EXMOOR PONY

Breed of pony dating to the last Ice Age. The most ancient of Britain nine pony breeds, the Exmoor was known to the Celts, and was used to pull carts as early as the Bronze Age (4000 to 1000 }A native of the cold, soggy moors of the Exmoor region north of Devon and Somerset, England, the breed developed its most valued trait in this habitat. Because of its isolation, the Exmoor did not cross with other breeds in the wild, and humans have done little to influence the breed's characteristics. The Exmoor has a robust, balanced body. It stands 112 to 127 cm (44 to 50 in, or 11 to 12.5 hands) at the withers (the sides of the ridge between the shoulder blades). The muscular legs are short. The back is long, the chest is thick, and the neck is muscular. The head is straight with a broad forehead. The eyes are prominent and expressive, the small ears are pointed, and the nostrils are flared. The most distinctive physical feature of the Exmoor is that, like a donkey (a domestic) The muzzle, eyes, inside of the legs, and underbelly have a mealy color, something between the color of oatmeal and coffee with cream. The coarse hair of the Exmoor's coat is water repellent, and usually is colored bay (reddish with a black mane and tail), brown, or dun (yellow or bluish). The mane and tail are thick and long, and the tail has bunched short hairs sticking out to the sides, which give it the nickname 'ice tail'. The double coat consists of an outer layer of coarse smooth hair and an inner layer of woolly warm hair, a trait unusual for a horse. The Exmoor is exceptionally strong for its size, and is used for carrying farmers tending livestock or hunting as well as for recreational riding. This pony is prized as breeding stock that will contribute its solid physical traits to other breeds. Although this pony is a breed, not a species, those Exmoors still in their native habitat have been placed on the World Wildlife Fund List of Seriously Endangered Species.

Darmoore Pony - Exmoor Pony - Fjord -Hackney - Highland Pony - Icelandic Pony

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