Dales Pony Information Continued...
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All Quotes made by the previous President George Hodgson (Bred the Hilton Ponies) who sadly died many
years ago. Provided by the Snowden family at Quicksill Dales Pony Stud
“Remember, It’s not the inches of bone alone which counts, it’s the quality of the bone which matters, as
does the equipment and attributes which give the ponies the ability to thrive in the bleak northern uplands
and move over rough ground at good speed in the active traditional trot.”
George Hodgson- Taken from DD Autumn 1988.
“I would like to ask all new breeders and owners who are not familiar with the breed to come to a breed show
where we would willingly point out the true to type of pony and action”
George Hodgson- Taken from the DD Autumn 1994
“The Dales Pony was bred to work hard on short comings- so feed with care. They are ponies, which trot with
speed and knee and hock action and a high head carriage. It is a mistake to make them go like show ponies”
George Hodgson- Taken from the DD Autumn 1994
“We need and want to see ponies with good natural action”
George Hodgson- Taken from the DD Autumn 1994
“I have lately noticed that some exhibitors come out of the ring complaining about the judging of their
ponies. This has always been considered very bad sportsmanship, and defies the convention that if you
choose to show your pony before a judge, you must abide y his decision, whether or not you agree with him.”
George Hodgson- Taken from the DD Autumn 1995
“I have also noticed that some of our newer members talk of ‘old fashioned ponies’, meaning those which
carry a lot of feather. This is not entirely true, because when Dales Ponies were the popular working ponies of
the north east, too much feather was not popular, and those which carried it were usually trimmed,
particularly in the Army. Like Dales pony limbs, feather should show quality; in other words it should be silky
and straight and fall behind the knee to gently cover the coronets without obscuring the elegant shape of the
foot and pasterns….Have a look at photographs of Dales ponies in days gone by if you get the chance.”
George Hodgson- Taken from the DD Autumn 1995
“It bodes well for the future if we keep our youngsters keen.”
George Hodgson- Taken from the DD Autumn 1995


Examples of good, quality
bone with nice silky feather!
Poor quality bone. Round, and without
detail. Photo on the left has curly feather
which is undesirable.
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