Grant from Norman Family Trust

The DPHT is grateful to for the generosity of the Norman Family Trust. The Norman Family Trust was set up in 1979 by Mr W K Norman after he sold and retired from his Norman’s Cash & Carry business, which had a number of thriving stores across the South West.  Mr Norman was keen to repay the loyal support of his customers from the region and, along with other family members as fellow benefactors and trustees, set up a grant-making trust to provide funding to Westcountry charities and other non-profit organisations. The Trust is based in Budleigh Salterton in East Devon, which is where Mr Norman lived and opened his first store.

The grant was made to support the provision of handling services to pony keepers of Dartmoor Heritage Ponies on the Moor. This is a vital service to enable the safe handling and management of these semi-feral ponies and herds on Dartmoor. We have specially trained personnel who carry out this work that minimises stress to the ponies. We don’t set aside a fixed time to handle – a decision is made on the temperament of each individual pony. Handling is also necessary for those ponies being used for conservation grazing around the UK as well as those that are purchased for first ridden, companion and driving. This service is provided a nil cost to the pony keepers themselves and is part of our direct support to them.