Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust Annual Sale

Saturday 19^th July - Viewing 12pm – 2pm

Sale Starts at 2pm

Michelcombe Farm, Holne,TQ13 7SP 

All enquiries to Mrs Dru Butterfield dru@dpht.co.uk or 01626 355314

Directions - signed from A38 Ashburton turn off.

HELP SAVE OUR HERITAGE

The Dartmoor Pony Preservation Scheme run by The Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust (DPHT) works in partnership with 26 Dartmoor pony keepers running traditional herds of Dartmoor Ponies on the Commons of Dartmoor. With the support of a grant from the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund and private donations; the trust has been able to raise awareness of the species as well as increasing their value through handling stock. We have also been instrumental in improving the quality of progeny produced from supported herds.

Dartmoor Heritage Ponies are outstanding for riding and driving, are surefooted, have kind and gentle temperaments, and are perfect for boosting young riders’ confidence.

If you are looking for fun, and a new family member, a Dartmoor Heritage Pony could be ideal for you.

But what are Dartmoor Heritage Ponies?

They are the tough little ponies born on the Dartmoor Commons, and the direct descendants of the indigenous ponies that have roamed the moor for centuries.

Although not registered with the Dartmoor Pony Society, they are of traditional Dartmoor type, and are absolutely vital to the preservation of the registered Dartmoor breed.

The Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust (DPHT) promotes all quality Dartmoor Heritage ponies. The Trust will not accept commission from the sale of ponies, but donations from vendors are welcomed and are spent on handling, marketing and gelding of colts. 

SALES  LIST

• Mr. John French  - Michelcombe, Holne, Dartmoor

1. Tavy – 11.3hh Dark bay gelding aged 4.  Much groundwork done for both ride and drive. Has recently been backed, worn harness, dragged tyres etc. Now ready to take further. A sturdy pony ideal for driving having a kind, sensitive nature. Price £650 + vat

2.  Mardle – 12.1hh handsome, bright bay gelding aged 4.  Much groundwork done for both ride and drive. Has recently been backed, worn harness, dragged tyres etc. Now ready to take further.  A bright, bold pony having a super temperament.  Suitable for driving or as a games pony or second pony.  Price £750 + vat ono

3. Peter - Handsome, friendly bay gelding aged 2.  Well handled, feet, trailer loads etc.  Price £380 + vat

• Mrs. Diana Alford - East Week Farm, South Zeal, Dartmoor

4. Silver Birch - Very pretty 2 year old grey gelding, well handled pony. Easy to catch, lead, load. Will make 12hh. Bargain at £300

• Mrs. Sue Hutchings - Yardworthy Farm, Chagford, Dartmoor

5. Metheral Country Dance - SR2/ 516 Bay (nickname - Danny). Foaled 31/05/07 Gelded 21/05/2008

Lovely placid pony, halter broken, comes to call and bucket. Real Dartmoor, bargain at £300

·         Mark Northmore – Gratton, Yelverton, Dartmoor

6. 3.5yrs Black Mare – handled and Heritage approved more details to follow. 

• Mr Richard Mann - Widecombe, Dartmoor

7. Bright Bay, well handled, very friendly yearling gelding, this pretty pony won't be on the list long. £275+vat

8. Grey - nicknamed Moonshine, needs a loving home to give this very pretty pony, time and confidence, in the right hands he will go far. £260+vat

• Mr. David Powell, Holnecourt, Holne, Dartmoor

9. Holnecourt Sorrel - Very easy going, dark bay, 2yr filly, will make 11.3hh a pleasure to work with. Ground started £325 + vat ono

10. Holnecourt Adam – superb grey 4 year old gelding. Handled, hoping to back prior to sale. This pony has exceptional looks and will easily carry a light adult. 12.3hh. will need an experienced home to continue his training. £700 +vat, ono

11. Holnecourt Arnold - Another exceptional 4 yr old pony – he’s a big, broad, strong chap, dark bay in colour. Very friendly, loves to be with people. Hoping to back prior to sale. He suits his nickname Arnie, 12.2hh and big with it.  £700 +vat, ono

12. Holnecourt Davina - Dark bay yearling filly well grown, easy to handle, will make 12.2hh. Very nice example. £275 + vat ono

