The Dales Pony Conservancy of North America is excited to announce the receipt of a donation given in honor of Debbie Hamilton, a long-time pioneer in importing, breeding and promoting the Dales Pony in the US. This gift has been given to enable DPCNA to import frozen Dales Pony stallion semen from the UK that will then be distributed to owners of Dales Pony mares in North America for artificial insemination in order to diversify the bloodlines of this critically endangered breed here. As we finalize the next steps to make this initiative a reality, DPCNA will continue to focus on doing all that we can to build upon Debbie Hamilton’s legacy. We anticipate that details on the distribution process will be shared with our DPCNA community after October 1, 2024.
We are so honored by the trust that has been placed in DPCNA to ensure that Debbie’s legacy lives on. Not only will this gift ensure that DPCNA can have a significant impact on improving the genetic diversity of Dales Ponies in the US, but we are also certain that this initiative would have pleased Debbie and all those who knew her and worked with her to promote and preserve the Dales Pony in the US. We know that the news of this wonderful gift will be received with the deepest gratitude by the Dales Pony community both here and in the UK.
DPCNA is saddened to learn of the passing of Pat Hastings on November 8th in White River Junction, VT. For those who didn’t know her, Pat was a force of nature and a passionate supporter of, and advocate for the Dales Pony Breed. Pat spent much of the last 20-plus years dedicated to breeding Greenmountain Dales ponies in collaboration with Debbie Hamilton, who, in the late 1990’s, founded the Hamilton Rare Breeds Foundation in Hartland, Vermont with the goal of breeding and preserving these rare breed “Great All Rounders” in the US. Pat was renowned for her gift for training Dales Ponies—her Greenmountain Dales were sought after by so many. She trained her ponies to drive at the highest levels, qualifying with her talented pair of Dales ponies, Redprairie Gandolf and Greenmountain Rob Roy McGregor, for the FEI Driving World Championships. We are thankful for Pat’s legacy, and ask that anyone with photos or stories of Pat or her beloved Greenmountain Dales ponies share them with our DPCNA Facebook community.
Any photos or videos will be used to create a video tribute to Pat and recognition of the invaluable impact she had on the Dales Pony breed here in the US
Check out "Meet Tony Smalls, a Mini Horse with a knack for tricks raises money for a therapeutic riding center." Annie Parsons and her mini-horse, Tony Smalls, and Dales Pony, Bucky, were recently featured in Horse Illustrated, ed. July 2023. The article explored Annie's training techniques, Tony's artistic talent, raising money for a therapeutic riding center in Martha's Vineyard, and a quick introduction to Bucky.
DPCNA is so excited to see this story about Tony, Bucky, and Annie and we are excited to see what is next for Annie and her herd.
It's here!
DPCNA member Jennifer Mims (Florida) has compiled a searchable database detailing what we know about Dales Ponies on this continent-- who they are, where they are, who owns them and lots of great detail that afford us our first opportunity to have a resource that allows us to detail each pony we have any information on. The database is in a downloadable Excel file where you can search for gender, color, breeding status, number and registered owner.
We will be uploading a form on this website for Dales enthusiasts to enter new information, corrections, deletions or clues that might help us track down the many 'lost' Dales ponies we have in North America. Want to know how many foals were born this side of the pond this year and years past? Breeding mares? Licensed stallions? What ever happened to?
So many thanks to Jennifer for not only creating this baseline data but also monitoring your submitted changes and helping us to stay in touch with DPS UK on updating the 'official' mother registry. This is huge and we are immensely grateful to all of our Dales fans for helping keep this database live and accurate.
Hardy and dextrous, Fiddlehead Astrid, 4yo, Dales pony in Springfield, Oregon competed for the first time, November 2020, at the Oregon Horse Center’s National Mountain Trail event, winning her first ribbons.
Mountain Trail is a judged event designed to show the confidence, boldness and athletic ability of horses, ponies and mules while being challenged by highly demanding trail obstacles.
Astrid was shown in nine classes on radical obstacle courses with her owner/trainer, Jane Snar, who was very proud of her calm demeanor and graceful footfall throughout the 4-day competition. Astrid placed third overall in the highly competitive in-hand novice division.
Jane tells us, "The wildfire’s out west ravaged our beautiful forests. We had to evacuate, but fortunately the fires missed our home and pasture by a mere eight miles but the residual smoke and ash made breathing a challenge for humans and ponies. Life has gotten back to normal for Astrid and her herd of British native ponies: Istas the Fell, Wallace the Highland and Freddie the Shetland. They are thriving once again on their favorite foothill in the Sky High neighborhood. We have welcomed the winter rains with open arms."
Huge thanks to the brave souls who stepped up to give a try to traditional show pony competition for Dales. It's one thing to exhibit in person where you go in, come out, it's done and over but an entirely different experience when your judge is 5000 miles away and you're not entirely sure how it works! Thanks to UK's Sparket Classy Lassy (who is now a Maine resident!) and Zana Jackson for letting us YouTube their DPS videos as How-Tos.
Competitors across the USA from Washington to New Hampshire jumped right in, sending in videos for In Hand and Ridden classes judged by the generous Ellen Maxwell Jones, in Cumbria. Ponies were in western and English tack and riders did their best to exhibit neatly, if not in traditional requisite outfits, as few this side of the pond have tweed jackets in their wardrobes, especially at the height of August's 'dog day' heat.
