EXMOOR pony Barney, who lives at the Exmoor Pony Centre, helped with the celebrations when both he and the pony centre celebrated their tenth birthdays.

The Moorland Mousie Trust, a charity set up to promote and protect the Exmoor pony – a British rare breed – owns the pony centre.

The charity has helped more than 500 Exmoor ponies find happy futures when they might otherwise have had no future at all.

The pony centre, near Dulverton, is open throughout the summer – closed Tuesday and Saturday – to welcome visitors and offer hands-on interaction with the Exmoor ponies.

Barney arrived as a six-month-old unwanted foal in late 2006 when the centre opened. Trustee Juliet Rogers said: “I can’t believe we have been open ten years – the time has flown by and Barney is now a grown up pony.

“The ponies we help go on to lead lives as conservation grazers, family companions or, in Barney’s case, they become ridden ponies.”

Manager Linzi Green was on hand at the birthday bash to ensure everyone had a great time despite the damp weather.

Plenty of smiles could be seen on people’s faces with pony rides, grooming, craft activities and lots of cake – and the ponies loved the attention.

Linzi said: “We are so excited looking forward to another ten years. These activity days are so vital for our fundraising as the last 24 months have been a real struggle. We hope very much we will get the support to keep going.”

She added: “We have such a wonderful group of volunteers who help us look after the ponies and put on these events – it really is down to them that we are still here.”

The pony centre is hosting further activity afternoons on Thursdays throughout August and Barney and his four-legged pals will be on hand to say ‘hello’. The ponies, staff and volunteers at the pony centre love receiving visitors and members of the public are welcome to visit and find out more about this very special native breed of pony and the charity’s work – all riding bookings must be made in advance.

Exmoor Pony Centre is in the heart of Exmoor National Park just off Winsford Hill and about four miles outside Dulverton. Full directions can be found on its website, www.exmoorponycentre.

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For more information on the work of The Moorland Mousie Trust, the ponies or its events phone 01398 323093 or visit its website or Facebook page.