• Michael Lamb and Margaret Rogers - Venton Farm, Widecombe-In-The-Moor

13. Chinkwell Robyn

Chestnut  yearling gelding. More details to follow 

14. Chinkwell Strawberry Fayre

Roan yearling gelding

15. Chinkwell Grey Storm

Grey yearling gelding

All very pretty, wormed, handled, farrier booked for 15^th July. POA

• Helen Radmore – Glen Iris, Sheepstor, Dartmoor

16. Casanover – Beautiful bay, 2 yr gelding, out of a stunning mare and registered stallion. Very good nature, quick to learn and well handled. DOB 01/05/06. Spent the winter on a DPHT grazing site, always came up to say hello, easy to catch and load.  Expected to make 11.3hhs. £325 ono.  

17. Glen Iris Jeff – 2yr gelding, Heritage approved, loves people, this pony will fit into a loving family home, where he will give bags of confidence to any child.  £300 ono

18. Jack Dee – An exceptionally handsome bright bay, he’s the colour of a conker. A really smart, strong pony.  Professionally backed, will simply make a wonderful child’s pony 3yrs. £700 ono                                  

• Mr. Neil Cole – Greenwell Farm, Yelverton, Dartmoor

19. Jefferey – Well grown two year old gelding, handled, easy going temperament. We like this pony, he’s a chocolate roany colour very unusual, with a long crinkly mane. Not a big chap, but perfect as a potential lead rein pony. To make 11.2hh £350 ono

20. Yearling black Heritage filly. More details to follow

21. A late foal – small cute, 10 month dark bay gelding. More details to follow

• Mrs. Philippa Hughes - Holwell Farm, Widecombe-In-The-Moor

22. "Rosy"

    Roan yearling Filly, kind, gentle, loving temperament. Spent the winter with a foster home, now ready for a permanent family, she’ll make 11.2hh. £275

23. Chestnut yearling filly white blaze, a strong looking type. Pretty in a Thelwell way! To make 11.2hh £250

 24 and 25. 2 x bay geldings, one with white star, one without both to make 11.2hh

All ponies have been handled previously, but will have additional handling during the week prior to the sale. £250 each All above born June/July 07

•  Tim Whitley - Hedge Barton, Widecombe-In-The-Moor

26, 27, 28, 29 4 exceptionally pretty yearling fillies, all excellent quality, fully handled £275 each - more details to follow.

·         Andy Bradord, Brimpts Farm, Dartmeet, Dartmoor.

30. Brimpts Annie – a very sweet, bay yearling filly. Annie has been living with the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust adoption ponies and has been used in the charities school visit programme. She has been a pleasure to work with and will make a wonderful family pony. To make 12hh. £300 +vat ono

·         Phil Coaker – Runnage Farm, Postbridge, Dartmoor.

31. Dusty – Big strong yearling gelding, brother of Rusty who was sold at last year’s sale and doing very well in Norfolk. Fully handled and Heritage approved. To make 12.3hh £275 +vat ono

Any financial transaction will be strictly between vendor and purchaser.

Guide Price

Each pony has a guide price in the sales list. The highest offer made over a guide price, will normally be accepted, but sensible offers under the guide price may be considered. If you wish to make an offer on a pony, please discuss with the owner of the pony.

Method of Payment

Method of payment will be agreed between the vendor and the purchaser. Cash is the usual term, however, if you intend to pay by cheque a bankers letter stating the amount up to which the cheque will be honoured is advised.

Risk

The purchaser is on risk, once an agreement has been made and is strongly advised to effect insurance.

Testimonials

• We would like to say a massive 'Thank you' to Dru and all at DPHT for our wonderful pony Spike.  He is one in a million and I wouldn't be without him now for the world.  The help I received from Dru was fantastic; she was professional, caring and understanding of what I was looking for and pointed me in the right direction.  I was in a slight panic as my pony was about to be left with no company and I needed another pony ASAP, I contacted every pony trust going and Dru was the first one to get back to me.  I had been to visit Spike and fell in love with him before the other trusts had even returned my call!! 

