Normally at this time of year we would just be heading off to Widecombe to work with the wild Dartmoor Hill Pony foals. This time however, I felt that the Dartmoor Pony Training Centre team were ready to go it alone and they have set up a week of training for the ponies were past students can go and help and keep their skills going. I am now feeling rather envious as the work is always so emotional and rewarding.
During a full course, we could only really train about twelve ponies without rushing it. It;s good to hear that Charities and non-profit organisations such as the DPTC and HOPE are re-homing 'flat-pack' ponies to people who have committed themselves to providing a home for life, gelding them when necessary and training them using kind methods. Many of the are buying copies of No Fear, No Force and doing really well with it. This is far from the scenario of ponies with poor conformation going to do-gooders with no idea of how to train them. These are hardy, tenacious and fun ponies ending up with people who know what they are taking on and know what they are doing.
Many of the farmers on Dartmoor are cutting down on the numbers of mares that they keep - remembering always that the ponies are essential to the Conservation of the National Park. The mares below were all due to be called but have found homes through the DPTC. There are still ponies that need homes though and anyone who would like to have one and has the right set up should contact one of the two charities.
