About Us
What We Do
Our primary aim is to promote and protect the endangered rare-breed Exmoor pony. Our main work focuses on providing a future for the excess foals that are removed from the moor each year during the annual pony herd gathering.
Staff and volunteers work with each foal, using natural horsemanship techniques, to familiarise the youngsters with human handling, wearing a headcollar and being led. After completing 'foal school' we look for a new home for them either with a foster home or on a conservation grazing scheme.
To date the charity has helped secure the future of over 500 Exmoor ponies.
Moorland Mousie Trust
The Moorland Mousie Trust was founded in 2000 by Val Sherwin and Sue Wingate. When the charity was founded it's aim was to ensure that no more foals would leave their mothers on the moor to go to the meat market. Since those early days, the work of the trust has moved on to encompass all aspects of Exmoor pony welfare.
The Exmoor Pony Centre, owned by the Moorland Mousie Trust, was opened to the public in the year 2006. Located in the heart of the Exmoor National Park it is the hub of all our activity with the Exmoor Ponies. It provides a permanent and specialised base for the foals when they arrive straight off the moor. It is the home to some 35 of our permanent residents. At our Centre, visitors to Exmoor who might otherwise not be lucky enough to see an Exmoor pony have the opportunity to come into close contact with them.
During the year we hold a number of special events at the Centre.
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Our Activity Afternoons and Activity Days are a great way to get up close to some of the ponies that were taken into our care and have a fun time at the Centre. These events are held in all weather with riding under cover if necessary. Booking is not required and entrance to the Centre is free. There are small charges for the individual activities.
Exmoor Pony Centre
The Exmoor Pony Centre, owned by the Moorland Mousie Trust, was opened to the public in the year 2006. Located in the heart of the Exmoor National Park it is the hub of all our activity with the Exmoor Ponies. It provides a permanent and specialised base for the foals when they arrive straight off the moor. It is the home to some 20 of our ridden ponies, including Abbi and Yorrick. At our Centre, visitors to Exmoor who might otherwise not be lucky enough to see an Exmoor pony have the opportunity to come into close contact with them.
Funding for the development of the Centre was provided by DEFRA's Rural Enterprise Scheme and the Exmoor National Park Authority Sustainable Development Fund.
The Centre is run by a small team of dedicated staff and volunteers.