The fact that I can trust what I am told in regards to Spikes training is one of the main reasons I took him home.  I needed a pony that would be safe with my girls. He is such a sweet boy and we are so lucky to have found him. John and Kerry were/are fantastic. I have never met a nicer couple and I also thank them.I will be recomending DPHT to all my friends and anyone I meet. From Sam and two very happy girls, Becky 4 and Charlie 3. xxx

• "Thankyou to Dru and the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust.  We are really pleased with our 3 fillies, they are all very pretty and have nice tempraments and the groundwork done by the DPHT has been invaluable.  It was well worth the distance we travelled to see them" - Mrs D, Suffolk
• Thankyou for all the information you sent us regarding ponies for sale. Last monday we visited David Powell to look at his ponies. We agreed to buy a young filly Bluebell (she was on the sale list) who my daughter fell in love with and a gelding called Mr Brown who seems very friendly, gentle and came when called. We are all really looking forward to this. We had a lovely day on Dartmoor it was nice to see so many ponies with foals who all seemed very friendly. Thanks again for all your help in this matter. We are looking forward to many years of taking care of our new pets. Kind regards Ian & Lisa Parker 
• Hi there, just wanted to say we have had Zig Zag for a week now and he is wonderful, great with the children, just what I wanted.  Thank you so much for all your help in enabling me to find him! Tara Berlyn and the 3 happy little jockeys, Ryan 7, Scott 5 and Luke 2.
  

All Donations are gratefully received – THANK YOU!

DPHT Annual Report – 2007 / 2008

Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction – John F Kennedy

2007 has been a year a successful year in establishing the breadth of work undertaken by the DPHT. We are now starting to reap the rewards from the previous year’s strategy to grow.

We have concentrated on the following key areas:

Dartmoor Pony Preservation Scheme

• Our annual grant of £25,000 from the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund (DSDF) was not continued and in October 2007 following our annual inspection of Heritage herds we administered the final support payments to pony keepers partaking in the Dartmoor Pony Preservation Scheme. This caused some concern as we had always discussed a six year support package ending in 2010. However, we did secure three further years funding for a value added initiative from the same funding source.
• The DPHT produced a booklet to promote the use of Dartmoor ponies for conservation grazing. This was mail dropped to 1,200 ecologists and land managers throughout the UK.
• The new DSDF grant enabled us to run a value added initiative. Concentrating on handling young stock and castrating colts not suitable for breeding. We also ran a foal foster scheme, 28 foals were homed for the winter period. Alongside an aggressive marketing campaign, an annual private sale and promotion of ponies for conservation grazing. The Trust has been directly responsible for selling in excess of 100 ponies for local pony keepers for above market prices.
• The DPHT worked in partnership with the Dartmoor Pony Society and Natural England to create a specific Heritage Trust List, allowing true to type moor bred ponies the opportunity to be officially recognised by the Dartmoor Pony Society as Heritage Ponies. HTL status has helped improve the value of these ponies as they are now eligible for the lucrative Higher Level Stewardship Scheme – Native Breeds at Risk Supplement payment.

Education Programme

• The DPHT has continued to grow its educational facility and achieved 21 educational visits based on a 2 hour visit throughout the last year. We worked with a range of primary and secondary schools.

• We also visited a number of local schools to give talks.

• In November we visited the Equestrian Unit at Bicton College for a 3 day pony handling course, working with over 100 students.

• We continue to visit local WI’s, providing an hours talk about the work of the Trust and ponies on the moor.

• Our work with hard to reach audiences continues to grow; we worked closely with students from Millford Special Needs School and Downham College, culminating in a successful if not soggy Ten Tors event. We were delighted to welcome students from West of England School for Little or No Sight and had a wonderful day introducing the ponies to these delightful children.

• The Prince’s Trust visited on two occasions for a full days entertainment based around equine behaviour, all participants were eager to return unfortunately funds did not allow us to continue this work as our insurance did not cover young offenders and was cost prohibitive, something we hope to change in the next financial year.

• The DPHT gave 3 wild foal handling demonstrations at Pennywell Farm, Cotehele and Bicton College all three events were well attended and ponies were sold on the back of such positive handling sessions. Pony handling sessions were offered throughout the autumn and many people booked on our courses to participate.

