At 22:24:13 on 22.11.10, Ponylady wrote:
I live in Australia and 3 years ago bought a weanling Dartmoor for my daughter. As I had purchased him before he foaled, I had the joy of naming him, and named him after his breed and the town where my daughter's boyfriend hailed from in Devon. Dart is decended from the Shilstone Rocks stud in Devon and has Langfield Canth, Langfield Mandingo, and Wyn Hill Purdy in his linage. These 3 ponies were imported to Australia some decades ago and most of our Dartmoors here are decended from them. Since then a few others have been brought to the country, but those three were amongst the first. Now 3yo, Dart has had limited showing, but still managed to get Supreme Dartmoor at a show with 6 other Dartmoors entered. Though not a popular breed, they can still hold their own in the show ring, as Dart has also gone Champion small Hunter Hack with 5 in the classes. We were thrilled as it was his 3rd ever outing into the ring, and then after 2 years just growing in the paddock with minimal handling. At 3 we had him educated to harness so I can work him while my daughter is studying at university, and in the coming few weeks he'll again go out into the ring for a few led classes. Later this year we hope to have him backed for the first time, though it will largely depend on the weather, as our Summers can get very hot. We love this bright, intelligent and at times naughty pony.