dartmoor Hill Ponies

[Charlottespud]

well today is over at the last of the dartmoor hill pony drift sales, there were so many lovely ponies and so few buyers, i have brought loads home with me, to try and find them nice homes. must be mad but they have always turned into such brilliant ponies. Any ideas.

 

[Blue-bear]

i really wanted to go and prob would have come home with a lorry full but its just too far away

 

[jewel]

just out of interest do the stallions run the hills all year round

 

[Sessle]

I was gonna get one at our local sales, but couldn't persuade the parents

 

[Charlottespud]

yes the stallions do run on the moor all year, it is very difficult as they mak the mares stay in set areas so the moor is grazed evenly, by the different pony herds. If the stallions are not there the mares tend to run into big groups to were keep is better and then over graze it. i am working on many ideas to reduce number of foals but keep enough ponies grazing the moor to keep it as we know and love it.

 

[Charlottespud]

If you are interested i can find you a nice pony or two in need of a good home, and get them delivered for a small fee. if you want a lorry full i am sure that can be arranged, You can see what great ponies they become on
www.dartmoorhillpony.com.

 

[bugbee717]

i adore these ponies i have two of them one came from the sales last year and one from this years, they are the sweetest ponies ever. they are very quick learners and adore children.
charlotte we have spoke before, i think you was moving at the time (hope it went well). i always point people your way
please keep up the good work.

 

[Clodagh]

Couldn't the stallions has vasectomies? I understand that is possible. I know the moor is important to be maintained but surely not at such a cost.

 

[Charlottespud]

yup but when the mares keep coming into season, the stallion would keep trying and exhaust himself, they can also get quite nasty with mares who dont get into foal and finally, foals quite often get scours when mare in season which would result in messy tales and fly and finally probably maggots, but i am working on several projects, just all costs so much.
keep the ideas coming thank you for caring.

 

[Clodagh]

Get rid of the ponies and have sheep?

 

[jewel]

i think it's madness that the stallion are out all year. you will never manage to reduce the number being breed if they are left out.

 

[Wishful]

Ponies eat and trample gorse, sheep can't... Hence ponies being intrinsic to the maintenance of the moor. If the ponies weren't there, the only option would be the burning, and you can't burn the entire moor! Some of the commoners breed mini shetlands, and they sell pretty well though - it's more a problem of no one wanting nice bay colts.

I think that most of those that are sold are the colts rather than the mares, so there are a limited number of stallions out on the moor.