Dartmoor Pony Society - Moorland Scheme

THE DARTMOOR PONY MOORLAND SCHEME

AIMS

To ensure the survival of the traditional Moorland Dartmoor pony.

The Dartmoor pony, (emblem of Dartmoor National Park), is today largely replaced by crossbred varieties. The pedigree or pure Dartmoor pony is a very popular breed and is bred enthusiastically all over the world. Although this appears encouraging, it has led to many of the traditional hardy Moorland Dartmoor ponies becoming accustomed to the lusher, more sheltered homes in which they now often find themselves. With this in mind, the intention of this scheme is a breeding programme of hardy Dartmoor Mares, to increase their number and improve the bloodlines of ponies living on the moor.

Approved Mares offered by Commoners are taken off the open Moor during the breeding season and placed in Newtakes with registered stallions.

OBJECTIVES

To ensure the survival of the traditional Dartmoor pony on the commons.
To encourage the breeding of pure bred Dartmoors on Dartmoor.
To encourage the fillies bred in the scheme to continue with the breeding program.
To retain selected colt foals with a view to introducing them when stallions to the open moor replacing the many and various cross bred stallions.
To introduce a new gene pool to the registered Dartmoor Herd.
To help establish a viable market for the progeny of these ponies where possible.

The Duchy of Cornwall and the Dartmoor Pony Society provide grants and subsides to encourage participation in this scheme, The Dartmoor National Park authority also support this scheme.

The outline of the scheme is as follows:

The accepted Mares are accommodated in a newtake free of charge and run with a registered Dartmoor Stallion.

The dates the mares need to be in the newtakes are from the second week in May to the last week in September.

As an incentive to participate a subsidy of £30 per head is paid to pony owners.

The progeny of the Mares can normally be grazed away from the moor for the winter at no cost of either transport or keep.

A sales list is available for those who wish to sell their suckers.

Grants towards castrating colts are normally available.

In return the following conditions apply:

Only Mares living on Dartmoor owned by Dartmoor farmers are eligible.

All stock to be inspected by approved DPS judges and supplementary registered (which will include a passport).

All stock to be branded with the Moorland scheme brand and clearly marked with the owner’s own mark.

All stock to be wormed before entering the newtakes.

All foals to be disposed of must not be sold at public auction.

Cull stock must go directly to an approved slaughterhouse.

Mares and their offspring who participate in the scheme must not be kept or sold in a manner that would be detrimental to the aims of this project.

In order to be accepted into the studbook and to receive a passport (soon to become mandatory), offspring of supplementary registered mares must be inspected and if accepted must be registered before the 31st of DECEMBER IN THE YEAR OF THEIR BIRTH.

Transport to and from the newtakes will be at the owner’s expense.

10.

No liability of any kind is accepted by either the Duchy of Cornwall, Dartmoor Pony Society or the Dartmoor National Park Authority.

11.

All forms provided must be completed before the mares or foals are inspected and before the mares are put into the newtakes and sent to Mrs. Wendy Watson, Middle Merripitt, Postbridge, Yelverton, Devon PL20 6SZ

12.

All participants of the Moorland scheme are to inform the appropriate newtake tenant of delivery and removal (if before the end of the season) of any stock. Failure to carry out this requirement may result in the owner been precluded from this scheme in the future.

13.

All those participating in this scheme must become a member of the Dartmoor Pony Society.

Anyone interested in joining this scheme or needing more information should contact Mrs. Wendy Watson, Middle Merripitt, Postbridge, Yelverton, Devon PL20 6SZ

AIMS To ensure the survival of the traditional Moorland Dartmoor pony. The Dartmoor pony, (emblem of Dartmoor National Park), is today largely replaced by crossbred varieties. The pedigree or pure Dartmoor pony is a very popular breed and is bred enthusiastically all over the world. Although this appears encouraging, it has led to many of the traditional hardy Moorland Dartmoor ponies becoming accustomed to the lusher, more sheltered homes in which they now often find themselves. With this in mind, the intention of this scheme is a breeding programme of hardy Dartmoor Mares, to increase their number and improve the bloodlines of ponies living on the moor. Approved Mares offered by Commoners are taken off the open Moor during the breeding season and placed in Newtakes with registered stallions. OBJECTIVES To ensure the survival of the traditional Dartmoor pony on the commons. To encourage the breeding of pure bred Dartmoors on Dartmoor. To encourage the fillies bred in the scheme to continue with the breeding program. To retain selected colt foals with a view to introducing them when stallions to the open moor replacing the many and various cross bred stallions. To introduce a new gene pool to the registered Dartmoor Herd. To help establish a viable market for the progeny of these ponies where possible. The Duchy of Cornwall and the Dartmoor Pony Society provide grants and subsides to encourage participation in this scheme, The Dartmoor National Park authority also support this scheme. The outline of the scheme is as follows:

1.	The accepted Mares are accommodated in a newtake free of charge and run with a registered Dartmoor Stallion.
2.	The dates the mares need to be in the newtakes are from the second week in May to the last week in September.
3.	As an incentive to participate a subsidy of £30 per head is paid to pony owners.
4.	The progeny of the Mares can normally be grazed away from the moor for the winter at no cost of either transport or keep.
5.	A sales list is available for those who wish to sell their suckers.
6.	Grants towards castrating colts are normally available.

In return the following conditions apply:

1.	Only Mares living on Dartmoor owned by Dartmoor farmers are eligible.
2.	All stock to be inspected by approved DPS judges and supplementary registered (which will include a passport).
3.	All stock to be branded with the Moorland scheme brand and clearly marked with the owner’s own mark.
4.	All stock to be wormed before entering the newtakes.
5.	All foals to be disposed of must not be sold at public auction.
6.	Cull stock must go directly to an approved slaughterhouse.
7.	Mares and their offspring who participate in the scheme must not be kept or sold in a manner that would be detrimental to the aims of this project.
8.	In order to be accepted into the studbook and to receive a passport (soon to become mandatory), offspring of supplementary registered mares must be inspected and if accepted must be registered before the 31st of DECEMBER IN THE YEAR OF THEIR BIRTH.
9.	Transport to and from the newtakes will be at the owner’s expense.
10.	No liability of any kind is accepted by either the Duchy of Cornwall, Dartmoor Pony Society or the Dartmoor National Park Authority.
11.	All forms provided must be completed before the mares or foals are inspected and before the mares are put into the newtakes and sent to Mrs. Wendy Watson, Middle Merripitt, Postbridge, Yelverton, Devon PL20 6SZ
12.	All participants of the Moorland scheme are to inform the appropriate newtake tenant of delivery and removal (if before the end of the season) of any stock. Failure to carry out this requirement may result in the owner been precluded from this scheme in the future.
13.	All those participating in this scheme must become a member of the Dartmoor Pony Society.

Anyone interested in joining this scheme or needing more information should contact Mrs. Wendy Watson, Middle Merripitt, Postbridge, Yelverton, Devon PL20 6SZ