WELCOME TO THE DARTMOOR PONY HERITAGE TRUST
Moorland ponies are an integral part of the Dartmoor landscape. In addition to drawing in visitors, they play a vital role in grazing the moor and maintaining its character. But in recent years, their numbers have been in decline.
The Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust (Registered Charity No. 1109196) was established in 2005 in response to widespread concern about the viability and long-term survival of the traditional Dartmoor pony. We are based at Bovey Tracey, Dartmoor where we operate a purpose-built, all-weather visitor and education centre.
Our mission statement and aims
Latest news
Get fit, lose weight, enhance the environment!
We are planning a number of working parties at Bellever over the winter months and need plenty of helpers. There will be a number of different jobs to do, including spruce tree removal, raking vegetation away from the Bronze Age remains and making pathways. [Read more]
January Pony Update
May we all at Parke wish you each a very happy and peaceful New Year. The ponies are all in fighting form and are in good condition. Some say too good, but I am sure the weather will test them at some point in the near future. [Read more]
Christmas Meet The Pony Event
Come and enjoy some time with the ponies on the 27th December between 11.00 - 13.00 Learn about the ponies we keep at the centre and on the moor. Spend time with your adopted pony and the people who look after them. Hot drinks, mince pies and carrots! Booking essential - 01626 833234. Happy Christmas!! [Read more]
Horsey Volunteers Needed!
DPHT has a growing band of committed, fun and welcoming volunteers, but we always need more! Can you spare a few hours a week to join our Pony Power team? [Read more]
Buy a Pony for Christmas for £20!
A Dartmoor Pony Adoption Gift Pack makes the perfect present. If someone in your family or amongst your friends - young or old - loves horses and ponies, but buying a real one is simply not an option, we have the perfect solution: ADOPT A PONY - and follow its progress all year round. [Read more]
Centre Winter Opening Times - 2011/2012
Now winter is upon us we will run our popular Meet The Pony sessions on a monthly basis weather permitting: If you are making a specific visit please phone the centre to let us know you will be visiting - 01626 833234 - Thank you. [Read more]
A NEW SOLUTION TO AVOID CULLING DARTMOOR FOALS
Over-breeding on Dartmoor...a potential solution that is practical, immediately effective, reasonably priced, minimises handling of feral ponies, causes least disruption to herd life and is proven to work? DPHT is actively working on sensible solutions to the problem of too many foals but we need funds to support this work. Please help us to make a difference and make it soon! [Read more]
October Pony Update
The ponies are all back into the schedules for the school work that they take part in and are enjoying having something to do with the children. They are amazingly gentle with the less able youngsters who come to the centre, they seem to sense when extra care is needed around these special little visitors. [Read more]
CONSTRUCTIVE DESTRUCTION - How you can help!
The DPHT are holding a number of conservation work parties at Bellever over the coming winter months and are looking for volunteers to get involved. There will be a number of different jobs taking place including Fir Tree removal, clearance of vegetation from Bronze Age remains and path cutting. [Read more]
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS & NEW TREASURER
To enable it to meet its aim to preserve the Dartmoor Pony in its native habitat on Dartmoor, the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, a registered charity based at the Parke Estate, Bovey Tracey, relies on the generosity of its supporters and the help of volunteers. We are urgently seeking a Treasurer to take on the day-to-day management of the Charity's accounts. This would involve a few hours a week, plus attendance at a monthly meeting, to record monies in and out and work with Trustees to budge [Read more]
Riding Pony With Super Temperament For Sale
Sage, a very quiet bay gelding has been backed and ridden on, though only 4 years old, he is "quiet as a lamb!" says owner Diana Alford. Sadly, with a fresh crop of foals due in we must sell him now, he is priced to be sold at just £400 ono. This pony deserves a really good family home. For more details please phone 01626 355314. [Read more]
September Pony Update by Andy Taylor
I am officially declaring summer to be over. The children are back at school, the conkers are falling from the trees and the ponies are beginning their winter coats. Having made that sweeping remark, the ponies have enjoyed their summer watching the work being done at the centre. [Read more]
Conservation work at Bellever this winter
We are planning a number of work parties at Bellever over the winter months and we need your help! There will be a number of different jobs to do, which include removing fir trees and raking vegetation away from the Bronze-Age archaeology. [Read more]
Pony walks to Bellever Tor
Skylark and Stonechat, Dartmoor Heritage ponies owned by Sue Parrott of Chagford, demonstrated their ability as pack ponies, before leading the way up on to Bellever Tor with members of the public, from Postbridge Car Park last Sunday. 'Despite wild weather, both ponies took it all in their stride, showing just how versatile and easy-going they are, adaptable to all sorts of roles, whether carrying packs or people, or as driving ponies or conservation grazing animals', said Dru Butterfield [Read more]
Bellever Day Performance 11 Sept 1-3pm
'Cauda Equina' - The Horse's Tale' is a celebration in theatre stories, myth and natural history through the ages of our native pony breed, the Dartmoor. Free performance and guided walk. [Read more]
August Pony Update by Andy Taylor
The weather has been kind in one way, drying up the fields, but bad in as much as the grass has not been growing. Never happy am I? The ponies have finished their scheduled work patterns with the last of the schools breaking up for the summer holidays. [Read more]
Bellever News August 2011
