Exmoors & Dartmoors - ?

NiceNeverNaughty

NiceNeverNaughty

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Im interested in the differences between the 2 breeds and I know we have some experts on here :) I’ve looked at the breed standards for both but Id love to hear from people. One thing I read online said Dartoors are bigger than Exmoors but I thought the opposite was true. Has the bloodline mixed between the 2 over the years? How would you generally compare the two?
 
The Fuzzy Furry

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Very different breeds. If you have looked on line, you will see that the breed standard for Dartmoors is 12hh and the Exmoor recommended heights are 12.2 for mares and 12.3 for geldings, so I'm puzzled about your comment above.

No, the purebred bloodlines haven't been mixed, at least not in either of their respective stud books. I cannot think why anyone would want to crossbreed between them.

One is usually very suitable as a child's pony (Dartmoor) and the Exmoor is usually more suited for adults, though obviously both are as good as whatever training has been put in.
The Exmoor is much deeper in the girth and a good specimen will take an adults leg up easily and rides more like a 14/14.2 with short legs.
 
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Dartmoors, whilst good weight carriers and stocky are more kids ponies. Exmoors are twice as chunky and thick set as darties and are more suited to adults - they have more attitude - mostly in a good way. I've never ridden an exmoor though I have a.12.2hh brick outhouse of a darty and I wouldn't actually class him as a kids ride but that's due to something that happened in the past and not bred into him. Whilst both breeds jump well darties have more scope.

My 12.2hh Shilstone Rocks darty.

13483278_1719172558333914_8778549913479018839_o.jpg
 
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windand rain

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I think the problem is distinguishing between Dartmoor ponies who are a very rare and precious breed from the dartmoor hill ponies who are free ranging mixed breed ponies decending from a variety of cob, arab and shetland ponies loosed on the moor over history. they can be almost any pony size up to 14.2 or more. If you want the difference reference the breed societies and you will see what a big difference there is. A pure dartmoor pony should be no more than 12.2 with little or no white on it you never get a coloured one and should closely resemble a middleweight hunter with a refined head and tiny ears good flat bone and neat rounded feet
exmoors have a different breed discription one thing I know is prized is the toad eye usually have a mealie muzzle and and I think but will not doubt be quickly corrected only come in various shades of bay
 
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There is a lot of confusion between true Dartmoor ponies and Dartmoor hill ponies which are crossbreeds of several types on Dartmoor. A friend told me she had bought a Dartmoor pony and when I saw the mare it was spotted! It was a hill pony but she had no idea there was a difference.
 
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Chinchilla

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EKW said:
Dartmoors, whilst good weight carriers and stocky are more kids ponies. Exmoors are twice as chunky and thick set as darties and are more suited to adults - they have more attitude - mostly in a good way. I've never ridden an exmoor though I have a.12.2hh brick outhouse of a darty and I wouldn't actually class him as a kids ride but that's due to something that happened in the past and not bred into him. Whilst both breeds jump well darties have more scope.

My 12.2hh Shilstone Rocks darty.

13483278_1719172558333914_8778549913479018839_o.jpg
Click to expand...

This an irrelevant comment (sorry OP) but what a pretty little pony! He's gorgeous!
 
Dave's Mam

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EKW said:
Dartmoors, whilst good weight carriers and stocky are more kids ponies. Exmoors are twice as chunky and thick set as darties and are more suited to adults - they have more attitude - mostly in a good way. I've never ridden an exmoor though I have a.12.2hh brick outhouse of a darty and I wouldn't actually class him as a kids ride but that's due to something that happened in the past and not bred into him. Whilst both breeds jump well darties have more scope.

My 12.2hh Shilstone Rocks darty.

13483278_1719172558333914_8778549913479018839_o.jpg
Click to expand...

And here is an Exmoor in a similar environment / photo. Also 12.2hh, but a different build.
14516389_10154708355334739_63122214063278303_n.jpg
 
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NiceNeverNaughty

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ahhh yes, i knew there were Dartmoor Hill Ponies but I have to admit, I still assumed there were herds of breed standard, pedigree bays/browns/blacks. i wonder if thats where the comment in the article i cited came from, that dartmoors were bigger. Dartmoor and Exmoor are geographically close together so surely there must have been some mixed blood at some point? A lot of Dartmoors have that ‘mealy muzzle’ as well. (mind you Ive seen it on highlands too!).
I did read on the hill pony society page that when the registered pony gene pool gets too narrow they select mares off the moor but they have to be ‘brown’ and of course the breed standard type; they are then bred for 4 generations to a registered stallion until the hill pony gene is replenished.
 
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NeverEver said:
ahhh yes, i knew there were Dartmoor Hill Ponies but I have to admit, I still assumed there were herds of breed standard, pedigree bays/browns/blacks. i wonder if thats where the comment in the article i cited came from, that dartmoors were bigger. Dartmoor and Exmoor are geographically close together so surely there must have been some mixed blood at some point? A lot of Dartmoors have that ‘mealy muzzle’ as well. (mind you Ive seen it on highlands too!).
I did read on the hill pony society page that when the registered pony gene pool gets too narrow they select mares off the moor but they have to be ‘brown’ and of course the breed standard type; they are then bred for 4 generations to a registered stallion until the hill pony gene is replenished.
Click to expand...

Pangare (mealy) is really common in pretty much all natives though because they have origins as wild animals and pangare basically lightens areas around the muzzle and belly/stifles, and white undersides are useful as camouflage. :)
 
jhoward

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NeverEver said:
ahhh yes, i knew there were Dartmoor Hill Ponies but I have to admit, I still assumed there were herds of breed standard, pedigree bays/browns/blacks. i wonder if thats where the comment in the article i cited came from, that dartmoors were bigger. Dartmoor and Exmoor are geographically close together so surely there must have been some mixed blood at some point? A lot of Dartmoors have that ‘mealy muzzle’ as well. (mind you Ive seen it on highlands too!).
I did read on the hill pony society page that when the registered pony gene pool gets too narrow they select mares off the moor but they have to be ‘brown’ and of course the breed standard type; they are then bred for 4 generations to a registered stallion until the hill pony gene is replenished.
Click to expand...

not close enough for th ponies to hop across the road for a quickie with each other!
 
The Fuzzy Furry

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Chinchilla said:
Pangare (mealy) is really common in pretty much all natives though because they have origins as wild animals and pangare basically lightens areas around the muzzle and belly/stifles, and white undersides are useful as camouflage. :)
Click to expand...

Agreed, there are a good number of New Forests that have mealy muzzles, some smaller ones have been mistaken for Exmoors on occasions :)

OP, my 1st post should have said 12,2 but I cannot go back and edit (posted while distracted in finishing dinner lol)
 
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i have had both, the darts we had seemed ideal second ponies i sure some are not so quiet but the ones we had were sensible and a lovely riding pony type, not too heavy on the front with nice heads.

the exmoors were real fun ponies go-ey, well balanced, easy to ride for me and i am 5`6 and 9 1/2stone, i very much liked riding them, they were naturally enjoyable without needing lots of training
 
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