The Exmoor Horn show season got off to a terrific start this year when their stand at the Devon County Show won the gold award.  The stand, which features information about the hardy purebred Exmoor Horn animal as well as the extremely successful and prolific Exmoor Mule was produced with grant funding from the Exmoor Sustainable Development Fund.  There is information on the special qualities of Exmoor Horn Lamb and Mutton meat products and it provides a focus for those wishing to gain more information on the breed. 

In the show ring at Devon County (Judge Mr C T Ridd), championship prizes were awarded to Mr R F Clarke (Old Ram), Mr T Atkins (Yearling Ewe) and Mr M R Scott for his Ewe Lamb exhibit.  These winning ways continued when exhibiters moved on to a rather damp start at the Royal Bath & West Show, where Judge Mr P Huxtable was officiating.  Mr R F Clarke had a particularly good show winning the Group of Three, Old Ram, Yearling Ram classes and being awarded the Championship prize for Best Old Ram.  Mr R Scott took the Ram Lamb and Ewe Lamb classes and Mr T Atkins the Yearling Ewe class. 

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NSA South West

PRESS RELEASE

EXMOOR HORN SHEEP – FLEECES FOR FASHION

Exmoor Horn sheep fleeces are proving to be the ideal basic ingredient for spinners, weavers and knitters who are looking to meet a growing demand for high quality, natural woollen fashion items.

The Exmoor Horn sheep breed continued its winning ways at this year’s prestigious National Sheep Association event, held in Launceston last week.  Following success in the show classes at the Devon County and Royal Bath & West Shows, the breed had outstanding success in the quality fleece classes at the Cornish event.

Horn breeder and Exmoor farmer Richmond Harding (pictured on the show stand) virtually swept the board with his Exmoor Horn sheep fleece entries, demonstrating the true versatility of this upland breed.  

The Exmoor Horn has long been prized for the succulence and flavour of its naturally produced lamb and mutton.  There is now renewed interest in using the fine wool from this native Exmoor breed to produce quality woollen items and clothing.  

Visitors to the Exmoor Horn stand were able to see the wool in its natural state courtesy of a magnificent Horn ram from J R Richards & Sons who have farmed the breed, above Porlock, for generations.  There was also a demonstration of how a fleece, donated by Horn breeder David Bawden, had been spun into fine wool and used to produce wonderful quality knitted socks, hats and cushion covers and woven to produce a superb woollen blanket by Laura Gordon

Clark.

John Richards and his aptly named fiancée, Justine Woolley, enthralled children from local primary schools with fun and informative sessions on sheep keeping and wool production.  The children all went away with some strands of wool and a much greater understanding and appreciation of where their woolly jumpers come from.   

Ian Rigby, Project Manager and Marketing Consultant

Tel: 01598 741206