The first Dartmoor ponies were imported from Denmark to Sweden in the mid-60's. They were sold to a zoo which used them as children's ponies. In 1982 the stallion Hisley Prospect (Hisley Woodcock x Hisley Penny) and the mare Springs Pheasant (White Willows Macbeth x Rosevean Ptarmigan) were imported from England. They were followed by more ponies from both Denmark and England. In 1985 the Swedish Dartmoor Pony Society - Svenska Dartmoorsällskapet in Swedish - was formed. Our studbook was opened in 1987 and in 2000 we received Daughter Society status with the D.P.S. in the U.K.

There are today about 300 Dartmoors in Sweden. Each year about 30 mares are covered. Our Society has about 60 members. We organize a Breed show each year, often with British judges, and occasionally also local shows. The standard of the Swedish Dartmoor is high, and ponies from our small studbook has been exported to Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway and Denmark.

On our website http://www.dartmoorponny.org/ can be found a Sales list and alphabetical lists of all Dartmoors ever registred in Sweden as well as a full digital studbook with pictures on all stud-book graded stock. The website is in Swedish, but the webmaster Eva Jangö (e-mail eva.jango@telia.com) is willing to translate into English any information you might need.

About 50 years ago Dartmoor ponies first came to Germany. They were used for riding and driving and some stallions were crossed with Shetland and Welsh stock.

Around 1960 the first pure bred ponies were registered. Perwinkle by Janus, Udimore Candifloss by Morning Star II, Walreddon Bambi by Cawsand Cavalier. Some more followed, to name a few, Peter Tavy II, Hele Lancer, Tinkerswell Tit Willow, Hisley Paprika. The majority of these lived in the north of Germany with Dr. Schultz who was very involved with the breed. Shortly after in the south of Germany Mr. Tettenborn started with a group of ponies coming from the Netherlands, but for around 15 years Dartmoor ponies amounted to only a very small population in this country. However they were very active and ran some bigger shows and represented the breed at equine events.

From around 1985 some more breeders became involved with the breed. Studs such as Doubble Bee, Oak Tree and Mühlenmoor were founded. During the next 10 years quite a selection of stallions, mares and fillies were imported and most of them were used for breeding. The numbers of ponies rose to 3% of the whole German pony population. In 1994 the IG Dartmoor was founded as a support group.

The German Dartmoor pony population is divided up into 16 stud books. Unlike most every other countries the breeds have not got their own stud books but they are organised in regional ones. This system could be compared with the former NPS registrations. Some have not got any Dartmoors listed, others have got 1 or 2, and some have got 20 ponies registered for active breeding. In 2002, 29 stallions and 120 brood mares were listed in total. Around 60 foals were born.

Every foal must be shown during the summer to become registered. Colts are shown at the age of 2 or 3 to get their licence. Fillies are normally shown at 3 years old to be inspected for the main stud book.

Not many shows are held for Dartmoor ponies but some shows run classes for them. So maybe there is a possibility of 1 or 2 shows a year, but normally you have to travel some hundreds of kilometers.

Since 2000 the German FN as the umbrella organisation of all German Breeding Societies is now accepted by the DPS as a Daughter Society.

Like breeding other native ponies, breeding Dartmoors in Germany is sometimes difficult. Judges are not used to different breed types and sometimes look only for conformation and movement, so aiming for breed type can be working against them. Inviting English judges and organising seminars for breeders has helped a lot.

As in all other countries children enjoy riding their Dartmoors. They have fun in lead rein and first ridden or compete in dressage, show jumping or being very successful even in 3 Day Events.

The quality of Dartmoor ponies bred in Germany is worth mentioning. German bred ponies have been exported to many other European countries and overseas, and they have won both Ridden and In Hand Championships in the United Kingdom.

The Norwegian Pony Breeding Society

In the early 1970’s as the Norwegian economy was improving, new breeds for leisure began to appear on the scene and this is when the various British Native Pony Breeds were first imported in any number. The Norwegian Pony Breeding Society was founded at this time (1970) to promote the breeding and to keep a register of the animals imported. The Breeds, which were given official status by the Department of Agriculture, were Shetlands, Welsh and New Forest. A number of Dartmoor ponies were imported as well as the Connemara, but these were not officially recognized until 1982.

The centre for Horse Breeding is now the Norwegian Horse Centre, a foundation comprising of all the breeds and user groups. Funding is through the Government’s share of the totaliser returns. There are no more than 45 Dartmoor ponies entered into the studbook, and no more that about 100 registered, but the interest and breeding is progressing every year! This year we have five licenced Dartmoor Stallions.

The Norwegian Pony Breeding Society has it’s own web site:
http://home.online.no/~ponniavl/

The contact for the Dartmoor Breed is Mrs. E. Meidell on em@jbu.no