Dartmoor Pony Training Centre (formerly Dartmoor Pony Rescue Centre) is a non-profit voluntary organisation whose aim is to take on Dartmoor Hill ponies that are either left unsold at the annual markets or are going for low prices to dealers for a uncertain future. The Centre also accept ponies that are donated to them. The ponies are usually bay colts though this year a mare and foal who were unsold also came into their care. The mare was in appalling condition but with lots of TLC and feeding both her and her foal are doing very well.

The Centre was set up in September 2005 with the purchase of four ponies who were all colts - Reggie, Basil, Socks and Star. These were the only four ponies left unsold at the end of the markets in 2005. The original ponies have now been loaned to local homes where Centre members can keep an eye on them, monitor their progress and offer advice and support to their new owners. Wherever possible the Centre tries to re-home ponies in pairs and Basil & Reggie are together as are Star and Socks. The Centre has also just re-homed 2 of this years ponies to a residential development for young adults with learning difficulties where they will be used as therapy ponies.

The Dartmoor Pony Training Centre has a base herd which includes 2 sponsored ponies. Sponsorship costs just £15 a year in return for which the sponsor receives birthday & christmas cards, updates, a certificate and photo of the pony. Unfortunately the Centre is not open to the public but open days are held for sponsors to visit their ponies or if this is inconvient special individual arrangements can be made.

All new arrivals from market are very traumatized when they first arrive at the Centre. Some can be as young as 3 months old. Being put in with a base herd of older ponies really helps them settle down and recover as well as making the job of training them much easier.

This year the Centre aims to become a registered charity and has recently changed its name to the Dartmoor Pony Training Centre to reflect sight changes in the organisations aims to incorporate the general promotion of Dartmoor Hill ponies as well as providing training for people interested in working alongside farmers to train and sell their ponies privately.

The centre strongly believe in positive horsemanship and positive reinforcement training. All the work they do with their ponies involves taking time and sitting with them in the field. they then use positive reinforcement to get them used to wearing headcollars, being led around, being tied up and having their feet picked up. Their principal aim with this type of training is to build up trust and once this is achieved the ponies go from strength to strength and can go on to be fantastic riding, driving or even therapy ponies.

The Centre is planning a training day for around August time where they will be having workshops with various trainers. Members of the public will be welcome on that day as will the farmers who breed the ponies. Although the exact date or location has not yet been finalised it is hoped the event will take place at a farm in Widecombe and will be use this years foals when they are rounded up at the drifts.

The Centre currently has 12 ponies they are trying to re-home and we are always looking for support and sponsors! At the moment ponies can only be rehomed in the Devon area. Further details of the work of the Dartmoor Pony Training Centre can be found at http://www.dprc.org.uk/

Kathryn Hulland
DPTC Fundraising Officer