Has anyone ridden an Exmoor pony on a trek from the Moorland Mousie Trust?

[2ndtimearound]

I'm off on holiday to Somerset this autumn, and I plan on doing a trek on Exmoor whilst I'm there. I'm considering two riding options at the moment: Pine Lodge Stables or a trek from the Moorland Mousie Trust on an Exmoor. Have any of you ridden from the Moorland Mousie Trust? There are plenty of reviews on TripAdvisor for Pine Lodge (which sounds fab), but I can't see many reviews of treks from the MMT, only reviews of the kids' riding activities they do.

It's partly going to depend on whether the friend I'm on holiday with fancies coming riding with me (she's a complete beginner, but occasionally comes for a holiday ride with me), as if she does, it will have to be Pine Lodge as the MMT don't do mixed-ability rides, and unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to get away with doing both! It's more likely she won't want to ride, but it could go either way.

 

[seriously festive equine]

I went on hols on exmoor last summer. Had a great time at Brendon Manor Stables. Highly recommended!

Brendon Manor: Horse Riding - Escorted Horse Trekking on Exmoor, Devon

Horse Riding on Exmoor at Brendon Manor! Escorted Treks on Exmoor National Park. Just 10 minutes from Lynton (Devon) and 30 minutes from Minehead.

www.brendonmanor.com

 

[2ndtimearound]

I went on hols on exmoor last summer. Had a great time at Brendon Manor Stables. Highly recommended!

Brendon Manor: Horse Riding - Escorted Horse Trekking on Exmoor, Devon

Horse Riding on Exmoor at Brendon Manor! Escorted Treks on Exmoor National Park. Just 10 minutes from Lynton (Devon) and 30 minutes from Minehead.

www.brendonmanor.com

Thanks. They were initially on my list too, but they're slightly further from where we're staying, and in case my friend doesn't want to ride, although she's happy for me to ride without her, I'd want to minimise the time it will take if she doesn't come with me!

 

[JackFrost]

I had a fab ride out from Moorland Mousie, on a lovely sensible mare called Periwinkle. I only did an hour trek, but if I was back in the area I would definitely do a longer one. There was only me on the ride + the leader, she was lovely too, and I felt very well looked after and she was really interesting to talk to about the work of the trust. Also, by riding there you will be supporting the work of the trust.

Edited to add - the ride I did was personalized for me (as I happened to be the only person there). If your friend does want to go, I think I'd ask MM about doing a ride for the two of you. They seemed very flexible, and the leader I was with did say that if I came again, just to tell them what I'd like to do.

 

[little_critter]

I went to Moorland Mousie years ago. Again, I was the only rider with 2 guides. They seemed pretty flexible.

 

[2ndtimearound]

I had a fab ride out from Moorland Mousie, on a lovely sensible mare called Periwinkle. I only did an hour trek, but if I was back in the area I would definitely do a longer one. There was only me on the ride + the leader, she was lovely too, and I felt very well looked after and she was really interesting to talk to about the work of the trust. Also, by riding there you will be supporting the work of the trust.

Edited to add - the ride I did was personalized for me (as I happened to be the only person there). If your friend does want to go, I think I'd ask MM about doing a ride for the two of you. They seemed very flexible, and the leader I was with did say that if I came again, just to tell them what I'd like to do.

Thanks for this. That sounds really positive! I'll probably drop them an email at some point in the next couple of weeks to find out more anyway (including the price, as that's not given on the website). I want to visit them anyway even if I don't ride there, so it would kill two birds with one stone...

 

[sky1000]

I have ridden with both, although mmt was much longer ago, and thought they were both good. I agree that personalised rides are the way to go.

 

[Fransurrey]

Haven't ridden with either, but I am unashamedly biased towards Exmoors. My horse of a lifetime was an Exmoor and I still miss him terribly. They are so much fun!

 

[2ndtimearound]

Haven't ridden with either, but I am unashamedly biased towards Exmoors. My horse of a lifetime was an Exmoor and I still miss him terribly. They are so much fun!

Thanks, and I agree that they look great fun. My only experience of the breed is from reading about Dave's exploits on here and the pony at the trekking centre where I ride that I believe is at least part Exmoor from the way she looks, though she's way too small for me to ride at only about 11.2, but has all the character of a much bigger horse (and her best friend is 18.2!).

 

[SantaVera]

Sounds great hope you enjoy.

 

[2ndtimearound]

Well, things didn’t go quite according to plan, as the Moreland Mousie Trust weren’t open on either of the days I could ride on my holiday, so I ended up doing a trek from Pine Lodge Stables instead. Had a fab two hours out on the lovely Erin in the forest along the River Barle, which was stunning. Definitely recommend them.

But I did still manage to see some Exmoors in the wild up near Dunkery Beacon later in the week.

 

[Sugarplum Furry]

Lovely! I used to live just down the track from Pine Lodge, the riding in that area is spectacular. It was the time I had my arab, we had some good hacking adventures up on the moors.

 

[2ndtimearound]

Lovely! I used to live just down the track from Pine Lodge, the riding in that area is spectacular. It was the time I had my arab, we had some good hacking adventures up on the moors.

I bet you did! An amazing part of the country for hacking. I’m not sure I’d cope with living somewhere with so many single track roads, though.

 

[Sugarplum Furry]

I bet you did! An amazing part of the country for hacking. I’m not sure I’d cope with living somewhere with so many single track roads, though.

Do you mean for riding or driving? Both are a bit of an experience!

 

[2ndtimearound]

Do you mean for riding or driving? Both are a bit of an experience!

Mostly driving, but I can imagine the riding would be interesting too. We did ride along some of the roads to get to the forest, but we didn’t come across any vehicles, fortunately.