Western Morning News (Saturday)
Dartmoor ponies take to the show ring – online
WITH the coronavirus pandemic forcing the cancellation of agricultural, horse and livestock events across the Westcountry, the rise of online alternatives has proved hugely popular with those missing their showing fix.
And when it comes to Dartmoor ponies, one of the region’s best-loved natives, the desire to showcase the finest examples of this iconic breed has been found to stretch not only throughout Devon, but even further afield to Europe, America, Australia and New Zealand.
It comes as a recent online Dartmoor pony show, organised by breed enthusiasts Debbie Roberts-Jones and Lisa Howarth-Podesta, attracted some 100 entries across 14 classes, with ponies stabled north and south of the Equator all battling it out for the top honours.
The virtual extravaganza not only gave both amateur and professional producers the chance to share photos of their ponies, but also raised funds for organisations working to promote and protect the Dartmoor breed – the Dartmoor Pony Society (DPS) and Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust (DPHT).
Ms Roberts-Jones explained: “I saw that the Exmoor Pony Society and Dales Pony Society had embraced this idea to generate income and wondered if we were
The camaraderie amongst everyone involved really warmed us over this bleak time SUE MARTIN, DPS
able to do something similar for Dartmoor ponies. Lisa [HowarthPodesta] already had a platform for online showing with her ‘Giddy Up Online Showing’ Facebook Group and together we tested the water with a Dartmoor-only online show, in aid of the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust. We raised over £600 for them during the first coronavirus lockdown of spring 2020.
“This autumn we decided to run another online show and to donate profits to the Dartmoor Pony Society, as shows were abandoned and any income from events completely wiped out. We expect to donate over £500 to the Dartmoor Pony Society.”
She added: “Entries poured in, locally, nationally and internationally. How fantastic that a Dartmoor pony from Australia could quite literally ‘compete’ against a pony in the UK! Each entrant was given a number and photos were cropped to remove handlers – sadly not possible for riders – to ensure anonymity if possible.
“Whilst it is not ideal and nothing like the real thing, at least we seemed to achieve some of the excitement and joy that a live competition gives and it felt like we had at least got our ponies seen!”
Claiming the supreme championship was the prolific-winning stallion Shilstone Rocks North Westerly, owned by Lynda Calcutt and bred by Elizabeth Newbolt-Young, founder of the widely-regarded Shilstone Rocks Stud based at Widecombe-in-theMoor. In a one-two for the owner, Ms Calcutt’s homebred filly Duradens Sweet Dreams took reserve champion.
When organising the online show, encouraging amateur producers was of utmost importance, Ms RobertsJones said: “My pony, for example, Collstone Atlantic Storm, is home produced. I’ve owned him since a weanling; he is two now and I had him licensed this summer. I work part-time as a key worker in Morrisons and fit my three ponies – two Fells and Sam the Dartmoor – around my shifts.
“Sam won the two and three-yearold colt class and was reserve youngstock champion. I live in North Shropshire so having the opportunity, even if it is just via a photograph, of a Dartmoor Pony Society panel judge assessing him and placing him highly, gave me the faith to continue!”
Sue Martin, chair of the Dartmoor Pony Society, also commented:
“Twelve months ago, if you had suggested an online pony show, I would have thought that you were mad! I never imagined the number of entrants we’d receive or the pleasure that would be gained with the absence of the usual shows. We’re so grateful for the support and say a big thank you to Debbie and Lisa, the judges and competitors.”
Ms Roberts-Jones concluded: “The camaraderie amongst everyone involved really warmed us over this bleak time and certainly gave us a sense of achievement that we had brought Dartmoor pony enthusiasts together when we couldn’t physically be.”