Dartmoor pony

Overview

The Dartmoor is the native pony of Devon, in the south-west of England. Its breed society describes it as "a very good looking riding pony, sturdily built yet with quality, like a scaled down middleweight hunter".

There are many ponies living on Dartmoor, of all sizes and colours and mostly of unknown breeding. The breed described here is the registered Dartmoor pony, whose breeding is recorded by the Dartmoor Pony Society. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust lists the free-living Dartmoor Hill Pony separately.

History

Ponies have been recorded living on the moors of Dartmoor since the Middle Ages. They are hardy, able to survive harsh weather, poor grazing and rough terrain. Farmers used them for small-scale farming: pulling carts, carrying packs and riding. They were often semi-feral, managed on the moor with little human intervention.

Breed standard

• Height: not exceeding 127 cm (12.2 hh).
• Colour: bay, brown, black, grey, chestnut or roan. Piebalds, skewbalds and spotted ponies are not allowed. Some white is acceptable, but excessive white markings are discouraged.
• Head: small and bloodlike, reasonably short from eye to muzzle, with small, alert ears and fairly large eyes giving a kindly, interested expression. Well set on a good neck of medium length.
• Body: of medium length and strong, well ribbed up, with good depth of girth and plenty of heart room. Loins and hindquarters strong and well muscled, with the tail well set up.
• Limbs: short cannons with ample flat bone, sloping pasterns, and hard, well-shaped feet. Hocks well let down, with plenty of length from hip to hock and plenty of bone below, and neither sickle-hocked nor cow-hocked.
• Movement: low and straight from the shoulder, with good hock action but without exaggeration.

Temperament and uses

The breed society describes the Dartmoor's temperament as exceptional, and says breeders have long valued them as children's ponies and companions that can also compete successfully at every level. Registered Dartmoors are the ponies seen in breed classes at county shows, and at the top shows for which those classes qualify. As with any breed, individual ponies vary.

Health and management

Native ponies evolved to live on sparse grazing. Research at the Royal Veterinary College notes that ponies tend to be more insulin resistant than horses, which makes them more prone to equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). This trait is genetic, probably an adaptation to harsh environments, and on richer grazing it leads to obesity, EMS and a higher risk of laminitis. World Horse Welfare names obesity as the biggest risk factor for EMS, and says insulin testing is a valuable way to assess the risk of laminitis and EMS in native breeds. Keep an eye on weight and body condition, and ask your vet about testing.

Conservation

The registered Dartmoor pony is listed as At Risk on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust's Watchlist.