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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

:( are Dartmoors really boring?

29 replies

MitchiestInge · 19/02/2011 23:40

:( thought would be next best thing to saggy's shetland but my daughter thinks they're 'boring'. Is she spoilt and shall I just keep him for myself? Idea was 1. undo the pair bonding thing a bit by having a 3rd and 2. something else for her to ride, build confidence and play with while her pony is still being a twat learning the ropes.

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Original poster
MitchiestInge · 19/02/2011 23:42

(3. Something for grandson to sit on)

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ManateeEquineOhara · 20/02/2011 14:53

They can be a bit crazy and are prone to sweetitch (mine had it so badly, and was a nutter to ride so I had to give her away as I could not sell!). But they are definitely not boring!
What is her idea of an 'exciting' breed!?

Pixel · 20/02/2011 15:54

I used to ride one and he wasn't boring, I used to fall off him all the time because he turned so quick and there was nothing in front Blush. His owners told me that before they got him he was hunted by an adult and went all day. He had a lovely nature though and never ditched anyone on purpose!

BehindLockNumberNine · 20/02/2011 19:57

Oh, we love Dartmoors in this house. Dd rides a lovely one at her riding school and she sponsors one located in Dartmoor (who we will have to go and visit soon as photos no longer suffic)

If your dd does not want him then send him here, all dd's christmasses will have come at once...

Not boring in dd's opinion. But to be fair dd has only just mastered cantering and thus even the most placid riding school pony is exciting for her at the moment.

elephantpoo · 21/02/2011 08:47

Dartmoors are lovely (biased as DD has one)
They are wonderful children's ponies. Real best friend material.
We've had our boy since September, having not done much, and he's come on leaps and bounds and switches easily from being a fun little hack for me(I've been keeping him ticking over during the winter) to teaching DD to canter. He's so lovely.
I guess temperament is an individual thing to each pony - he's definitely not like ManateeEquineOhara's and I don't necessarily think that description is a typical one. If you go to local shows around here (Devon) every other pony is a Dartmoor or Dartmoor Hill Pony.........and the kids all seem happy with the level of excitement Grin

Butkin · 21/02/2011 12:18

That is an astonishing thing for your DD to say as Dartmoor's are so fashionable now.

Ekens Fifer won the FR M&M pony of the year at HOYS and then went Mini Champion.

Pumphill Buckthorn was M&M Pony of the Year and Working M&M Pony of the Year (so they jump!) at HOYS. He also was Supreme M&M at Olympia.

Our DD had a lovely grey Dartmoor but we had to sell him on because he was too much for her when she was young - they can be suprising strong (no wonder so many adults ride them) but we wish she still had him now she is nearly 8 and would get on well with him.

Butkin · 21/02/2011 12:18

By the way the grey Dartmoor we owned was bought by somebody in Switzerland where they are much in demand!

ManateeEquineOhara · 21/02/2011 14:42

I am in Devon too...I had noticed the sweetitch thing seems quite common and they do tend to be a bit cheeky, although I know mine was an extreme. Despite very good professional breaking and schooling she was just so full of energy and stubborn it made her a real handful! However, to her credit, she was great in traffic, never bucked, and was incredibly pretty (when you ignored the sweetitch).

ManateeEquineOhara · 21/02/2011 14:46

Oh, and she jumped well too. :) She did have her positives!

Original poster
MitchiestInge · 21/02/2011 17:47

I love them, though not as much as Exmoors, so was disappointed by her reaction. But by boring she says she meant 'everyone has one' (it's true there are a lot of his close relatives from Shilstone Rocks around) rather than 'not fun to ride' - her first ever loan pony was a Dartmoor and he's great.

Not buying him but hopeful of fairly long loan, he's very fat and unfit at the moment.

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SupersonicDave · 22/02/2011 12:28

Have had 2 dartmoor ponies - they are my absolute favorite Smile

Original poster
MitchiestInge · 22/02/2011 12:39

ugh, had to be weighed this morning to make sure not too morbidly obese heavy for him - is not nice getting on scales wearing clothes and boots and things, especially with enormous pizza in tummy from last night Shock will be ok if can refrain from eating so much pizza

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BehindLockNumberNine · 22/02/2011 15:09

Oh, that would be my worst nightmare... Mind you, at 6ft1 there is no way I could possibly ever ride a Dartmoor... sob

I would however love love love to get one for dd. Am I right in thinking they are hardy enough to live out year round so I would need to be looking at grass livery?
May speak to owner of dd's current riding school to get an idea of the exact costs involved, I know they have horses there at various types of livery...

Michy, as someone who did not grow up in the UK and is thus not so versed with native ponies (I grew up on the continent and my horsey youth consisted of Norwegian Fjords, Icelandics and Haflingers), what are the differences between Exmoors and Dartmoors?

