40 Moorland Ponies. 



then be by the desired horse. From twenty to thirty mares 

 are considered sufficient for one horse, particularly where they 

 all run loose together, for unless the stallions are fairly plentiful 

 in these circumstances they will give some mares more service 

 than is necessary and will neglect others. Both mares and 

 stallions are used for breeding purposes from two years on, 

 and continue practically as long as they live. There is a 

 general interchange of stallions every three years, so that their 

 own progeny may not come back to them, and the surplus ones 

 are sold off to go out of the district. 



The foals are not dropped before May and early in June, 

 but it is quite common for mares that miss service to get a foal 

 at a later date, and foals are known to fall even up to the end 

 of August. They run on the open moor until mid- winter, 

 when the ponies are usually taken off for two or three months, 

 and put on enclosed moors, but even then it is unusual for 

 them to get any hay, and rough grass-keep is ofien hired for 

 them at fourpence to sixpence per week, the owner taking all 

 risks. In mild \vinter many animals are left entirely on the 

 open moor to get their own living. 



Dartmoor is for the most part unenclosed except on its 

 outskirts, but the ponies seldom wander, as, like human beings, 

 they have a great affection for their homes, however poor. 

 The herds are marked in a variety of ways. Each of the four 

 quarters of the moor is known by a tape of distinctive colour, 

 which is passed through a small hole pierced in the ear of all 

 ponies. In addition, many owniers brand their ponies, generally 

 with an initial inside a small circle, but sometimes with fancy 

 marks. Others, again, adopt a system of ear-marks, so that in 

 one waiy or another identification presents no difficulty. 



As regards attempts at improvement, no success has 

 attended the introduction of Hackney or Arab blood, on 

 account of the loss of hardiness. At the same time Arab and 

 thoroughbred crosses, though ultimately assimilated in the 

 local type, may have done something to bring out some of the 

 finer qualities which these ponies undoubtedly possess, just in 

 the same way as their influence may be traced in other 

 mountain and moorland breeds. 



In former times, the markets for these Dartmoor ponies 

 were almost entirely local. They were used by the farmers 

 and tradesmen of the district for every variety of purpose. 

 Nowadays they enjoy a much wider demand. About three 

 hundred go annually into the mining districts of Cornwall, 

 where they are emploj'ed by the miner in taking him to and 

 from his work, by hawkers, by tradesmen, and by the smaller 

 farmers. A few years ago a considerable demand sprung up 

 for them in Durham and Northumberland, as pit ponies, but 



