Post by dptc on Jul 2, 2009 17:51:34 GMT 1
We set up in September 2005 (then called the Dartmoor Pony Rescue Centre) to take on ponies that are not sold at the traditional Dartmoor pony sales held every October and December, since then our aims have changed slightly . We are a non-profit organisation registered with the Council for Voluntary Services.
Since setting up we have changed our name and aims, we still take on a few ponies from market each year and we take on ponies people no longer want or can keep but we also aim to promote the breed. Our aims are as follows:
to take on a number of ponies every year to train and re-home preferably doing ‘high profile’ jobs e.g. working as therapy ponies. We hope that these ponies will act as ambassadors for the breed.
To promote Dartmoor Hill ponies in any way possible.
to offer advice and marketing and training support to people wanting to sell their ponies privately (including online sales list.)
To offer advice and information on suitable training methods for working with Dartmoor Hill ponies. (Including running training workshops and events.)
To compile a list of national trainers with experience working with Dartmoor Hill Ponies.
To work alongside and support other organisations and bodies working with Hill Ponies to help us achieve our aims.
The ponies that are normally unsold at market who we take on are often Bay colts (male), which are unpopular because of their plain colouring, it is also believed that they are harder to train as being colts they tend to be more lively, we have not found this to be the case though! The colts do also have to be gelded which can cost over £100 so any buyer has that additional expense to contend with.
Once we have taken on a pony (from the sale or from elsewhere) we spend a lot of time with them getting them used to people. A lot of the ponies we take on will have been born that year, and will have spent their lives out on the moor with their herd. The drifts and sales can therefore be fairly traumatic for them as they will probably have been separated from their mothers and their herd as well as having then gone through the sale process.
It can take a lot of time to get the ponies to trust us and eventually be halter broken etc.
When we re-home the ponies we loan them out to permanent loan homes, we will not sell them. This means that we can keep a close eye on them throughout their lives, and monitor their progress and their achievements!
We look for homes within the local area and give the new families the support we feel is necessary. Once the pony reaches an age where it can be broken in to ride or drive, we will endeavour to give the families as much support as they need with this.
We run various different sponsorship schemes to help us raise funds. The daily costs of running the Centre can take its toll particularly in the winter though fortunately this year we have been able to cut our own hay which will reduce the feed bill considerably over the winter months. However there are still the routine costs of rent, vaccinations, farrier, castrations, vets, worming and even the £100 a month we are paying off for their field shelter to cover.
Merry and Trixie are the two sponsor ponies. Merry is a bay 4 year old gelding and Trixie is a 4 year old strawberry roan mare. They attend various shows throughout the year to promote the Dartmoor Hill Pony as a breed.
When some one sponsors a pony they will receive a photo of the pony, a certificate, a profile, a CD of photos from the centre and a welcome letter. Throughout the year they will then receive regular updates on how their pony is getting on and what is happening at the centre as well as a birthday and xmas card. They will also be invited to our yearly open day and if they want to visit the Centre and their chosen pony they can ring to arrange this at any time. The cost of this is £15 a year.
We also offer a annual sponsorship where people can sponsor a pony we take on from market, the sponsor gets to name the pony and follow its progress closely, the sponsorship covers the cost of that pony’s keep for a year. This is £600 a year.
A sponsor pack makes an ideal gift for someone!
Sarah Weston has been a great support to our organisation and in October it will be her third year of working with our ponies, and the first year that we have run it over 3 days!
Since setting up we have changed our name and aims, we still take on a few ponies from market each year and we take on ponies people no longer want or can keep but we also aim to promote the breed. Our aims are as follows:
to take on a number of ponies every year to train and re-home preferably doing ‘high profile’ jobs e.g. working as therapy ponies. We hope that these ponies will act as ambassadors for the breed.
To promote Dartmoor Hill ponies in any way possible.
to offer advice and marketing and training support to people wanting to sell their ponies privately (including online sales list.)
To offer advice and information on suitable training methods for working with Dartmoor Hill ponies. (Including running training workshops and events.)
To compile a list of national trainers with experience working with Dartmoor Hill Ponies.
To work alongside and support other organisations and bodies working with Hill Ponies to help us achieve our aims.
The ponies that are normally unsold at market who we take on are often Bay colts (male), which are unpopular because of their plain colouring, it is also believed that they are harder to train as being colts they tend to be more lively, we have not found this to be the case though! The colts do also have to be gelded which can cost over £100 so any buyer has that additional expense to contend with.
Once we have taken on a pony (from the sale or from elsewhere) we spend a lot of time with them getting them used to people. A lot of the ponies we take on will have been born that year, and will have spent their lives out on the moor with their herd. The drifts and sales can therefore be fairly traumatic for them as they will probably have been separated from their mothers and their herd as well as having then gone through the sale process.
It can take a lot of time to get the ponies to trust us and eventually be halter broken etc.
When we re-home the ponies we loan them out to permanent loan homes, we will not sell them. This means that we can keep a close eye on them throughout their lives, and monitor their progress and their achievements!
We look for homes within the local area and give the new families the support we feel is necessary. Once the pony reaches an age where it can be broken in to ride or drive, we will endeavour to give the families as much support as they need with this.
We run various different sponsorship schemes to help us raise funds. The daily costs of running the Centre can take its toll particularly in the winter though fortunately this year we have been able to cut our own hay which will reduce the feed bill considerably over the winter months. However there are still the routine costs of rent, vaccinations, farrier, castrations, vets, worming and even the £100 a month we are paying off for their field shelter to cover.
Merry and Trixie are the two sponsor ponies. Merry is a bay 4 year old gelding and Trixie is a 4 year old strawberry roan mare. They attend various shows throughout the year to promote the Dartmoor Hill Pony as a breed.
When some one sponsors a pony they will receive a photo of the pony, a certificate, a profile, a CD of photos from the centre and a welcome letter. Throughout the year they will then receive regular updates on how their pony is getting on and what is happening at the centre as well as a birthday and xmas card. They will also be invited to our yearly open day and if they want to visit the Centre and their chosen pony they can ring to arrange this at any time. The cost of this is £15 a year.
We also offer a annual sponsorship where people can sponsor a pony we take on from market, the sponsor gets to name the pony and follow its progress closely, the sponsorship covers the cost of that pony’s keep for a year. This is £600 a year.
A sponsor pack makes an ideal gift for someone!
Sarah Weston has been a great support to our organisation and in October it will be her third year of working with our ponies, and the first year that we have run it over 3 days!