Ponies are in need of our help
fundraising, volunteering and more
Ponies are in need of our help
Welcome to the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust
The Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust’s mission is to secure the long-term future of the native Dartmoor Pony, while inspiring and connecting people with Dartmoor’s wildlife, landscape and heritage. We do this through education, as well as working closely with key partners, conservation bodies and Dartmoor farmers to secure the future of these beautiful animals and ensure their important role in Dartmoor’s ecology is recognised.
When you adopt a pony with us, you play an incredibly valuable part in keeping these gorgeous animals on the moor. You support the dedicated farmers who care for them and our efforts to promote the Dartmoor Pony for conservation grazing, helping secure a long-term future for them.
How you can get involved
FREE GUIDED WALKS
Our free guided walks showcase Dartmoor Ponies, wildlife and archaeology.
SCHOOLS & GROUPS
Our educational initiatives raise awareness of the ponies’ vital role in maintaining Dartmoor’s unique ecology.
Adopt a Pony
Adopt one of our ponies to support our important work and receive updates on our herd and how they’re doing.
VOLUNTEER
From pony handling to IT support and fundraising, we’re always grateful for an extra pair of hands.
RAISING MONEY & SPONSOR
The DPHT relies entirely on donations and fundraising, so your support is vital to our cause.
FARMERS
The ponies we help are owned by our recognised pony keeper members, farmers working Dartmoor.
The DPHT is a grazing tenant to the magnificent moorland area surrounding Bellever Tor. This enables us to manage and use a herd of ponies for conservation grazing, liaising with other conservation bodies like the National Trust and wildlife trusts to place ponies.
The majority of ponies we keep belong to our recognised Dartmoor Pony Keeper Members, hill farmers who own the breeding herds on the Dartmoor Commons. We help look after ponies to mature to a more valuable age, when they can be used for riding, driving or sold to conservation grazing sites.
Equine ASSISTED LEARNING
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
We welcome primary school children to our site at Bellever to learn more about the Dartmoor Ponies.
SECONDARY SCHOOLS
Secondary school students can learn about the ponies and their impact on
the moorland’s ecology and history.
special educational needs
DPHT has a strong track record working with young people with challenging behaviour or disabilities.