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The Dales PonyHeight The preferred height range is 14 hh to 14.2 hh. Colour Black, Brown, Grey, Bay and occasional Roan. Markings White star, snip and hind fetlock socks are permitted. Build Body should be short-coupled and deep through the chest, with ribs well-sprung. Shoulder should be long and sloping and wither well defined. Hindquarters should be deep, lengthy and muscular. Legs should be short, with plenty of dense, flat bone and well feathered. Joints should be clean and well defined. Head should be neat and broad with inwardly curving pony like ears. Neck should be muscular and of good length of rein. Movement High, straight and forward going, from the knees and hocks. Trimming rules for showing Manes and tails should be long, flowing, thick and natural. No trimming, thinning or pulling is permitted, except for trimming the very ends of the tail. Ridden and working ponies may be body clipped but no trimming or clipping of the legs is permitted. History Dales ponies are native to the upper Dales of the eastern Pennie range of North East England. They were bred as pack ponies for the Pennie lead industry; working in groups, travelling up to 100miles a week to transport ore, fuel and lead. Dales ponies were also used on farms, where their daily duties would include ploughing, pulling wagons, transportation to market and sure footedly carrying shepherds and hay across great distances. A Dales pony was also a popular choice of mount for a days hunting. Over the years the Dales pony became renowned for its strength, endurance and ability to traverse rough country terrain at a fast pace. The Dales pony’s extravagant trot also meant they were a popular choice of pony for traditional trotting races. During the late 1800s, stylish trotters for local racing were becoming increasingly popular; there is evidence of the Norfolk cob being introduced to Dales breeding for the purposes of improving the trot. This duly resulted in the energetic and active trot of the Dales pony that we see today. The introduction of foreign blood was a threat to the pureness of the breed; the Dales Pony Improvement Society was formed in 1916, and the Dales Pony Stud book opened. This helped ensure the preservation of the pure traditional bloodlines. Around the time of The Second World War the number of Dales ponies were in serious decline. 200 ponies were taken by the Army for drawing the guns on the battlefields of Europe and 1000 ponies went for slaughter. At this time mares were being crossed with Clysdale stallions for breeding vanners. In 1955 only four filly foals were registered and after the war, the Dales breed would have died out had it not been for the efforts of a few dedicated breeders, whose aim it was to save the breed that was verging on extinction. In 1964, the Dales Pony Improvement Society was re-organised. Ponies were registered and inspected for a grading-up register. When the grading-up register was closed in 1971, the number of registered ponies had risen steadily, and the breed is no longer classed as ‘endanger of extinction’ but is still registered with the Rare Breeds Survival trust as 'critical'. The Dales pony of today shows a good combination of stamina, strength and energy, which make them a popular choice of of pony for trekking and long distance riding. Thanks to their good build and substance, they are easily capable of carrying adults. Being willing and sure footed jumpers they excel at cross country, hunter trials and performance classes. Their extravagant trot and eye-catching presence also make them a popular choice for driving and showing. Small herds still roam free in the Eastern Pennines today. Breed Society http://www.dalespony.org Did you know? The Fell Pony Committee of the Polo Pony Society, now known as the National Pony Society (NPS), opened a Stud Book in 1898 but classed Dales and Fells as different types of the same breed. In 1916 the Dales Pony Improvement Society was formed. Dales pony, Kilmannan Black Pearl, won the Olympia NPS ridden final in 2002. |
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