Ponies turning lives around
Up on the wild moors of Dartmoor, we meet a retired headteacher who’s harnessed its iconic ponies to help children with physical and emotional difficulties
Out on the windy moors above Bovey Tracey towards the edge of Dartmoor, Judy Fawcett embarks on a ritual she has to do every time she’s here. Tucked away from the harsh weather and craggy vegetation that characterises these moors, is the stable where a certain young man called Charlie enthusiastically tucks into his supper. Charlie is a traditional Dartmoor pony and one of six kept by the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust Centre, where children with mental, emotional and physical difficulties can benefit from the ponies’ gentle natures. As chairwoman of the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, Judy loves each and every one of these ponies, but Charlie is the one she’s become accustomed to having a secret cuddle with every time she sees him. “Everyone laughs at me, but I just have to see Charlie before I leave – he gives me this really warm, relaxing feeling,” says Judy, a retired assistant headteacher. “Now he sees me coming and is like ‘oh here we go, she wants another cuddle!’” Despite their hardy, surefooted appearance, capable of withstanding some of the most inhospitable environments in the UK, Judy believes the traditional Dartmoor ponies are ideal for working with young people with a range of life challenges. And at a time when the centuries-old breed is facing dwindling populations – numbers are down to around 1,500 from 30,000 in the Fifties – their new role is a great way to create awareness and love for this breed. “I think horses have a sensitivity that can benefit people of all ages, but the Dartmoor pony especially can pick up on all kinds of emotions,” says Judy. That’s why the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust has launched an equine assisted-learning programme, where volunteers help young people with challenging behaviours or disabilities, such as ADHD or angermanagement issues, interact with ponies. In a year, the Trust works with around 150 children, with schools referring