• The DPHT ran a training day for National Trust wardens in November teaching handling techniques for managing semi-feral ponies. The event was a great success and secured further sales of ponies to NT. The training event will be repeated again next year.

Income Generation

• The DPHT successfully secured a Service Level Agreement with the Dartmoor National Park Authority to provide education, herd inspections and promotion of the Dartmoor Pony.
• We also secured three further years funding from the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund to run a value added initiative.
• In February we secured a 10 year tenancy agreement with the Forestry Commission to take over the grazing of 84ha of moorland surrounding Bellever Tor. Shortly following this opportunity we were successful in applying for a Higher Level Stewardship Scheme agreement for the next 10 years.

Publicity, Promotion and Media Coverage.

The DPHT has focused on building a strong image, we promote our work through a variety of media and have received, national and regional television coverage (Johnny Kingdom series) national and local radio (Matt Baker half hour Radio 4), plus a number of features in local press and magazines. We have a super website which has helped increase our opportunities to promote our work and sales of ponies.

Furthermore, we have formed excellent working relationships with the following statutory bodies: Forestry Commission, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Natural England and Devon County Council.

We have particularly strong partnerships with the Duchy of Cornwall, Harbour Drug and Alcohol Service, Hamoaze House, Devon Discovery, West of England School for Little or No Sight, Millford Special Needs School, National Trust and GAP (Grazing Animal Project). These relationships continue to grow for mutual benefit.

None of the above would have been possible to achieve without the blood, sweat and often tears from our wonderful team of volunteers and trustees. A huge thank you to you all.

As we look to next year with the threat of ever changing legislation which has been so detrimental to the viability of our Heritage ponies, we can only take a deep breath, recognise our achievements to date and fight harder for our emblem of Dartmoor.

Abraham Lincoln said: Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle – here’s to another year of hustling!

Mrs. Dru Butterfield

Charity Manager

Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust

Registered charity no. 1109196

TRAINING DAYS

Join our team for a week of pony handling and training from the 14th to 18th July - preparing ponies for our annual sale. 30 unhandled ponies will be arriving at our sale site near Ashburton in need of handling and prepartion for sale, join the team for an unforgettable experience.

If you would like to book on to a day or weeks course or have further questions regarding this area of our work please contact: Dru Butterfield- Charity Manager, Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust - 01626 355 314 Or email us

The DPHT Annual General Meeting will be held on the 27th June at Brimpts Farm -12noon. Immediately followed by a trustee meeting.

Jubilee Challenge Special.

 Dartmoor Ponies making the difference at this year’s Ten Tors.

Jubilee Challenge, 2008.

This is a red letter day on the calendar for our charity because it is one of the ways we show everyone about our work with less fortunate children and at the same time promote the Heritage Pony.

The Jubilee Challenge is a demanding one day event designed for young people with special physical or educational needs.

Held on the Saturday of Ten Tors weekend, the Jubilee Challenge entrants share the same pressures, achievements - and weather - as the Ten Tors Teams!

The Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust ponies are used to motivate and encourage students around the route!

The ponies were prepared on the Friday before the big day, groomed, fed and watered; and were driven over to a holding area near to the start area, by Dru and Donna. They were met by Vanessa, Phillip, Emma and Kerry who settled the ponies in readiness for Saturday.

Three of the DPHT’s adoption ponies; Golden Flame, George, Rolo and pack-ponies Boss and Frosty walked with the students on the eight mile route.

Golden Flame, George and Rolo thoroughly enjoyed all the fuss and attention. Boss and Frosty have been involved with the Trust’s Education Programme for the last year and took part for the first time. This was our largest entry of ponies to date.

The weather was kinder than last year and all the ponies, handlers and children completed the course safely. As you sit reading this page think how much effort those children put in to completing the course, some in pain, some with little or no sight and some with extreme walking problems. Humbling, isn’t it? The smiles of achievement were all we need to make us sure that next year, we will do it again. I have laid a bet that Dru says,” Next year were are taking ten”. Her enthusiasm knows no bounds and without her a lot of what we do would not happen.

7am on Saturday  5th April 20 Dartmoor Heritage Ponies arrived in Norfolk, 16 ponies for the Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) and 4 ponies for Norfolk County Council.

