Why we’re offering free Wills to our supporters
Nobody really wants to think about writing a Will. But if you love Exmoor ponies as much as we do, you’ll understand why planning for their future – as well as yours – matters.
We’ve partnered with Make a Will Online to offer you a completely free, solicitor-checked Will service. No catch, no pressure – we’re paying for it because we know many of our supporters have been meaning to sort out their Will but haven’t got round to it yet.
What you need to know about a Will
It’s pretty simple to create
The whole thing is done online. Answer some straightforward questions, and you’ll have a proper Will checked by real solicitors. You can do it in your pyjamas with a cup of tea, or sitting with family and friends after Sunday lunch. It takes about as long as watching an episode of Countryfile.
Your family comes first, of course. But once you’ve looked after them, you might want to think about leaving something – anything – to help Exmoor ponies. Even small gifts make a real difference.
Why legacy gifts matter to us
Here’s the thing: we’ve been protecting Exmoor ponies for over 100 years, but we can only keep going with help from people like you. These ponies – our oldest native breed – have survived ice ages, world wars, and countless challenges. But with only 500 breeding mares worldwide, they still need our protection.
How a legacy gift helps us
- Keep the stud book going for this important native breed.
- Support breeders and owners.
- Promote the breed to new generations.
- Fund welfare and education work.
Some people leave us £100. Some leave a percentage of their estate. One supporter even left us a beautiful painting of an Exmoor pony. Every single gift helps secure the breed’s future.
The tax bit (keep reading, it’s good news)
Gifts to charities are exempt from Inheritance Tax. This means more of your estate goes where you want it to go, rather than to the taxman. Your solicitor can explain this properly, but it’s worth knowing about. Here’s a link to the Government website with more details.
Already have a Will?
Things change. Maybe you’ve moved house, had grandchildren, or your circumstances are different now. You can use our free service to update your existing Will – just have your old one handy to refer to.
No pressure, honestly
We know some charities can be a bit pushy about legacies. That’s not us. Use the free Will service even if you don’t include a gift to the ponies. We’d rather you had a proper Will sorted out than no Will at all.
But if you do decide to remember the Exmoor ponies, you’ll be in good company. People who leave legacy gifts often tell us it’s because:
- They’ve loved seeing Exmoors on the moor.
- Their family had a special Exmoor pony.
- They want to preserve something truly British.
- They believe rare breeds matter.
As our Chairman David Wallace says: “It’s a legacy of love.”
Ready to sort that Will out?
Start your free Will here.
It can take as little as 20 minutes. You also get free updates for 28 days if you change your mind about anything. And if you want to keep it updated forever, it’s just £10 a year.
At the end of the day, this is about you doing something practical and thoughtful – for your family, and maybe for the ponies too.
P.S. If you do decide to leave a gift to the ponies in your Will, we’d love to know (though you don’t have to tell us). It helps us plan for the future, and we can make sure you’re kept up to date with how your future gift will help.