We have our full quota of Dartmoor Ponies on site, they are all growing well and are looking fit and strong. We recently brought the herd in for a mid summer health check and foot trim. [Read more]
Help us Celebrate Bellever Day on 11 September
Between 10am and 4pm on 11 September, Dartmoor National Park archaeologists are combining with DPHT, Bellever Youth Hostel and Local Performance Artist Rosalynd Maynard for a joint event to celebrate Bellever Day. [Read more]
Pony Events on Dartmoor
Celebrate 60 years of Dartmoor National Park by joining a guided walk to discover more about the Dartmoor Pony - the famous symbol of our National Park. [Read more]
July Pony Update by Andy Taylor, DPHT Trustee
This month began in hectic fashion with our first Dartmoor Pony sale at Parke. You will be able to read more about that in the newsletter. Our ponies were there and gave a demonstration of agility and control. [Read more]
Nick Baker at our showcase and sale
"DARTMOOR WITHOUT PONIES? LIKE A SHARK WITHOUT TEETH!" SAYS NATURALIST AND TV PRESENTER, NICK BAKER. Quoted during his visit to a recent Showcase and Sale organised by the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust at its new Information and Education Centre at Parke, Bovey Tracey in Devon, Nick Baker was adamant that the native Dartmoor pony, acknowledged as being on the 'At Risk' register of endangered native animals in the UK, must be preserved on the Moor. [Read more]
TV Presenter Nick Baker to open pony sale
Nick Baker, world famous Naturalist, TV Presenter and Journalist, will open and then join in the Dartmoor Pony Showcase Day and Private Sale, on Saturday 2nd July at the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust's new Centre at Parke (National Trust), Bovey Tracey. [Read more]
Pony Sale and Showcase Day 2nd July, 11am - 3pm
In partnership with some of Dartmoor's most respected Pony Keepers, the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust is organising a Showcase Day and Private Sale of 30 Dartmoor Ponies at Parke, Bovey Tracey [Read more]
June Update
We have had so little rain over the last month we can virtually count the drops. Subsequently we have very little grass left on the paddocks and we are feeding hay and oat straw. Even so, we are finding it difficult to control the weight of the ponies; but, we are being cruel to be kind. We do not want any of them with laminitis. [Read more]
Dartmoor Pony Sale & Showcase - Saturday 2nd July
The DPHT will host its second major event of the year at Parke Estate, Bovey Tracey. [Read more]
Super 2 year old fillies
The Easter break kept us all busy handling another bunch of two year old fillies. Wow, a great bunch came in, to say they were wild when they arrived was an understatement. [Read more]
April Pony Update
We are now recovering the fields from their winter abuse, they have been rolled and the grass is beginning to come back. The ponies are off hay now unless they are working in the yard and have slimmed down somewhat. Their winter coats are almost gone and their summer ones are starting to gleam. [Read more]
Colt Castrations
We are now half way through this seasons colt castrations. The DPHT assists and pays for a number of Dartmoor colts to be gelded every year. This relatively simple operation will help ensure these ponies have a long and useful life. Our sincere thanks go to Ully Arnold and his team at Moorgate Vets, Bovey Tracey, who provide their time for free. [Read more]
Grand Launch A Huge Success
On the 10th April at 12noon the DPHT officially opened its gates to visitors. Within 10 minutes of opening we had welcomed 100 visitors. A fantastic response from everyone interested in the iconic Dartmoor Pony. During the next 3 hours over 600 visitors came to see the new centre and its ponies - we have been astounded by the response and interest. [Read more]
February Pony Update
The ponies have, this month, had all types of weather thrown at them. We started off with freezing temperatures through torrential rain, fog, sunshine and then back to rain and fog. (Which someone else was supposed to have had). They have come through it all with just one minor setback. [Read more]
January Pony Update
Happy New Year to you all, there is a real buzz within the DPHT, our ponies are all fit and well, our fantastic team of volunteers has grown and are all gelling beautifully. We were inundated with messages of support for the work we carry out to preserve the Dartmoor Pony during the recent spate of very sad publicity regarding the culling of ponies on Dartmoor. We can assure you that we work with an incredibly committed group of Dartmoor Pony Keepers who are as upset about the current situation [Read more]
BELLEVER PONY POWER PROJECTS
From November through to the end of February, local Charity the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, created to preserve the traditional type of Dartmoor pony, is running a series of volunteer events. [Read more]
PARKE OPENING VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT
Volunteers needed to help at the new Dartmoor Pony Visitor Centre! [Read more]
SEPTEMBER 2010 UPDATE
Ian, the foot trimmer, has been to see the ponies and all of them have had their hooves trimmed ready for the winter. They all behaved very well and Charlie has decided that he does not need to lie down any more to have his feet trimmed, which is helpful. [Read more]
DPHT STATEMENT TO THE BBC
Regarding rumours of a pony cull this autumn. [Read more]
REG GROUP PONY KEEPERS MEETING
How to reduce the number of foals produced on Dartmoor. [Read more]
We urgently need your support to continue our work. Please donate via this link, which takes you to the secure Charity Choice donation service. Donations can also be sent to DPHT, PO Box 397, Newton Abbot TQ12 9AT.
Dartmoor Ponies for Sale
where to find us
Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust
Parke Estate, Bovey Tracey, Devon TQ13 9JQ
Winter opening times:
12 and 19 February 1.00–3.30pm
'Meet Your Pony' day. All those who received a pony adoption for Christmas especially welcome. Call us on 01626 833234.
Watch this video which provides an update on the Plight of the Dartmoor Pony documentary recently shown on Horse and Country TV.
Visit our group page on Facebook (search for Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust)
