Meet Our Horses, Ponies & Foals on the Farm Park
From powerful working horses to hardy native ponies and much-loved foals, equines have worked alongside people for generations. Meet our Exmoor Ponies, admire the strength of the Suffolk Punch on our Rare Breed trail around the Farm Park.
Exmoor Ponies
Origin & History of Exmoor Ponies
Descended from ancient Celtic stock, the Exmoor pong remained isolated on Exmoor for thousands of years. It existed on the moor with little human interference, except for the annual round-up to check the animal’s welfare and brand the foals. In the last 200 years, changes such as enclosure of much of the moor, and spread of motor transport and crossbreeding of native ponies, has led to a decline in numbers. Now there are only about 140 Exmoor ponies still free-living on the moor.
They have a unique appearance
Exmoor ponies are compact, very hardy and strong animals, historically used for draft work and as packhorses.
They are considered one of the UK’s oldest native pony breeds and have developed physical characteristics to enable them to survive in the most extreme winters, living on a diet of moor grasses, rushes, heather and gorse.
Their foals provide a wonderful opportunity to see how young ponies learn from and remain close to their mothers.
Suffolk Punch Horse
Origin & History of Exmoor Ponies
The Suffolk Punch horses are the icons of the Suffolk landscape. They were largely used in farm work right up until the dawn of the Second World War – and were in fact integral in pulling guns and supplies around during the First World War.
Aside from being a rare breed, the sheer size and impressively calm nature of these horses makes them a popular choice at agricultural shows and farm events. The need for diversification is such that owners of these horses will often take them to events – with an increasing number of Suffolk Horses also being used for riding, hunting, and even competing.
Cotswold Horse Fun Rides
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Horse Riding in the Cotswolds - fun ride off-road course with optional jumps
Our Cotswold Horse Fun Rides start and finish at the Cotswold Farm Park, covering approximately 10 miles* of varied terrain across our farm estate with 50 jumps that suit all ages and abilities.
The events is ticketed to allow set start times and limit horse numbers, to ensure riders can take their time and are not crowded.
Tickets inclue a free tea, coffee or squash, a loyalty card and a special rosette for every rider. There is plenty of parking and the Ox Shed restuarant will also be open.
* There is a dedicated Novice Ride slot on the last day designed to support and build confidence for less experienced horse-riders. There is also an optional shortcut that reduces the course to about 7 miles, all jumps are optional
FAQs
- Why were horses so important before cars and machines? Before tractors and modern machinery, horses and ponies provided much of the power needed to work the land, move goods and transport people.
- Are Exmoor Ponies endangered ? The Exmoor Pony and the Suffolk Punch Horse appear on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist. Supporting responsible breeding and giving the public opportunities to meet these animals helps maintain interest in their survival.
- What horses can I see at the Farm Park? We have Exmoor Ponies and a Sufolk Punch on the Farm Park but not all will always be on display as we move them around and in colder months will house them indoors. Please contact us to check which ones are available to see if you are hoping to see a specific breed.
Stay with us
With an array of accommodation options, from luxurious lodges to glamping safari tents, camping pods, and traditional touring and camping, guests are invited to escape, unwind, and make lasting memories in the heart of the Cotswolds.
Seasonal Events
On the Farm Park we run seasonal events including Pumpkin picking, Festive events where you can meet Santa and animal themed weekends, regular events like guided dog walking and fun horse-riding events.
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