Welcome!

“Friends of the Dartmoor Hill pony”
Registered Charity Number 1141045

Ponies have grazed on Dartmoor for thousands of years.  They have been purpose bred to meet local requirements; crossed with Shetlands for smaller ponies to work in mining tunnels underground, or the biggest strongest as breeding stock for the local farming industry. Whatever the need there was a Dartmoor Hill Pony to fit.

But now the economic downturn has meant many foals are not selling at the annual drift sales and without this income for the pony keepers the practice of breeding these semi feral hill ponies could stop. That  would not only be a disaster for tourism – but also for maintaining the unique ecosystem on Dartmoor; it’s the selective grazing style of the ponies that benefits invertebrates, mammals and birds alike - without them - Dartmoor as we know it cannot be maintained.  

Read on for the latest news ..