After successfully selling 16 ponies in 2006 to NWT, Grazing Officer Mel Slote returned to Dartmoor  to purchase a further 16 ponies for a new 500 acre site.

We are glad to report all ponies came off the lorry fit and well and showed no signs of stress or fatigue. In fact true to type they quickly had their heads straight down to eat. 

These ponies make such wonderful conservation grazing machines that it shouldn't be long before we are able to confirm more orders. 

Mel Slote spent two days with Dru Butterfield DPHT Charity Manager. Day one was a training day run inconjunction with Positive Horsemanship in handling techniques for semi-feral ponies, whilst Day two, was a whirl wind visit of local pony keepers. A thoroughly enjoyable couple of days for all concerned.

Teignbridge District Council has recently purchased five Dartmoor Heritage ponies for conservation grazing on their internationally important dune grassland habitat at Dawlish Warren. The ponies were sourced with help from the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust with funding coming from Natural England. Together with Positive Horsemanship, the Trust also helped train the site's Rangers how to handle the ponies safely.

Dawlish Warren is a National Nature Reserve situated at the mouth of the River Exe in South Devon. The site supports over 2000 species of invertebrates and 620 different plants, many of them rare species. The area also provides a haven for birdlife. Conservation grazing is essential to maintain the site in good order for its many wild and human visitors.

When Teignbridge District Council, who own and manage the site, decided they needed to introduce conservation grazing, they contacted the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust (DPHT) for help in finding suitable ponies. The ponies were selected from a traditional Dartmoor herd kept at Frenchbeer Farm, Chagford, by Mike Malseed.

The mares will spend the autumn and winter at Dawlish Warren and the remaining half of the year on National Trust land along the South Devon coast path near Kingswear. The coastal sites are similar to Dartmoor in many ways, having plenty of gorse and rough vegetation that benefits from being controlled by grazing. Dartmoor ponies are ideally suited to conservation grazing on such sites. Unlike cattle and sheep, they will graze for up to 18 hours a day and they are adapted to survive on vegetation that has little nutritive value. In addition, the traditional Dartmoor Heritage ponies are eligible for payments through the Native Breeds at Risk Supplement (Higher Stewardship Scheme) run by Natural England. <

The DPHT offered to handle the mares before they went to their new home and it was decided to incorporate the pony handling into a full two-day training course for all the Rangers involved. Six members of staff from Teignbridge District Council and the National Trust learned how to rope and handle feral Dartmoor ponies, while maintaining the ponies' wariness of people. It was important to get the right balance, since if ponies become too tame they can become a nuisance in public areas and both sites have high visitor numbers; so achieving the balance between wildness and the ponies being manageable is vital.  "We needed the ponies to avoid people but be manageable by us," said Phil Chambers, Senior Ranger at Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve. "In two days, we - and the ponies - were trained to the point where we can halter them and carry out inspection and work on hooves, but the ponies still avoid approaching people. A very impressive couple of days."

The main goal of the DPHT is to preserve the traditional type of Dartmoor pony, now known as the Dartmoor Heritage pony. In 2007, DPHT embarked on a major campaign to promote the Dartmoor Pony for conservation grazing. "We set out to add value to the ponies," says Charity Manager, Dru Butterfield. "Finding new markets for the ponies has been an important area of our work and I am delighted with the interest we have created in Heritage stock."

The service offered by DPHT in helping buyers to source, handle and train both ponies and site managers has made a big different in the fight to secure the future of the traditional Dartmoor Pony. "The Pony Handling course run by the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust and Positive Horsemanship was excellent and gave the staff involved increased knowledge, awareness and confidence of handling wild Dartmoor ponies. I would recommend it to anyone involved with managing ponies for conservation grazing," said Mike Ingram, Area Warden for the National Trust.

You can imagine how delighted we were when Tony Beard, otherwise known as the Wag From Widecombe, agreed to be a Patron. Tony is a keen preserver of Devon life and culture. Tony has spent many happy years as a farmer. He talks of his love of the moors, countryside traditions and the characters who live and work on the moor in his Radio Devon 'Dartmoor Diary'.

The Dartmoor Pony is the emblem of Dartmoor, but then some would say Tony is!