden classes. (Exmoor Pony Society)

The youngstock classes had good entries and Ilkerton Elsa, a moorbred filly, won the three-year-old class and also became champion, owned by Victoria Eveleigh and shown by J. Payne.

The ridden classes allowed the youngest competitor of the day to ride her mother’s pony Mystical Master Bee, with Elizabeth Davis winning her class.

In the highly-competitive open ridden class, two of the entries had been to the Horse of the Year Show, but ultimately the champion was Kestra French’s Blackthorn Poteen.

The society will look to build on the show’s success and is already scheduling a repeat date in November for 2024.

More information on the work of the society, entries into showing events, and ways to donate to protect the breed can be found at its website here.