Having a clean pony coincide with a willing photographer, a dry day, and the regulations requiring a one-take as-is video, were handled beautifully, and we are very proud of contestants' efforts to make it all work.
Our judge kindly gave us feedback for each rider and pony which in summation noted:
She also noted that we might want to think about a weight watcher's visit or two for those greedy Dales bellies, remembering au natural is the Dales look-- no trim--and putting more (or less) oomph in the ridden show.
She particularly admired our senior mares and our junior handlers!
Congratulations to each and every competitor who had the courage to go for it-- and here's to 2021!
Winners:
Class 1-A. Mares In Hand.
1st: 117 Red Prairie Anna Bea - Shuna Cerrato 2nd: 118 Raspotnik Arabella - Shuna Cerrato 3rd: 119 Raspotnik Bess- Shuna Cerrato
4th: 103 Canadale Prim and Proper-Jack Covert 5th : 112 Raspotnik Duchess -Viggo Cerrato 6th: 115 Green Mountain Gracie-Ellen Stetson
Class 1-B Geldings and Stallions In Hand
1st: 106 Poederosa Black Magic-Blackshadow Dales 2nd: 120 Kingmaker Talisman- Shuna Cerrato 3rd: 101 Lagniappe Apollo- Katrina Brunner
4th: 116 Blackshadow Superstition, Christian MacDonald
Class 1-C Youngstock
1st: 107. Dakotadales Quicksilver (Ashel)- EriMarie Langsdorf 2nd: 113. Roandale Ragged Robin- Shuna Cerrato 3rd: 121 Cascadiadales Andrew- Shuna Cerrato
4th: `104 Blackshadow Supernova- Blackshadow Dales
Ridden WT and WTC
1st: 120 Kingmaker Talisman-Shuna Cerrato 2nd: 109. Roandale Gay Lad- Meg Robbins
3rd: 101. Lagniappe Apollo-Katrina Brunner 4th: 111 Lagniappe Bri[ania- Rebecca Fawley 5th: 116. Blackshadow Superstition- Christian MacDonald
Best Stallion:
Kingmaker Talisman: Thornville Pride x Manorian Moonstone
Cascadia Heritage Farm, Shuna Cerrato
Best Mare:
Red Prairie Anna Bea: Dartdale Peter Boy x Red Prairie Anna
Cascadia Heritage Farm, Shuna Cerrato
Best Youngstock:
Dakotadales Quicksilver: Rosebarr Gambler x Lagniappe Britannia
ErinMarie Langsdorf
Best Gelding:
Roandale Gay Lad: Colliery Chance x Abbeymead Amy Rose, Meg Robbins
June, 2020:
Cascadia Heritage is a small family farm focusing on breeding and promoting Dales Ponies and a few other endangered breeds of livestock. Shuna, George and their son Viggo all work on the farm daily and enjoy spending time with the ponies. This spring at Cascadia Heritage Farm has been busy! We welcomed four beautiful Dales Pony foals in the month of May, one big black colt and three black fillies. Thankfully all the mares foaled uneventfully, and the mares and foals are doing well. One of the mares, Redprairie Anna, and her filly Cascadiadales Brilliant, will be leaving us after Anna gets back in foal so they can start a small Dales Pony breeding program in Bend, Oregon. We will all miss them, and Viggo especially will miss Anna as she's his favorite pony to ride. But he understands there are other children who need to experience the joy of having Dales Ponies too, so he's agreed to let her go. Our young stallion Roandale Ragged Robin has just begun his breeding career, and we are hoping his first foal will arrive next spring. Because of our time limitations we've decided to send our older stallion Kingmaker Talisman to spend some time with Jessica Wisdom and Kenton Wright. They will take him to some shows to help spread awareness about this fabulous breed.
Months in the planning, changes a constant, lots learned-- we did it! DPCNA had a great booth with an exhibition stall attached in the Breed and Farm Exhibit at the Stroh Building, ably staffed by members, friends and family. Many thanks to breeders Blackshadowdales, Elysium Farms and Downeastdales for donating generously to the booth costs along with DPCNA funds, and to Deb Trudell for master-minding the extensive booth details.
Dales ponies did two 10 minute ridden demos, ably showing the versatility of the breed as well as their ability to get on with the show in a lively and engaging way. Anja Stadelmann and Clancy did a top notch job at the Fundamentals Forum, where she shared the history of the breed, took questions and Clancy stood being electrically shocked by the microphone in stride.
Our ponies had constant visitors both in booth rotations and in "C" barn with a million fingers and little hands poked in, and no one bitten. The hairy ponies were a huge hit, attested to every time a pony was changed out of the booth and visitors were exiled to the sides of the pathway leading out of the pavilion, and we heard, "Oh! There's a Dales Pony!" from pleased new fans. This is a great way to get the breed known and loved and we are thrilled that DPCNA Midwest is gearing up for EA Ohio!
Equine Affaire is one of the largest opportunities for breeds, riders and enthusiasts to share what makes them special. We are delighted that this year DPCNA will be featured in both the northeastern and the midwestern events!
Roandale Gay Lad and his hairy Canadian Horse pal Dudley had a great day out sampling hay fields in hunt country Pomfret, CT last week, joining many horses interested in the kind of serious hard conditioning tempo that eventer's need. Clearly we were not going to be competition. Drenching rain, drying winds, both ponies were delighted to arrive at the Finish Line Not Last-- and there was still some pizza left!
