Exmoor Exhibition
Various paintings from the Gathering exhibtion held in Dulverton to raise funds and awareness of the Moorland Mousie Trust . The Trust is based at the Exmoor Pony Centre and does the most fantastic work with the unwanted exmoor foals.
The centre is well worth a visit if you are in the area and it organises courses and hacking out on these hardy natives. To find out more about the centre and its work please click here . The other important organisation in the preservation of one of our oldest pure native breeds in the Exmoor Pony Society, for further information click here
Hold her Steady
This watercolour was painted to depict the hot branding of an Exmoor pony. The gatherings , branding and inspections are
carried out to ensure the purity of the breed is maintained. Many locals are involved and take great pride in their herds.
I am convinced that by the clever securing of the pony
in this way, the process is over quickly and the ponies
seemed none the worse for the experience.
The animals seemed to object more to their
first experience of handling than to the branding itself
Soaked
This study was one of my favourites.
It was done from one of the days I will always remember at the inspection of the Hawkwell herd. The rain lashed down and the ponies stood in the yard with rain running down them. It showed me their stoical temprement and the natural ability of their coats to sheed off anything the element s throw at them
Exmoor Grass . This was painted on the moor. The blond highlights echo the pale , long grass
Tawbitts Lanculot . This little proud stallion took my fancy when I visited the Tawbitts inspection on Exmoor
View to Withpool . This oil of ponies on the moor towards Withypool was to show the infinite space
Anchor Mare and Foal .These two were part of the
Anchor herd at the Gathering
Heating the Irons . An important job to make sure the branding irons are correct and the right temperature. I had great respect for her doing an esssentially hot and dirty job for several hours
Foals . These two foals seemed to gain comfort from each other during the gathering and inspection