Ponies have been a part of the British landscape for over 10,000 years and their remains have been found all over the country. The United kingdom is a tiny land of surprisingly diverse, but very old pony breeds.
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The first Dartmoor reference appeared in 1012 and much later this pony was instrumental to tin mines which used them to transporting product. This is perhaps where the Dartmoor Hill Ponies started to become a bit more diverse. Mine ponies needed to be small, so Shetland blood was introduced to make the native ponies smaller. There isn’t a lot of information about the Hill Pony variety but they are said to be smaller than the true Dartmoor. As they are semi-wild and subject to worse nutrition, they aren’t as handsome as their larger cousins. <\/p>\n
In 1898 the National Pony Registry set up local committees in order to produce descriptions of all of the native breeds. Other than height, that description still fits the Dartmoor as we know it today. The Dartmoor Hill Pony Association was founded in 2005 to preserve their specific bloodlines. <\/p>\n
Average height 10.2-11 hands<\/p>\n
Head is small with a broad forehead
\nEars are small and alert
\nNeck is average in length and strong but not heavy
\nShoulders are well sloped
\nBack is medium in length
\nHindquarters are well-muscled
\nTall is full and high set
\nLegs have are dense and flat
\nHooves are tough and well-shaped<\/p>\n
Most colors<\/a><\/p>\n Quiet and gentle disposition<\/p>\n Riding and pleasure pony *All links open in a new window<\/small>Temperament<\/h3>\n
Use<\/h3>\n
\nShow pony<\/p>\nHelpful Links<\/h3>\n
\nDartmoor Hill Pony Association<\/a><\/p>\nVideo<\/h3>\n