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The Native Pony Enthusiasts Community - Hamlet's House

The Eriskay Pony

Height
12.0 - 13.2hh

Colour
Most commonly grey, occasional black or bay.

Build
Body should be long in the ribcage, but short in the loin. Shoulder should be sloping, chest not too broad. Neck should be well set on, showing good length of rein.
Head is workmanlike, being broad across the forehead, deep accross the jaw, and tapering to a delicate muzzlle.
Legs should be fine, but strong limbed, with light feathering at the fetlock. Hooves should be hard and well rounded.

Movement
Free from the shoulder and rhythmic, without undue knee and hock action.

Trimming rules for showing
No trimming of whiskers, ears, legs or jaw permitted. Manes and tails should be long and flowing. Working ponies may be body clipped during the winter months.

History
The Eriskay pony is native to the Isle of Eriskay, which lies in the Outer Hebrides in between South Uist and Barra. Originally these ponies were used by the island inhabitants for carrying pannier baskets of peat, for winter fuel, and seaweed from the shore to fertilise the land.
On the remote island of Eriskay in the Western Isles, difficult access has ensured the breed has remained free from outside influences.

Numbers declined rapidly during the onset of mechanisation, dwindling still further by the early 70s to just 20 ponies. At this time a group of people comprising a local priest, doctor, vet, scientist and local crofters, teamed up to save this breed from near extinction. Through their dedicated hard work and the establishment of breeding programmes throughout the British Isles, numbers have risen steadily and now there are now 420 registered Eriskay ponies.

Eriskays are known for their excellent temperament, they are a very popular choice of family pony. Being of quiet nature and willing to learn, they make excellent driving and RDA ponies.
Athough numbers are still low, the popularity of the Eriskay is steadily increasing.

Annual Eriskay shows are held in both Scotland and England, recently Eriskays have been included into BSPS Heritage classes, with separate Eriskay classes included at NPS spring and summer shows in Scotland.

Breed Society
http://www.eriskaypony.com/

Lochoir Stud
http://www.coll-lochoir.co.uk

Did you know?
The RBST currently recognise the Eriskay's status as 'critical'.

Lesley Cox from Cheshire has had tremendous success with her tandem driving ponies, competing at FEI level and winning regularly.

DNA tests by the University of Leicester show that Eriskay ponies share primitive breed characteristics with ancient origins.

The Gaelic term for Eriskay is 'Eilean na h-Oige', meaning 'Isle of Youth'.

Time line
1995 - The Eriskay Pony Society was founded.
1997 - Survey recorded 100 breeding mares.

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