Other Related Schemes & Charities

We are not the first charity or initiative to work to help Dartmoor Ponies and no doubt we will not be the last.  Some of these other schemes are listed here.

The Dartmoor Pony Moorland Scheme

Approved mares offered by Commoners are taken off the open Moor during the breeding season and placed in Newtakes (a stretch of moorland enclosed by a stone wall) with Registered stallions in order to help improve the quality of the Dartmoor Ponies on the Moor, and to widen the gene pool of the Registered ponies. This scheme is administrated by both the Duchy of Cornwall and The Dartmoor Pony Society who provide help by subsidising the scheme. It is also supported by the Dartmoor National Park. Since the scheme began in 1988 several hundred foals have been born and the first fully registered foal was entered into the main body of the stud book 1994.

Some colt foals have fulfilled one of the aims of the scheme by going back onto the open moor as working stallions and some of the fillies when shown, have won and been placed at the country shows.

The Dartmoor Pony Preservation Scheme

The Dartmoor Pony Preservation Scheme was established in 2004. The scheme was created to strengthen the gene pool of the indigenous Dartmoor Pony on Dartmoor.

25 herds are currently taking part in the scheme. One of the conditions of the scheme states: One mare from each herd must be entered into the Dartmoor Pony Moorland Scheme every other year. Owners should preferably enter a different mare on each occasion. This is in order to further the value and quality of the progeny and ultimately broaden the gene pool of both the registered and un-registered ponies.

12 of our pony keepers will enter one mare each. Entry to the newtake is from the 15^th May and all mares must have entered by 1^st June. (All mares must have foaled). While the mare is in the newtake she will run with a Registered stallion. The Duchy Newtake at Rundlestone is courtesy of DW & TW Colton.