His story is told in best-selling Wild Pony Whispering, by Dawn Westcott, which offers captivating insights into the endangered Exmoor pony breed, and encourages kind and understanding methods of handling these incredibly intelligent native ponies. 

Monsieur Chapeau was around 4 months old when we rescued him in January 2014. He had been separated from his mother and was hiding in a steep coombe, where he had become severely malnourished and was suffering with pneumonia - during a period of relentless wet and cold weather. 

Monsieur Chapeau  made a brilliant recovery and is now living within a large herd of Exmoor ponies where he has made a special role for himself helping other Exmoor ponies in the Exmoor Pony Project.

DNA genomic testing in the USA has confirmed that Monsieur Chapeauis a purebred Exmoor pony and DNA parentage testing in the UK confirms the moorland Exmoor stallion, Tawbitts Lanzulot, is his father. However, the breed society's DNA database has failed to reveal his mother's identity. So Monsieur Chapeau cannot be registered as an Exmoor pony in the Exmoor Pony Stud Book. He has, however, passed the breed society physical inspection and he meets the breed standard for an Exmoor pony. But under the current system, he receives no recognition for this, and cannot be shown in any Exmoor pony breed showing classes run by the breed society - or within affiliated Mountain & Moorland showing classes. Because there is no upgrading system in the closed Exmoor pony stud book.

In short, despite being a beautiful quality Exmoor pony, he is 'invisible' in terms of official recognition. He has no status within the recognised Exmoor pony breed. 

In 2014, 2015 and 2016, Monsieur Chapeau stood Reserve Supreme Champion of the MEPBG/AH Saddles Exmoor Pony Championship Final at the MEPBG Exmoor Pony Show. In 2014 he stood Reserve Non-Pedigree Exmoor Pony Champion and in 2015 and 2016 he stood Champion Non-Pedigree Exmoor Pony, and Reserve Moorbred Champion. 

We hope the registration system will improve and evolve to enable purebred ponies to be embraced within the breed and receive their due recognition. 

In the meantime, Monsieur Chapeau is a much-loved and treasured ambassador for Exmoor ponies.

MC and his special friend, Farleywater Lady Stumpkin Pumpkin, made a trip to London late last year, to appear on ITV This Morning  They took it all in their stride and behaved impeccably. Once again - Monsieur Chapeau was a wonderful ambassador for the breed. 

Copies purchased through the Wild Pony Whispering website are signed by Dawn Westcott, and proceeds help to fund the Exmoor Pony Project.