Twelve Dartmoor Ponies have been delivered to Norfolk by the
Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust to begin a new role as conservation grazing animals for Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
The selection, handling and transport of the ponies was provided and organised by the DPHT as part of the Trust's on-going work to support the Dartmoor Pony on Dartmoor by seeking good homes for the ponies and ensuring a realistic income for the pony keepers who breed them.
DPHT has been working closely with Norfolk Wildlife Trust and provides on-going support to its wardens. They sourced moor–bred, hardy, conservation grazing ponies suitable for thriving on coarse vegetation; the brief given by NWT to help them create and maintain important wildlife areas.
John Milton, Head of Nature Reserves for Norfolk Wildlife Trust said: “The DPHT has sourced Dartmoor ponies for NWT for six years. As well as faring well on the mixed mire/heath sites of Norfolk, areas not dissimilar to Dartmoor, we have found the breed does well on grass heaths of the Norfolk Brecks, where other livestock have tended to loose condition.
“These ponies will graze a number of key number of sites within Thetford Forest, former forestry areas restored to heathland under a partnership project with the Forestry Commission. The personality of these animals also helps to avoid issues with visitors, as the ponies are wary of close contact with people.
“As well as providing an important role in conservation grazing, NWT welcomes the opportunity to assist in the preservation of the breed. The NWT herd is now a significant herd for the preservation of the breed outside Dartmoor.”
NWT has purchased over 140 ponies through the DPHT. Says Judy Fawcett, DPHT Chairman: “Placement of the group of mares, all under five years old, will also ensure that we have a herd of good quality pedigree and Heritage Dartmoor Ponies which our pony keepers could draw upon in the case of a future major geographical disease. This could further threaten the remaining herds of Dartmoor Ponies left on the Moor”.
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