| The Dales Pony "the great all rounder" |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Height: The preferred height range is 14hh to 14.2hh.
General: A strong, active pony, full of quality and spirit.
Head: Neat and pony like, showing no dish. Broad between the eyes, which should be bright and alert, with ears curving
slightly in ward. Long forelock of straight hair down the face.
Neck: Strong and of ample length. Stallions should display a bold outlook with well-arched crest. Throat and jaws clean-cut.
Long, flowing mane.
Shoulders: Well-laid, long, sloping shoulders with well-developed muscles. Withers not too fine.
Body: Short-coupled and deep through the chest, with well-sprung ribs.
Hindquarters: Hindquarters deep, lengthy and powerful. Second thighs well-developed and very muscular. Tail well set on,
not high, with plenty of long, straight hair reaching the ground.
Hocks: Broad, flat and clean. Well let down with plenty of dense flat bone below.
Forearms: Set square. Short and very muscular, with broad, well-developed knees.
Feet, legs & joints: The very best of feet and legs. Flexible joints, showing quality with no coarseness. The cannons should
display 8"-9" of flat flinty bone and well defined tendons. Pasterns should be nicely sloping and of good length. Ample silky
feather on the heels. Large, round feet, open at the heels, with well developed frogs. Hooves have a distinctive blue horn.
Colors: Black, brown, a few grey and bay, and occasionally roan.
Markings: A white star and/or snip on the head. White fetlocks to the hind legs only. Mismarked ponies will be
down-graded to the grading-up register.
Action: Clean, high straight and true. Going forward on "all fours" with tremendous energy. The knee and hock are lifted,
the hind legs flexed well under the body for powerful drive.
Character: True pony character. Alert, full of courage, intelligent and kind.
SHOW RULES
The Dales pony is shown untrimmed and unplaited, except that some ponies are shown with a traditional tail plait bearing a ribbon. This is
gently discouraged, but is considered by some to be a useful 'marker' for the breed in mixed classes, where judges can be less than familiar
with the breed.
Manes and tails should be full and flowing, and 'a yard long'. Feather should be full, curtaining the coronets and hooves. Youngstock are
usually shown in white halters, and the mares are also traditionally shown in this way, but may also wear either a riding or in-hand bridle.
Licensed stallions, (NB Three years and over) are shown in full stallion tack, and this is a rule at the Breed Shows.
Tweed, not black, is correct attire for riders, and medium weight tack should be used to show the pony to full advantage. These are both faults
but it must be borne in mind that a high quality mis-marked pony would be placed above a mediocre, correctly marked pony on its home
ground. A good Dales type should be capable of the carrying out the job for which it was bred, i.e. to plough, trot a mile in around 3 minutes,
and still give a good ride to hounds. To this end the pony must be wide and powerful, with extremely high quality limbs and feet. Alert and
active, with a high stepping trot, fore and hind legs being lifted to the same level and driving powerfully forward.
The Dales pony is one of the United Kingdom's rarest breeds. It was nearly wiped out
of existence after World War II and is slowly making a recovery. At this time there are
less than 2000 Dales ponies world wide, with approximately 100-120 foals born each
year. They are extremely rare and extremely sought after due to their striking look,
easy nature, versatile style of going, and incredible soundness due to their substance
of bone, solid joints, and good sturdy feet.
of existence after World War II and is slowly making a recovery. At this time there are
less than 2000 Dales ponies world wide, with approximately 100-120 foals born each
year. They are extremely rare and extremely sought after due to their striking look,
easy nature, versatile style of going, and incredible soundness due to their substance
of bone, solid joints, and good sturdy feet.
| BUY OUR DALES PONY CALENDAR: |
| Request information on Dales ponies here or through our farm mailbox. |
| © All rights reserved.Copyright Baroque Farms |