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Dying breed? Why Dartmoor hill ponies' days may be numbered Dying breed? Why Dartmoor hill ponies' days may be numbered
(35 minutes later)
The Dartmoor hill pony auction – an autumnal tradition and once a rip-roaring, gossipy gathering of the clans – was a less than cheerful event to attend, this time round. The Dartmoor hill pony auction – an autumnal tradition and once a rip-roaring, gossipy gathering of the clans – was a less than cheerful event to attend this time round.
Pony after pony was ushered, bright-eyed and skittering, into the ring at the Tavistock livestock centre, on the edge of the Devon moor, only to be quickly led back out unsold, even though most were up for grabs for just £20. By the end of the morning, new homes had been found for only 20 out of 60 animals. The auctioneer looked gloomy, the pony owners and conservationists demoralised. "That was the worst ever," said Mary Alford, who brought along 18 ponies but sold just six. "It's a sad day for these animals and for hill ponies in general. I don't know what I'm going to do with them."Pony after pony was ushered, bright-eyed and skittering, into the ring at the Tavistock livestock centre, on the edge of the Devon moor, only to be quickly led back out unsold, even though most were up for grabs for just £20. By the end of the morning, new homes had been found for only 20 out of 60 animals. The auctioneer looked gloomy, the pony owners and conservationists demoralised. "That was the worst ever," said Mary Alford, who brought along 18 ponies but sold just six. "It's a sad day for these animals and for hill ponies in general. I don't know what I'm going to do with them."
The future is grim for many of the ponies that failed to sell. The majority will be slaughtered and end up as a meal for a pet or even a zoo animal; the hide of some may be used to make drums.The future is grim for many of the ponies that failed to sell. The majority will be slaughtered and end up as a meal for a pet or even a zoo animal; the hide of some may be used to make drums.
The problem runs deeper than this. The lack of a market for the hill ponies has led to concerns that after 3,500 years of roaming on the moors, the breed's days could be numbered.The problem runs deeper than this. The lack of a market for the hill ponies has led to concerns that after 3,500 years of roaming on the moors, the breed's days could be numbered.
"We may be witnessing the death knell for the hill pony," said Graham Goddard, vice-chair of the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association. "There is too much red tape around them now: too many rules about how you move them, how you keep them, everything. The financial crisis doesn't help. People don't have the money any more.""We may be witnessing the death knell for the hill pony," said Graham Goddard, vice-chair of the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association. "There is too much red tape around them now: too many rules about how you move them, how you keep them, everything. The financial crisis doesn't help. People don't have the money any more."
So acute is the crisis that the Dartmoor Society, a charity devoted to promoting and preserving the moor, has held a conference to try to think of ways of protecting the animal. Tom Greeves, the society's chairman, said the hill pony was an icon of the area but added: "Their future hangs in the balance – numbers are declining, prices paid at market often barely cover the cost of bringing them there, and added costs are required by vets or for 'passports'."So acute is the crisis that the Dartmoor Society, a charity devoted to promoting and preserving the moor, has held a conference to try to think of ways of protecting the animal. Tom Greeves, the society's chairman, said the hill pony was an icon of the area but added: "Their future hangs in the balance – numbers are declining, prices paid at market often barely cover the cost of bringing them there, and added costs are required by vets or for 'passports'."
Last century, the hill ponies were thriving. There is no consensus over numbers, but some believe the number of animals has plunged from 30,000 some 75 years ago to fewer than 1,000 now. They were used for ploughing, to pull carts, to deliver post, to haul coal from mines, and even to chase inmates who had escaped from Dartmoor prison.Last century, the hill ponies were thriving. There is no consensus over numbers, but some believe the number of animals has plunged from 30,000 some 75 years ago to fewer than 1,000 now. They were used for ploughing, to pull carts, to deliver post, to haul coal from mines, and even to chase inmates who had escaped from Dartmoor prison.
More recently the ponies (not to be confused with the registered Dartmoor pony, which is bred all over the UK) have been tamed. The hill ponies are tough enough to survive in the harsh conditions of the high moor. In the deep winter they grind the gorse with their hooves to make a meal, and in the spring munch on toasted vegetation after areas of the moor are set alight to encourage new growth.More recently the ponies (not to be confused with the registered Dartmoor pony, which is bred all over the UK) have been tamed. The hill ponies are tough enough to survive in the harsh conditions of the high moor. In the deep winter they grind the gorse with their hooves to make a meal, and in the spring munch on toasted vegetation after areas of the moor are set alight to encourage new growth.
In the autumn, "commoners" including Alford and Goddard, who have the right to keep a certain number of ponies on the moor, "drift" their animals off the high ground. They return some but take the surplus off to markets such as Tavistock.In the autumn, "commoners" including Alford and Goddard, who have the right to keep a certain number of ponies on the moor, "drift" their animals off the high ground. They return some but take the surplus off to markets such as Tavistock.
They do not expect to make a fortune – the auction has become as much a tradition as a money-spinner – but they argue that any cash made does help them maintain the population of hill ponies. Not all observers at the Tavistock sale felt sorry for the commoners. Faye Stacey, of the charity People4Ponies, said it was clear there was no longer a market for hill ponies. "It is not sustainable," she said. "There is no point in them being bred for the market."They do not expect to make a fortune – the auction has become as much a tradition as a money-spinner – but they argue that any cash made does help them maintain the population of hill ponies. Not all observers at the Tavistock sale felt sorry for the commoners. Faye Stacey, of the charity People4Ponies, said it was clear there was no longer a market for hill ponies. "It is not sustainable," she said. "There is no point in them being bred for the market."
Charlotte Faulkner, of the Friends of the Dartmoor Hill Pony, said the loss of the ponies would lead to the nature of the moor changing.Charlotte Faulkner, of the Friends of the Dartmoor Hill Pony, said the loss of the ponies would lead to the nature of the moor changing.
She said: "They are a vital part of the ecosystem, working with cattle and sheep to create the landscape we see today. If there were no ponies, there would be no Dartmoor as we know it. Hikers wouldn't be able to walk across the moor.She said: "They are a vital part of the ecosystem, working with cattle and sheep to create the landscape we see today. If there were no ponies, there would be no Dartmoor as we know it. Hikers wouldn't be able to walk across the moor.
"Our ancestors understood the value of the hill ponies. There is a danger we are going to lose these wonderful, resilient creatures.""Our ancestors understood the value of the hill ponies. There is a danger we are going to lose these wonderful, resilient creatures."
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