Carry On Showing!
Carry On Showing! Online Dartmoor Pony Show delivers International entries and funds for DPS. Two Dartmoor pony lovers have achieved remarkable success with online show and raised over £500 for the DPS. Read more below.
Two Dartmoor pony lovers have achieved remarkable success attracting some 100 entries across 14 classes from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand and America as well as Europe, for a ‘Dartmoor Extravaganza’ Online Show – and raised over £500 for the DPS.
According to one of the organisers, Debbie Roberts-Jones: “I saw that the Exmoor and Dales Pony Societies had embraced this idea to generate income and wondered if we were able to do something similar for Dartmoor ponies. Lisa Howarth-Podesta 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.”
According to Debbie: “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!”
Sue Martin, Chair of the Dartmoor Pony Society said: “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. A big ‘thankyou’ to Debbie and Lisa, the judges and competitors for taking part and for much needed fund-raising.”
Summarising, Debbie says: “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.”
Overall Supreme saw Lynda Calcutt scoop Supreme with the one and only Shilstone Rocks North Westerly and Reserve with her homebred filly Duradens Sweet Dreams.