20/09/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KNfJAuFvX/?mibextid=wwXIfr
ANCHOR GATHERING INFORMATION
Hi everyone, we’ve had quite a few questions regarding our annual gathering so we thought we’d put together a quick information post for you all.
Anchor Exmoor Ponies :-
The Anchor herd was established approximately a century ago by Frank Green, since then the herd has been gathered on an annual basis in the autumn (bar the years we were at war, ww1 and ww2) for herd management and maintenance.
We have around 100 ponies in the herd consisting of mares, foals and stallions that graze our farm at Ashwick and 4 allotments on the moor, Varle Hill, Ashwayside, Winsford Hill and South Hill.
We graze the majority of our broodmares on Varle Hill and Ashway side for safety as the moor is slightly elevated from the road and traffic is slower especially during the winter.
We have an older retired group who live on South Hill, they do an excellent job teaching a small group of younger mares about hill life and how to navigate the moor and the road. We occasionally let 2-3 experienced broodmares foal on South Hill too.
Our show mares,very rare lines and anything too tame to live on the hill, graze on the farm and the rest of the herd live on Winsford Hill in a few smaller groups.
We will also occasionally let some experienced mares foal on Winsford Hill especially if that is where they have lived for the majority of their lives.
Gathering:
The main gather starts at Comers Gate on Winsford Hill which is renowned for its bronze aged burial grounds, iron age banks and ditches and its wambarrows.
+Riders of ponies, horses and quad bikes will spread out in a line across the moor on each side of the road and push the ponies towards the next location.
+All riders will wear HI Viz gilets ,be capable of riding cross country and have a helper in case of difficulties
+ The ponies may cross the road at various points so it is important to be aware of what is happening around you.
+As the ponies cross the moor towards Spire Cross they will pass the Trigg point .
This historically the highest point on the moor and the Punchbowl which is thought to be the only glacier in the south west of England during the ice age.
+We ask that visitors do not drive or stand at the Trigg point as it is the most efficient route for the ponies to take and we do not want them headed off/frightened by people ,
+As the ponies cross the road at Spire cross they will pass the Caractacus stone which is of pagan origin and features in the 1086 Doomsday book.
+The ponies will then run uphill towards Draydon Knapp, a moorland plateau with excellent panoramic views.
We ask that visitors do not drive or stand at this point during the gathering as it is the most efficient route for the ponies to take.
+They will then head downhill towards South Hill where there will be 2 gates open for them to go through. Once all ponies have gone onto South Hill we will all take a short break to regroup at Mounsey hill gate before the bikes and horses go out onto South Hill to bring the ponies back onto the farm.
+Once the ponies are in the farm fields the bikes and riders will slowly push them down the road back to the farm and into our pony pens.
+Anyone wishing to take photos please make yourselves known so we can help direct you to a good vantage point.
Car followers DO NOT block the road for normal traffic but travel slowly and be very aware of what is happening around you at all times.
Herd management and maintenance:
Once the ponies are all settled in the pens we have a short break with refreshments.
At this point riders tend to head home and we start to sort the ponies.
The ponies will come through the race individually where they have their microchips read and matched to their names and a brief health check including ears, eyes, hoofs and body condition.
We also take this opportunity to remove any burrs or brambles they may have in their manes and tails.
The ponies are then given a coloured mark to indicate where they will be for the next 12 months. We use sheep marker for this and it is totally safe for the ponies and usually washes away in the rain after a few weeks.
Any mares that should have foals at foot get matched to their foal and then weaned.
The foals stay in a barn on the farm for light handling and inspection before heading off to their new homes or back to the hill.
Please do get in touch if you have any questions or would like to see the herd come in for their annual checks .
007785 978616 See less
This year the main gather is Monday October 19th 2026
