Dartmoor Pony Society
The Dartmoor Pony Society is the guardian of the rare breed and represents the Registered Dartmoor Pony worldwide. We welcome all new members.
Making payments to the Society
The Society would appreciate it if you could make all payments to the Dartmoor Pony Society directly into the Society’s bank. The details are as follows:
Lloyds Bank Account: Dartmoor Pony Society, Sort code 30-96-23, Account No. 00807482
If you cannot make payments directly, please send payments (made payable to ‘Dartmoor Pony Society’) to: Paula Benford, DPS Treasurer, 4 Norwich Road, Exwick, Exeter, EX4 2DN.
Please ensure that you include a reference so we can allocate your payment correctly. It would also be helpful if you could e-mail the Office treasurer@dartmoorponysociety.com) confirming you have made a payment into the bank.
Transfers and Loans
If you are transferring ownership of a Dartmoor pony, exporting a Dartmoor pony or when wishing to lease or loan a Dartmoor pony click on Transfers and Loans for the necessary information about fees and procedure.
Online Stud Book
To access Grassroots, please follow this link to the Online Stud Book
All fully paid up members can access Grassroots. If you have forgotten your log in details please contact the Office by emailing dpssec@dartmoorponysociety.com.
General Information
Whether you are new to the ownership of a Dartmoor or not, there may be times when you are not sure what to do on a wide variety of topics, e.g., management, cost effective feeding or correct attire for pony and/or rider/handler when showing. There is a wealth of information within the Society that might help you. Please contact our secretary, Chris Grant
(dpssec@dartmoorponysociety.com), and if he cannot help, he will forward you onto a Council member he knows will be able to help you.
The Dartmoor Pony Society runs several competitions throughout the year including the DPS Annual Showing Awards, the DPS TopSpec Performance Awards, the DPS Part-Bred Awards, the South West Awards and the DPS Ridden Showing Series. For more details on the different schemes, please visit the Awards page.
For Privacy statement regarding these competitions please see SHOWS page
The Dartmoor pony originated on Dartmoor, in the county of Devon, in the South West of England. Ponies have been recorded living on the wild and inhospitable moors of Dartmoor since the Middle Ages. In consequence, the ponies have evolved to survive well in tough conditions and in anything other than exposed Moorland situations, should be managed as very good doers.
Dartmoor ponies are renowned for their exceptional temperament, which makes them particularly suitable as children’s ponies. An amazingly high proportion of registered Dartmoor’s achieve qualification and success at Horse of the Year Show, mainly in lead rein and first ridden classes but also in open ridden classes.
The primary role of the Dartmoor Pony Society is to maintain the Stud Book which holds records tracing back the pedigrees of the registered Dartmoor Pony for over 100 years. The original records were held in the Polo Pony Stud Book, and then in the stud books of the National Pony Society.
Finally forty five years ago the Dartmoor Pony Society took over printing the Stud Book. Each year the DPS issues a hard copy of all the foal registrations, transfers and re-entries into the Stallion and gelding sections. A very interesting read for all breeders of Dartmoor Ponies.
Please consider advertising in or submitting a story for the Dartmoor Diary 2024. The details and booking form can be downloaded from link below. Please submit your advert and any copy as soon as possible and definitely before the deadline of 14th Jan 24.
The DPS annual dinner will be held on 24th February 2024 at The Devon Hotel, Matford, Exeter EX2 8XU with the AGM and buffet lunch on 25th February at same location.
Join with other interested members top a virtual get together, see below for topics under discussion.