DEFINITIONS 

Depastured: Living on the common all year round

The Dartmoor Hill Pony Breeders’ Association: A constituted subscription membership organisation for Dartmoor hill-farmers using their rights to graze semi-wild Dartmoor Hill Ponies on the commons of Dartmoor. Recognised by Defra as the Breeders’ Association for the semi-wild Dartmoor Hill Pony.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Eligibility:  to be a member of the Dartmoor Hill Pony Breeders’ Association a commoner must:

1.1 Hold common rights for the ponies they enter into the Scheme

1.2 Actively depasture all their semi-wild Dartmoor Hill Ponies, all year round.

1.3 Ensure that all Grazing Right fees (Dues) to the Dartmoor Commoners’ Council are paid up to date.

1.4 Register all depastured Dartmoor Hill Pony mares and stallions onto the Dartmoor Hill Pony Breeders’ Association Register.

1.5 Ensure all ponies have an appropriate ID record on the National Online Equine Database.

1.6 Agree to DHPBA office having shared access to and ability to modify all pony records on the National Online Equine Database.

1.7 Comply with the commons byelaws and regulation stated in the Dartmoor Commons Act

1.8 Meet the Dartmoor Hill Pony Breeders’ Association’s standards for animal welfare.

1.9 Own all ponies entered into the Dartmoor Hill Pony Breeders’ Association Register.

1.10 Ensure that all ponies owned and which run on the commons are microchipped (see the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association Microchipping Scheme) and the microchip numbers are added to Dartmoor Hill Pony Breeders’ Association register with associated photographs of the ponies,

1.11 Ensure that all Dartmoor Hill Ponies owned and which run on the commons are DNA tested through the Dartmoor Hill Pony Breeders’ Association DNA Testing Scheme

1.12 Ensure all stallions are presented for, and pass, the Dartmoor Hill Pony Breeders’ Association stallion inspection before being depastured on the common.

1.13 Maintain good commoning standards and practices at all times (as determined by the Dartmoor Hill Pony Breeders’ Association.)

1.14 Closely work with the Commoners’ Association of the common where ponies run to ensure a good clearance at the annual Drift. Attend all drifts held on the commons where their ponies run.

1.15 Be a fully-subscribed Member of the Dartmoor Hill Pony Breeders’ Association

1.16 Closely work with the Dartmoor Hill Pony Breeders’ Association committee to ensure that rare genetics in ponies which run on the common are conserved.

1.17 Ensure that all unmarked ponies are gathered and managed in accordance with the Dartmoor Hill Pony Breeders’ Association Unmarked policy.

1.18 Keep a DHPBA Pony Herd Medicines Log in accordance with the DHPBA Medicines Log guidance.

1.19 Hold a Single Business Identifier number (SIB)

1.20 Ensure all ponies are clearly, visibly and permanently marked with the appropriate owner’s mark.

2. Animal Welfare

2.1 Members must meet the Dartmoor Hill Pony Breeders’ Association’ standards for animal welfare for all of their ponies at all times.

2.2 Poor, injured, lame or sick ponies must be removed from the common as soon as their removal is requested.

2.3 If directed to remove a pony from the common this must be done immediately. Any animal which is removed under these circumstances must not be returned to the common without the consent of the DHPBA committee.

3. Supplementary Feeding

3.1 Scheme Members must not provide their ponies with supplementary feed on the common, other than in emergency conditions.

4. Worming

4.1 Wormers containing Ivermectin must not be used on the Common. Ponies treated with Ivermectin off the common must be kept off for at least 2 weeks to allow the active ingredients to become inert before ponies are turned out. If wormer is administered, the pony must be logged in the scheme Member’s Herd Medicines Book.

5. General

5.1 Members are required to allow information on animal health matters affecting their ponies to be shared with The Dartmoor Hill Pony Breeders’ Association to assist with the management of animal diseases on the Commons, in accordance with the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association Disease Management Plan.

5.2 Members must comply with instruction from The Dartmoor Hill Pony Breeders’ Association on implementation of contingency plans for the control and management of animal diseases.

5.3 Members must agree to allow samples to be collected from all of their ponies for genetic analysis.

6. Changes

6.1 Changes to this contract may be introduced from time to time and Members will be notified in writing.

7. Non-Compliance

7.1 Failure to comply with these rules will result in automatic disqualification from the Association.

7.2 If a Scheme Member wishes to raise a grievance about a Membership-related decision or made in regard to their pony herd, an independent Mediator agreed by both parties will be appointed.......

To get more information on any of the benefits available to members please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Drift Sale: Members can enter ponies for sale at the traditional annual Drift Sale.  Marketing opportunities provided for the traditional Pony drift Sale at Chagford and the DHPA Drift Sale and Online Auction held at the Grange Okehampton.

Promotion: of individual herds.

Herd Information: An online database record of each pony in your herd, with 'quick search' facility of various data such as microchip, passport, photo, genetics and other information.

Mare Contraception: Putting some mares on contraception is a tool to help Members manage herd numbers in their semi-wild herd.  The mare contraception scheme is run in partnership with Friends of the Dartmoor Hill Pony and Southmoor Equine Vets; it is now in its sixth year.  Please get in touch if you would like scheme information. Mares start on the scheme at the Autumn Drift. Select here if you would like to see more:

Colt cutting: Members can access gelding for their colts at greatly reduced cost.  This is offered in partnership with Friends of the Dartmoor Hill Pony and Moorgate Vets.  Please see the News page for colt-cutting dates.

Lobbying: Members benefit from developments brought about by the lobbying activities of the Association committee on their behalf.  The Association works tirelessly to ensure that the true value of pony herds on Dartmoor are recognised by all.

Discounted Equine Passport Costs: Provided by Friends of the Dartmoor Hill Pony Charity to members of the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association.

Passports and Microchipping: support available

Purpose: The Dartmoor Hill Pony Association Unmarked Pony Service aims to support Commoners’ Associations manage unmarked ponies drifted-in on their commons. This will help Commoners Associations maintain the headcount of cattle, sheep and ponies desired for the  conservation grazing aims of the common.

Procedure: Commoners Associations are invited to bring all Unmarked ponies drifted from their common to a central pound.
The DHPA pound is at Corndonford Farm, Poundsgate TQ13 &PP.

Steps Taken to Identify the Pony’s Owner: Ponies held at the DHPA pound are thoroughly checked for visible marks (brand) and microchip to identify the owner.
Ponies held at the DHPA pound are advertised on social media, such as the DHPA Facebook Group and Twitter account.
If an owner comes forward to collect the pony, a weekly charge must be paid to the DHPA pound to cover keep.

Unclaimed Ponies: Unclaimed ponies are genetically tested to check rarity of genetics and Mean Kinship. If of particular genetic rarity, the DHPA will contact the Commoners’ Association to discuss if
the pony can be returned to the common and join a herd leared there. If not, an alternative solution will be sought.
Unclaimed ponies will be sold by the DHPA pound.

Surplus Funds: DHPA Pound costs will be recouped from funds raised by sales. After DHPA pound costs have been covered, surplus funds raised will go to the DHPA central fund, to fund projects run by the DHPA for the benefit of member pony-keepers on the commons of Dartmoor.

• Charlotte Faulkner – Chair
• Phil Coaker – Vice-Chair
• Greg Rosen – President
• Joss Hibbs - Secretary (co-opted)
• Martin Smith - Treasurer (co-opted)
• Mary Alford
• Phil Abel
• George Abel
• Angus Mortimore
• Peter Mann
• Richard Mortimore
• Adam Partridge
• Lauren Abel

Contact:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.