Should you’re hoping to purchase a Dales pony for the present ring or to easily get pleasure from, then this information on what to search for is the best place to begin.
What’s a Dales?
The Dales pony is among the UK’s native breeds. In keeping with the Dales Pony Society (DPS), the Dales is a local of the higher dales of the jap slopes of the Pennine vary, from the Excessive Peak in Derbyshire to the Cheviot Hills close to the Scottish Border, the place a lead mining business flourished from Roman occasions till the mid-nineteenth century.
Throughout the late seventeenth century, the Scotch Galloway was the favoured breed for quick pack work. The DPS says: “Appropriate native mares ran with the breeding herds and it’s recorded that farmers additionally favored to run a number of Scotch mares with the native herds on the fell. The most important, strongest and most energetic ponies had been chosen for pack work and had been nicely fed to make sure health and velocity. So it was that the black Galloways of the combined herds ultimately outdated the Scotch Galloway, and ultimately grew to become the Dales pony via a sequence of enhancements from a number of sources.
“The Scotch Galloways had been well-known for his or her ‘peculiarly deep and clear legs, their qualities had been velocity, stoutness and sure-footedness over a rugged and mountainous nation’. In flip, the Dales ponies grew to become famend for his or her nice energy, iron structure, endurance, and the flexibility to recover from tough nation quick.”
Dales ponies ideally stand between 14hh to 14.2hh, however there isn’t any higher top restrict on the breed.
Dales ponies will be registered as follows (credit score DPS):
Part A: By a registered, licensed stallion, and out of both a piece A or a piece B mare, and displaying appropriate markings.
Part B: By a registered, licensed stallion and:a) out of a piece A or a piece B mare, however displaying incorrect markings.b) out of part C mare, and proper in sort and color.
Part C: By a registered, licensed stallion and out of part D mare, and proper in sort & color.
Part D: Handed by two inspectors as being true to sort, top and color (closed 31 December 1971).
The Society additionally maintains a part-bred register.
Dales ponies are predominantly black however some are brown, bay, gray and, extra not often, roan. White markings, corresponding to a star and/or a snip, and white to the hind fetlocks, are allowed. Ponies displaying extra white than this are down graded from part A to part B.
The DPS offers the next breed customary to comply with:
Head: Neat and pony-like. Broad between the eyes, which ought to be vibrant and alert. Pony ears barely incurving. Lengthy foretop of straight hair down the face.
Neck: Robust and of ample size. Stallions ought to show a daring outlook with a well-arched crest. Throat and jaws clean-cut. Lengthy, flowing mane.
Shoulders: Nicely-laid, lengthy, sloping shoulders with well-developed muscle groups. Withers not too wonderful.
Physique: Brief-coupled and deep via the chest, with well-sprung ribs.
Hindquarters: Deep, prolonged and highly effective. Second thighs well-developed and really muscular. Tail nicely set on, not excessive, with loads of lengthy, straight hair reaching the bottom.
Hocks: Broad, Flat and clear. Nicely let down with loads of dense flat bone beneath.
Forearms: Set sq.. Brief and really muscular, with broad, well-developed knees.
Toes, legs and joints: The easiest of toes and legs, with versatile joints, exhibiting high quality with no coarseness. The cannons ought to show eight to 9 inch (20.3cm — 22.9cm) of flat, flinty bone and nicely outlined tendons. Pasterns ought to be properly sloping and of fine size. Ample silky feather on the heels. Giant, spherical toes open on the heels, with nicely developed frogs.
Motion: The Dales is outlined by its flashy, energetic motion. The knee and hock ought to be lifted and the hind legs ought to be flexed nicely below the physique for highly effective drive.
Dales ponies are fashionable all-rounders, succeeding in a number of disciplines. The DPS says: “Dales ponies had been bred for a particular job in a harsh surroundings. When the job modified, they had been efficiently tailored for different makes use of, and right this moment the ponies can exhibit all of the qualities and skills which introduced their forebears such renown. The mix of energy, agility, thrift, hardiness and excessive braveness, with good conformation and a peaceful, clever nature, makes the Dales pony a first-class driving and driving pony with all the talents of a real all-rounder.”
