Obituaries
Mr Peter Dean
10/07/1930 - 04/03/2018
Taken from pages 16 and 17 of the Sprint 2018 edition of "The Exmoor Pony Society Newsletter".
Some of my earliest memories involve the ponies and they have certainly been around me all my life. My parents, Peter and Susan, were very lucky to start Herd 14 in the 1950s with foundation mares chosen by Sidney Westcott and his 2 stallions - the legendary Heather Man and his son Hawkridge Man. I remember Heather Man being requested to attend a stallion parade of native ponies (possibly organised by the NPS) at Northallerton where he was given a standing ovation and as, old as he was, he responded by showing himself off magnificently with poor Peter having to keep running until he was quite out of breath.
Our summers were taken up with showing and as children, my sister, brother and myself lived as wild urchins in the lorry/tent/loose boxes as required, occasionally being "cleaned up" long enough to show whichever pony was needed in the class. Our family holiday was taken for the first 2 weeks of August on Exmoor at a number of different venues mostly in a small marquee but also in a cottage and once in a bed and breakfast! Exford Show was the big event of those holidays. The kindness of people is still in my mind, especially on wet show days when we would he offered shelter and food, with our ponies (often up to 8 or 9, including brood mares with foal at foot., young colts and yearlings as well as our ridden ponies) tied up to the hedge. Day long rides across Exmoor also featured, often with some of Linda Westcott's hirelings supplementing ours, bringing stories of bogs, adders, getting lost in the dark, swinging foot bridges as well as picnics, sunbathing in the heather and picking bilberries. Peter loved Exmoor and was always ambitious with his routes, usually with an out of date map!
At home, in Cumbria, Peter gradually became more involved with the Exmoor Pony Society and the National Pony Society and the British Horse Society serving on their Committees in many capacities over many decades. He became a well known and popular judge of breeding, ridden and working hunter classes all over the British Isles; he took up driving big time and competed a pair, to start with, then a team of Exmoors at FEI Driving competitions at the top venues - Windsor, Cirencester, Lowther, Scone - to name just 4. He always liked showing his ponies off and would talk and tell stories about them as long as anyone would listen. Herd 14 ponies went all over the world to Denmark, Germany, Canada, and America and he kept in touch with many of these contacts.
Up until the very last days of his life he would drive his trusty Landrover onto the fell at Talkin Head to check his precious herd. The ponies responded to the sound of his engine and would gather around to be given a few carrots or a little feed in the dark days of winter, this was as much to ensure he could get close enough to see each one as it was to provide nutrition..
Over 60 years of breeding, showing, riding, driving and promoting Exmoor ponies meant his knowledge was encyclopaedic and his views were widely sought and generously given along with an anecdote or two whether it was to the Dick Vet College staff and students, other breeders, enthusiasts or friends.
Harriet Sykes
Where does one start with Peter's involvement with Exmoor ponies and the breed society. The first pony registered to herd 14 was in 1959, foundation mares being of Anchor and herd 1 breeding. Peter and Mr Sidney Westcott becoming good friends. Over the next few years Peter bought ponies from long established moorland herds when their future was in doubt. He served for a good many years as a committee member often being chairman. Served as president in 1973 this showing his long term commitment and service to the society. Peter had strong views and was not reluctant to express them - I speak from experience. Never reluctant to discuss ponies with anyone interested and to help and encourage those new to the breed. He was one of those in the 1960s who fought for the survival of the Exmoor pony. On a personal note I have many happy memories of Peter. One being called to Hawkridge to haul his ailing lorry on to Exford for the breed show and then being expected to help in the erection of the ex army bell tent packed in the lorry with a full load of ponies and a young family. The journey from Cumbria to Exmoor at this time was quite an expedition. Peter had a unique sense of humour and at meetings could be controversial just to see the reaction. What can never be denied was his dedication and love of the breed. A man I greatly admired and respected. A true gentleman of the old school who will be sorely missed.
David Brewer