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British breeds: Dales

Join PONY on a trip to the north of England as we meet the fab and flashy Dales pony!

Dales Ponies showing class

The largest of all the pony breeds native to the British Isles, the Dales pony is known for its distinctive black coat, abundant mane and tail, and flashy, high-stepping trot. Look familiar? That’s because the Dales descended from the now-extinct Galloway pony – the same breed that the slightly smaller Fell pony came from. The Fell pony is the Queen’s choice of mount – so if you ride a Dales, you’ll practically be mounted on equine royalty!

Fast facts

Height: 14–14.2hh

Colour: Usually black, but can also be brown, bay, grey and, in rare cases, roan 

Place of origin: Yorkshire

The pony for you if… you want a hardy all-rounder who can manage the most challenging of hacks

The gold standard

The Dales pony is most commonly black, with a neat, pretty head and small ears. Their body is broad and muscular, and their legs are stocky with large hooves. Having short backs and sturdy bodies means they’re extraordinarily strong for their size. They also have long, thick manes and tails and plenty of feathering on their legs – all this acts as a natural raincoat for the harsh Yorkshire winters! 

Most Dales ponies don’t have markings, but some may have a small star or snip, and a bit of white up to their fetlocks. 

DID YOU KNOW?

There are still some Dales ponies roaming free in the eastern Pennines. On holiday in the Peak District? Keep your eyes peeled for ponies! 

Ridden dales pony

Purpose-built ponies

Nobody is quite sure when the Dales pony was first established as a breed, but as far back as Roman times there are references to hardy local ponies being used for the cavalry and in lead mines. The ponies were bred to be strong, hardy and intelligent, rather than to follow any breed standards. But, in the 18th and 19th centuries, the native ponies were bred with trotters to give the Dales its distinctive, expressive trot. 

In the 20th Century, the Dales was called on for the Second World War effort because their incredible strength and bravery made them the perfect pack ponies, used to carry supplies and artillery on the battlefield. Unfortunately, their numbers dropped as a result, and fans of the beautiful breed had to work very hard to save it once the war ended. 

Modern marvels

Nowadays, Dales ponies are still prized for their hardiness, but they tend to be put to different uses! Dales are popular all-rounders, and can be found dazzling the judges in the show ring. Because of their enviable strength, paired with a kind and brave nature, they’re suitable for younger riders and adults. Their strong, sure-footed nature makes them fantastic for hacking, and they can easily cope with long distances and tricky terrain. They also easily take to pulling a trap, and are handy jumpers – talk about multi-talented!

DID YOU KNOW?

The Dales pony is officially considered endangered – it’s believed that there are only around 1,500 of these fab ponies worldwide. 

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