Stowford Riding Centre have a number of well schooled horses and ponies available for riding lessons and trekking.

Apache

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Hello my name is Apache. I was born in 2009 and arrived on the same day as paddy in 2011. I am an Exmoor pony and can be quite nervous but I am settling in now. I am very good friends with paddy as we both arrived on the same day so your often see me stood with him in the field. As I am young I don’t understand a lot of things but I do try really hard to give it my best. One of my favourite things to do is fall asleep in the sunshine. [Null]

Bonnie

17hh, Shire Horse, Mare

I am a 17hh Shire Horse mare, I was born in 1990 and have been used as a brood mare before I came to Stowford. I arrived at Stowford in 2004 and have settled in very well. I am known as the gentle giant and I can take anybody out riding. My best friend is Cairo; you can often see us together grazing in the field. Cairo came to Stowford at the same time as I did so we made friends very quickly. Because I am so big I need a lot of attention from yard staff and when I have my feet done it can cost up to £100 where as the other ponies will be a lot cheaper. Next time you come and see me ask if you can have a look at my feet to see how big they are.

Cairo

15hh, Chestnut Cob, Gelding

I am a 15hh Chestnut Cob gelding. I was born in 2000 and arrived at Stowford in 2004 so I have been here for a while and have settled in very well. My best friend is Bonnie, we often play in the field together. My favourite thing to eat is carrots because they are a similar colour to me. I like making new friends and a way of me showing you this is if I lick you. If you hold your hand out flat under my mouth you may be lucky that I may give you a lick. Don’t try this on ponies that you don’t know though because there not all as friendly as me.

Flora

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Hello my name is flora. I am a rare breed known as an Exmoor Pony. I am a new arrival to Stowford farm meadows and arrived just a few days after my other Exmoor friends, Apache and Paddy. I was born in 2010 and arrived at Stowford in 2011 making me a bit of a baby. Because I am so young I am not yet a ridding pony although I do like to be fussed over and given lots of attention. I am a very keen friendly pony and although new things can scare me I do try really hard to be brave.

May

14.3hh, Grey, Mare

I am a grey 14.2hh Arab Cross mare. I’m the grandmother of the horses as I am the oldest. I was born in 1971 and probably the same age as some of the parents. I have been working here at Stowford for the last 13 years and will be going into retirement soon. I only get used for small children now because I am old, but I still enjoy working with my friends. My best friends out of the bunch are Sox and Tango. Sox and I don’t get on very well when we’re working because she’s a bit bossy, so I stay out of her way; but you can always find us in the field together when we’re not working. The yard staff can trust me 100% not to wander off, which is why you can see me in the sandpit with the others and I won’t be tied up. I’m often allowed to stand in the yard when the others are in their stables, on nice days. I love being rubbed behind the ears, so, if you come and see me you can give me a little tickle; but make sure I’m awake because I am my be napping and I don’t want you to startle me.

Milly

13.1hh, Fell, Mare

I am a 13.1hh Brown Fell pony and was born in 2002. Like Bonnie and Cairo I came to Stowford in 2004 and I have settled in very well. My best friend in the field is Tango and we like to graze side by side. I am a very good little pony and because of my size only get used for children and lead rein rides. I can be quite lazy and you may notice that when I am in the sandpit I am lying down. Like Ziggy, I can be a bit of a fidget in my stable so don’t be offended if I don’t say hello.

Paddy

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Hello my name is paddy I am another Exmoor pony. I was born in 2007 and arrived at Stowford in 2011. I arrived on the same day as Apache so we have become very good friends you can often see us close together in the field. I am the eldest of the Exmoor ponies here and so I am starting to do some work. I am a very relaxed and laid back pony although I do wake up when it comes to dinner time.

Ringo

15.2hh, Dale, Gelding

I am a 15.2hh Black Dales pony and was born in 1981. My breed, like Ziggy, originates from the North of England. I am the escort pony and get used at the front of the ride to show the other ponies where to go. My best friend is Sunny who I share a stable with. You can also see us in the field together in the evenings.