What ought to I search for in a Dales pony?
Anna Pennell and her household breed Dales ponies below the Nipna prefix. Ponies from the stud have gained in any respect main fixtures in addition to at breed exhibits. Their stallion Nipna Midnight Rambler was topped supreme M&M champion at London Worldwide in 2023.
“No matter pony I’m I begin with the standard of the toes and the decrease limbs,” explains Anna. “They should have high quality bone with a good-sized, robust foot. Hocks and joints are so essential to any breed.
“Working our manner up the horse, I’d search for a great shoulder, particularly if in search of a future ridden pony. If searching for a ridden animal, I’d like barely longer pasterns, however not too lengthy as they should stand as much as work. The angle of the pastern must also match the size of the shoulder. This offers them the true Dales trot and comfy journey that they’re recognized for.”
Anna additionally says that Dales ponies are recognized to be sluggish maturers in comparison with different natives, so going right into a viewing with an open thoughts is crucial: “Don’t count on most four-year-olds to be able to exit and do all of it. I might not be anxious if a six or seven-year-old was immature, both, as most of them don’t come into their prime till they’re not less than eight years outdated, however some take even longer. After all, there are the odd exceptions to this rule, however they’re typically late maturers that require time and persistence to develop each mentally and bodily.
“The motion of a Dales ought to be akin to a wagon wheel,” Anna continues. “They need to transfer up and journey forwards. We don’t desire a pony to ‘potato-mash’ up and down, or daisy lower. One of the best of the very best have a tendency to maneuver from the get go, but when I noticed a pleasant two or three-year-old with fairly common motion I might not write it off. They will usually develop their motion under-saddle and it will possibly take time for them to strengthen and develop into extra highly effective.”
When requested if potential consumers ought to search for a piece A or a piece B Dales, Anna advises: “I’ve no points with part Bs — there are profitable part Bs out and about on the circuit. If you wish to present then a pony with 4 white socks and a blaze shouldn’t be very best, however they’re further markings on the finish of the day, not a conformational defect. Should you don’t wish to present, a piece A or a piece B could possibly be appropriate for you as Dales ponies typically make tremendous all-rounders that may do something and every little thing.”
I wish to purchase a Dales, however the place ought to I look?
On-line horse on the market websites have Dales ponies marketed when they’re out there, however Anna warns that because the Dales is a uncommon and in demand breed, they’re not often marketed on the open market.
“A great place to begin is to get in contact with the DPS,” says Anna. “Then, it’s at all times a good suggestion to go to breed exhibits and converse with breeders who may need inventory at present out there or developing on the market within the close to future. I might not count on many ponies to be marketed on gross sales websites all year long, although; as soon as individuals pay money for a Dales they not often wish to allow them to go!”
How a lot ought to I count on to pay?
The value of a Dales pony will rely upon a number of elements, together with breeding, age and competitors report.
“We have now bought colt foals for round £2,000 and filly foals for round £3,000,” Anna says. “If in case you have a rising 4 or five-year-old prepared for breaking you might count on them to promote for between £4,000 and £5,000, maybe extra. A longtime present pony may simply fetch between £10,000 and £15,000. That is an estimate for ponies ok to point out, although you’ll be able to definitely discover ponies for much less, and for extra.”
What occurs once I’ve agreed to purchase a pony?
Should you resolve to buy a pony a pre-purchase vetting is strongly beneficial. It’s essential to let the vet know previous to the vetting what you propose to make use of the horse for to allow them to assess it accordingly.
“I might have an older pony put via a two-stage vetting, not less than,” Anna says. “However a whole lot of shopping for a pony is about frequent sense. Should you don’t really feel you might be skilled sufficient to decide on a pony’s well being and soundless, at all times search skilled recommendation.”
For extra info, you’ll be able to learn H&H’s final information to purchasing a horse.
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H&H exhibiting editor
Born and raised within the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the exhibiting scene. She has certified and competed ponies on the Royal Worldwide, Horse of the Yr Present and Olympia and has first-hand data of the present points within the exhibiting world in addition to the horses, ponies and riders who compete within the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 since when she has cemented its place because the main equestrian publication for each exhibiting experiences and present exhibiting information within the UK.
