Dartmoor Pony

The Dartmoor Pony comes from the high, open moorland of Dartmoor in the south-west of England. It stands no more than 12.2 hands, and its compact, sturdy build goes with a quiet, even temperament. Gentle and good-natured, it has long been one of the most trusted children's riding ponies.

Generations on exposed moorland with sparse grazing produced a pony that is hardy, sure-footed and cheap to keep. For its size the Dartmoor has a smooth, low, free-flowing stride, which sits comfortably under a young or nervous rider. It is also intelligent and willing, so it answers well to careful, consistent handling.

Dartmoors today are used for children's riding, lead-rein and first-ridden classes, driving, and as foundation stock for larger riding ponies. A kind disposition and reliability under saddle remain the qualities the breed is known for.

Who it suits

The Dartmoor is a sensible option for a family wanting a steady first pony, for a riding school that teaches small children, and for an owner who wants a hardy native that does well on ordinary veld grazing and hay. It forgives beginner mistakes, and it has enough brain to keep a more experienced young rider interested. It needs daily handling and time out in a camp, but beyond that it asks for far less than a finer type of horse.

Ponies have lived on Dartmoor, the granite upland in Devon, England, for many centuries. Working ponies on the moor are recorded from the medieval period, when they carried tin from the local mines and did general farm and pack work. Open, exposed country and limited grazing favoured a small, tough, sure-footed animal that could get through a cold winter with hardly any shelter.

For most of its history the breed developed with very little planned management. Ponies grazed semi-wild on the common land of the moor, and local farmers ran stallions and mares together. That long stretch in a demanding environment fixed the hardiness, sound feet and easy keeping that still mark the breed.

Outside blood was brought in at times during the 19th and early 20th centuries, and crossbreeding for pit-pony work also affected the population. To protect the breed's identity a breed standard was drawn up, the Dartmoor was given its own section in the National Pony Society stud book in 1899, and a dedicated society followed in 1924.

Two World Wars and changes in how the moor was used cut numbers sharply, and by the middle of the 20th century the breed was scarce. Careful registration and the work of breeders built the population up again. The Dartmoor is still classed as a rare native breed, and registered ponies bred to the standard exist alongside the unregistered hill ponies that still graze the moor.

The Dartmoor is a compact, balanced pony that gives an impression of quality and strength without any coarseness. The head is small and refined, with a broad forehead, large kind eyes and small, alert ears. A neck of medium length runs into well-laid shoulders, which is where the breed's smooth, low action comes from. The body is deep and the back strong, set on short, flinty legs with dense bone and tough, well-shaped feet.

Coat and colours

The breed standard prefers solid dark colours, and bay, brown and black are the most typical. Grey, chestnut and roan also occur. Excessive white markings are discouraged, and piebald and skewbald patterns are not accepted for registration. In summer the coat is fine and close; in winter it grows long and weatherproof, a trait inherited from the moor. Through a South African winter, whether frosty Highveld nights or the wet Cape, the full mane and tail and the heavy seasonal coat shed rain and keep the cold out.

Temperament is the breed's strongest asset. The Dartmoor is gentle, calm and good-natured, with the steady disposition that a dependable child's pony needs. It keeps its head in new situations and is seldom flighty, which is why lead-rein and first-ridden riding is where so many of them work.

With its own family the breed is affectionate and tolerant, and it takes handling by small children in its stride. Strangers usually meet a settled, friendly pony rather than a wary one. The Dartmoor lives easily alongside other horses and ponies and adapts to herd life, a trait carried over from generations of group grazing on the moor.

It is also intelligent and quick to learn. Training is rewarding for that reason, but a Dartmoor will notice inconsistent handling and take advantage of it, so clear, fair routines work best.

Of the native breeds the Dartmoor is one of the easier ones to keep, but it still needs consistent daily care. Its weatherproof coat and hard feet often mean it can go without a rug or shoes, though the feet must still be trimmed and the skin checked regularly.

Grooming

• Brush a few times a week to lift dirt and loose hair; groom daily if the pony is in work
• Give the thick mane and tail extra attention so they do not knot
• Pick out the feet every day and check for thrush or stones
• Expect heavy shedding in spring as the winter coat comes out

Exercise

• Turn the pony out daily in a camp or paddock so it can move freely
• Give regular ridden or driven work matched to the pony's age and the rider's level
• Vary the work; a clever pony gets bored with the same routine
• Do not leave the pony stabled for long stretches without movement

Environment

The Dartmoor was made for open, exposed ground and copes well with cold and wet weather provided it has basic shelter: a windbreak of trees, a run-in shelter or a stable. It does not need a heated or heavily managed set-up. Whether the property is on the frosty Highveld, in the wet Western Cape winter or in the heat of the Lowveld, shade and shelter count for more than fancy facilities. Secure, well-maintained fencing is important because a small pony can slip through a weak spot in a camp fence.

Having evolved on poor moorland grazing, the Dartmoor gets a lot out of modest forage and is what horse people call a good doer. Grass and good-quality hay (teff or Eragrostis suit a pony like this well) should make up the bulk of the diet rather than concentrates. Most leisure ponies need little or no hard feed, and high-energy or high-sugar feeds bring weight gain and metabolic trouble. Constant access to clean water and a salt or mineral lick rounds off the basic diet.

Treats and supplements

A bit of carrot or apple now and then is fine as a treat. A general vitamin and mineral balancer helps where grazing alone falls short, particularly for growing or senior ponies. Match any supplement to the rest of the diet, and phase in major changes gradually to protect the gut.

The Dartmoor is a robust native with few breed-specific disorders, and many live 25 to 30 years in good health. Most of the problems the breed does run into are management-related and tied to its efficient metabolism, so weight control is the single most important health job for the owner. Routine vet, dental and farrier care keeps most ponies sound well into old age. In South Africa, protection against African horse sickness, which is spread by Culicoides midges, is part of the standard annual routine for every horse and pony, and the Dartmoor is no exception.

Preventive care

• Annual vet check and the core vaccinations, including African horse sickness
• Dental examination at least once a year, more often for an older pony
• Regular farrier visits to trim and balance the feet
• A targeted deworming programme backed by faecal egg counts
• Body condition scoring right through the year to pick up weight gain early

The Dartmoor's intelligence and steady nature make it a straightforward pony to train. It learns fast and remembers its lessons, and its calm temperament means it takes new tasks without panic. That same intelligence means it will test a boundary that is not clear, so handlers get the best results from short, regular sessions with consistent expectations. Early, gentle handling of the foal lays the foundation for an easy adult pony.

Basics

1. Get the foal used to people, a headcollar and leading from an early age
2. Teach it to have its feet handled, to be groomed and to stand quietly for the farrier and the vet
3. Introduce voice cues and basic groundwork before any ridden or driven work
4. Back the pony or start long-reining at a suitable age, progressing slowly
5. Build ridden or driving skills in calm, repeatable steps suited to the rider

Dartmoor mares are good, attentive mothers, and the breed is known for easy foaling and tough, vigorous foals, the result of natural selection on the moor. Mares are capable of breeding at a few years of age, though responsible breeders wait until a mare is physically mature before her first foal. Mating is usually timed so that foals arrive in spring, when grazing and weather favour the youngster.

Gestation lasts about 11 months and almost always produces a single foal. Foals are usually on their feet and nursing soon after birth, and they grow steadily on the mare's milk and graded forage. Weaning generally happens at around six months. Because the breed is rare, registered breeding is managed to conserve correct type and keep genetic diversity up. To protect that type, foals from registered stock are recorded with the breed society.