A crucial service ensuring the welfare of Dartmoor’s iconic ponies has received a major boost, thanks to a new grant from the Norman Family Trust.
The funding will support the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust’s (DPHT) specialist pony handler, whose work is essential to the safety and wellbeing of the semi-wild herds that roam the moor. The role is vital for keeping ponies calm and approachable during health checks, veterinary visits, and when moving them safely between sites.
Michael Lithgow CBE, chairman of the DPHT, said:
“This is excellent news for a vital service that we provide for our Dartmoor Heritage keepers and breeders. Handling is key to the welfare of the ponies and to the safety of everyone who works with them.”
Without regular handling, ponies can become difficult or even dangerous to manage, a serious concern given their central role in conservation grazing and maintaining Dartmoor’s unique landscape.
The grant was awarded by the Norman Family Trust, a Budleigh Salterton-based charity founded in 1979 by W.K. (Ken) Norman following the sale of his Norman’s Cash & Carry grocery business. The Trust continues to fund charitable and community projects across the South West.
As well as ensuring animal welfare, the DPHT said the handling service allows ponies to take part in public events and educational programmes, helping people of all ages connect with Dartmoor’s heritage and natural beauty.
“The grant will help secure the future of this service,” the Trust added, “supporting not only the ponies themselves but the farmers, keepers and local communities who rely on them to keep Dartmoor’s landscape thriving.”
For more information about the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, visit www.dpht.co.uk