Rocky

11.2hh, Shetland Cross, Gelding

I am an 11.2hh Skewbald Cross gelding. I was born in 1986 and I’m the shortest here at Stowford. I have been working here for the last 16 years and really enjoy it. I only get used for paddock rides for small children because I’m so little and if I were to go on the longer rides my legs wouldn’t be able to keep up. My best friend is steel who I spend a lot of time with. You usually find us in the evenings eating hay in the stable grounds. I like to keep her company because she is on a healthy eating plan, plus I’m not allowed to eat too much grass as it makes my feet sore. If you come and see me in my stable take a look at my door because like, Steel’s and Milly’s, mine is shorter than the others. If I were to have a normal size door I wouldn’t be able to see anybody. If you ask one of the yard staff I’m sure they would let you into my stable to stroke me because I like being stroke.

Sox

14.1hh, Chestnut Anglo Arab, Mare

I am a 14.2 Chestnut Arab Cross mare and I was born in 1990. I have been working here at Stowford for the last 9 years. My best friend here is May who you can often see me grazing in the field with, however, we don’t get along very much when we’re working, she says I’m bossy, which I am a little. So if you come and see me in my stable make sure one of the yard staff are nearby just in case I got out of the wrong side of the bed. I’m a very capable little pony and can take almost anyone out for a ride. I am very responsive and anything that you ask me to do I will do first time. The only thing I don’t like is rain and will turn my bottom to whatever direction the rain is coming from and eat the grass, doing this protects my head against the rain.

Steel

13.1hh, Blue Roan, Mare

I am a 13.2hh Blue Roam, Native Cross mare. I was born here at Stowford in 1994 one week after Ziggy. My mother is Tango who I share a stable with. I mainly get used for little children as I am only little myself. I am a good lead rein pony, but can be quite cheeky and try to eat the grass which I’m not allowed. My best friend is Ziggy who you can see me playing with in the field when I’m allowed to go out. I’m a little overweight you see, so the yard staff are keeping me on a healthy eating plan. This is why you can usually see me in the evenings eating hay, with Rocky, in the stable grounds. If you come up to see me please don’t give me any tit bits. During the daytime I’m stood in my stable, next time you come up to see me have a look at my door and you will notice that it is slightly shorter than the rest, this allows me to be able to put my head over the door and see people.

Sun Dance

15hh, Welsh Cob, Gelding

My full name is Sun Dance, but as a nickname people call me Sunny. I am a 15hh Bay, Welsh Cob, gelding. I was born in 1986 and have been working at Stowford for many years now. I mainly take adults riding because of my size but occasionally I take children. I share a stable with Ringo who is my best friend and you can always find us side by side grazing in the field. I am a very responsive riding pony and will do anything that you ask me. My only bad habit is that I like to try and have a cheeky nibble at the grass when I’m not supposed to. If I do this when your riding me you need to be really firm with my reins , pull my head up and give me a good kick to me no and I should carry on walking with the others.

Tango

13.3hh, Strawberry Roan, Mare

I am a 14.1hh Strawberry Roam, Native Cross mare and I was born in 1986. I have been working at Stowford for the last 14 years and share a stable with my daughter, Steel, who was born here. I mainly get used for children and teenagers because I’m quite small. My name is Tango, after the drink, because of my colour. I’m a good little pony but, like my daughter, I can be quite cheeky and try to nibble the grass when I’m not supposed to. Like Ziggy, in the summer months you can often find my mane plaited; this is because it keeps me cooler and it keeps my hair out of my eyes. My best friend is May who comes and stands outside my stable when it’s nice. If you come to see me in my stable look at my door and it’s slightly shorter than the rest, this is so I can see people.

Ziggy

13.3hh, Fell, Mare

I am a Black Fell pony mare. I stand at 14hh. My breed originates from the North of England. I was born here at Stowford in 1994 and my mother was called Marley. My best friend is Steel who was also born here at Stowford one week after I was. You can often find us in the field together, when she’s allowed out; she’s on a diet you see. When I’m working I get used for all sorts of people as I’m quite a stocky little pony. When the weather is warm you will notice that notice that one of the girls has plaited my mane, this helps me to keep cool and also keeps it out of my eyes. I am quite a fidgety little pony when I’m in my stable so don’t be offended if you come and see me and I won’t stand still.