ManateeEquineOhara · 22/02/2011 21:54

Dartmoors can definitely live out all year.

In my experience Exmoors are heavier set, than Dartmoors. They are rarer than Dartmoors (I keep thinking this is because Exmoor is smaller than Dartmoor but that might be a bit simplistic!) and are therefore more expensive. (Although I have heard that both pure Dartmoors and Exmoors are becoming rare - but a pure Exmoor is more distinctive looking with their 'mealy' muzzles, whereas lots of small ponies can pass as a Dartmoor).

I am jealous BLNN - I love Fjords, Icelandics and Haflingers...I would love to have any one of those breeds!

Mitchie - I'm sure you will be just fine to ride him :) Does this mean that getting the pony is a definite???

Original poster
MitchiestInge · 22/02/2011 22:50

Exmoors always look like Exmoors to me, they are unmistakeable and almost always brown (can be bay or dun) while Dartmoors vary a lot - which is pretty much what Manatee is saying? I love how ancient and sort of unchanging Exmoors are, and beautiful of course.

Not sure about the Dartmoor yet, it just seemed fortuitous that he turned up when he did but have to wait at least a month (not fan of waiting) before we can have a trial. He's a funny looking thing.

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Original poster
MitchiestInge · 22/02/2011 23:05

Oh yes theoretically both Dartmoors and Exmoors should be ok to live out all year, NONE of the ones I know do but they are cosseted. If we have this one he will be on grass livery with the other two, unless something goes horrifically wrong with him of course. Dartmoors always seem a bit more chilled, even the stallions, in terms of suitability for children - but am basing this on about half a dozen ponies of each breed. Might just have met some nuttier than average Exmoors?

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SupersonicDave · 23/02/2011 08:34

I have a feeling (could be wrong) that Dartmoors are known for being more suitable for children. It is the first breed i would look to for DD. Although saying thhat, there is a fabulous shetland that may be available for loan soon....

Mitchy - if you get back on FB, i have a few pics of my lovely dartmoor pony. We got him on loan aged 12, he was cut late as was shown entire for early part of his 'career' and then just used for showing. We went to see him and rode him round after he had been out of work for a year (no rider) and took him home. We taught him to jump, we did pony club, hunting, all the village shows etc, and he was used by the RDA twice a week.He died in the field aged 21 due to ragwort poisoning (had been treated for a while) that he had picked up before we got him. Fabulous pony Smile

My grandparents still own a smaller one that is out on loan that we may have for DD who is a bit naughtier (the pony, not DD Grin) but an angel for the children.

Actually looking out for a pony club home to loan my mare out to for a year or 2.

ManateeEquineOhara · 23/02/2011 09:10

Yes, that was what I was saying Mitchie - in a far less cohesive way than you!!!

Oh and funny looking things are always cute Grin

Original poster
MitchiestInge · 23/02/2011 18:03

Facially he looks Fell x goat and has very spindly legs (hence depressing weight limit) and a big tummy. He's adorable, wish could have him NOW.

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Original poster
MitchiestInge · 23/02/2011 18:04

Why Alice? (and argh at tempting me back to fb!)

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SupersonicDave · 23/02/2011 21:05

She is getting bored and bolshy. She is 10 now and wants and needs to be competing. I can't afford to compete really Sad 2 small children, no family nearby to help and no transport make it impossible. Looking for a 14/15yr pony clubber wanting an inbetween pony and horse really, she would be perfect for that.

ManateeEquineOhara · 23/02/2011 21:30

Aww, Fell cross goat! I think I know what you mean actually - there is a pony in a field at my new yard who was found years ago loose somewhere, nobody claimed him and he just lives there as a companion. He has a funny face and Fell cross goat would describe it!

Original poster
MitchiestInge · 25/02/2011 22:09

will she stay at your current yard? hope you find someone she can have fun with, or find the means for a lorry and a nanny?

am dispirited after hearing that his owner prefers him to be 'tucked in at night', possibly all year round - we don't have stables at all now, unless it was a dire emergency. really, the whole point of a native is to dispense with all that. It honestly hadn't crossed my mind that she'd want him kept in all summer?

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ManateeEquineOhara · 26/02/2011 13:20

Oh FFS some people are so silly. I'm sure the pony would rather not be 'tucked in at night'. Especially in summer, that is just insane. Is she going to let you loan him still???

SupersonicDave · 26/02/2011 13:35

Is there any reason he needs to be kept in? Laminitis? Sweetitch?

No, will not keep Mare at yard, looking for her to go to someone else, unless someone perfect comes along wanting to share. Rode her yesterday, she is so full of it!