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Dartmoor Pony |
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Dartmoor Pony |
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Information from the Dartmoor Pony Association of America
The Dartmoor Pony originates from the ancient moor from which it gets its name, in the county of Devon, Southeast England. The bleak and often treacherous conditions of this area are responsible for producing the tough, hardy, surefooted little pony.
In 1898, the Polo Pony Society set up the Local Committees to produce descriptions of each native breed. Apart from the heights, the original description is almost identical to the present Breed Standard. Five stallions and 72 mares were inspected into the first Stud Book by the Local Committee. The height limits then were 14 hands for stallions and 13.2 hands for mares, but very few ponies came near to them.
Less than 20 years after this start, the breed was hit very hard by the First World War. About this time, too, the Duchy Stud, owned by the Prince of Wales, began buying many Dartmoor ponies to use n a breeding program aimed at producing an all around saddle horse. One stallion used with success was a desert bred Arab--Dwarka, a bay with a real pony head.
The Registry continued on through good times and bad times and now the breed is in a very healthy state with Dartmoors taking part and winning in all kinds of competitions from carriage driving to jumping, working hunter, gymkhana, ridden and in hand (halter) classes.
Color: Bay, Brown, Black, Grey, Chestnut, Roan. Piebalds and Skewbalds are not allowed. White markings on the head and/or legs should be fairly small.
Head: Should be small, well set on and bloodlike with nostrils large and expanding and the eyes bright, mild, intelligent and prominent. The ears should be small, well-formed, alert, and neatly set. The throat and jaws should be fine and showing no signs of coarseness or throatiness.
Neck: Strong, but not too heavy and of medium length. Stallions have a moderate crest.
Shoulders: They should be well laid back and sloping, but not too fine at the withers.
Legs: Hind legs should be well let down with plenty of length from hip to hock, clean cut and with plenty of bone below the joint. They should not be sickled or cow-hocked. Forelegs should not be tied in any way at the elbows. The forearm should be muscular and the knee fairly large and flat on the front. The cannon should be short from the knee to the fetlock with ample good, flinty flat bone. The pasterns should be sloping but not too long. The feet should be sound, tough and well-shaped.
General: The mane and tail should be full and flowing,
For more information on Dartmoor Ponies, visit:
Look for an update on this article.
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© 1997-2007
NW Breyer Horse Club & Refiner of Gold Creations Equinealities in place since 1997, Section in place 2001, Updated 3/13/2007 |
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