ESSENTIAL
INFORMATION
Bidding at Auction is exciting and fun and represents an amazing opportunity to become part of Dartmoor’s History whilst also protecting a rare pony from one of the only semi wild herds remaining in England. However, for some it may seem like a daunting process so read on for all the details you need to know.
Being well-prepared and informed will help ensure a smooth pony-buying experience at auction. But we are here to help. If you are excited at the idea of being able to purchase a Dartmoor Hill Pony but unsure or nervous of the process at auction we can allocate a member of our team to assist you. Just email buyers@dartmoorhillpony.com at least 1 day before the auction date you are planning to attend and we can make arrangements to have someone available to assist you.
Micro Chipping and Passporting of Ponies under DEFRA rules
All ponies are Micro-chipped and a Passport will either be in place or applied for before they leave the sale with their new owners. DEFRA, in consultation with the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association, agreed that ponies leave the Sale with Temporary Identification Document (TID’s)and full passports are issued within 30 days of the sale. It is therefore imperative that both buyers and sellers comply with the agreed DEFRA/DHPA process at the Sale for a compliant and smooth handover of ownership and that address details supplied by the buyer are correct as this will be where the passport is sent to and cannot be changed without further cost to the purchaser.
Obtaining your Bidder’s Number for the Auction
If you are intending to bid for a pony, please go to Rendell’s office in the corner of the Sale field, pay £10 and receive a Bidder’s Number for the auction. Your Bidder’s Number is linked to your details, which are reproduced as the new keeper of any pony bought with this number on the Temporary Identification Document (TID) and the final passport. The passport will be sent to the address you supply and cannot be changed without having to reapply for a passport. To avoid any such issues, please triple check the address supplied is where you wish the passport to go!
Refundable £10 Bidder’s Number (Rendells Auction Only)
The £10 cost of the Bidder’s Number is refunded on the purchase of one pony by the registered buyer.
Obtaining a Sales Catalogue
You can obtain a sales catalogue by contacting the auctioneers’ office or by downloading from our Facebook and website pages. These are also available on the day from the sales office.
Bidding at Auction
Bidding is done in Guineas. You can find a handy Guinea Convertor on our website, but one Guinea is equivalent to £1.05 in decimal notation.
VAT & Buyers Premium
All lots are subject to VAT, unless otherwise stated and all purchases are subject to a buyers’ premium of 10% plus VAT.
Point of Ownership
All lots at the fall of the hammer become the property of the purchaser. Therefore a winning bid is binding and full payment is required before collecting your pony.
Accepted payment methods
Cash Only for passport. Card or cash, bank transfer or cheque (cheques by prior arrangement only). We do not accept American Express.
Collecting your pony or ponies
Please ensure you have a suitable trailer/lorry to transport ponies purchased. Read the following notes for a checklist of what happens next. In all cases you should comply with all current legislation , e.g. the transit of animals (road & rail) order 1975 and the welfare of animals (transport) order 1997. There will be people on hand to help you load.
Help with Transport
If you require help with transport Friends of the Dartmoor Hill Pony operate a transport scheme. Full details can be found in the Transport section on this page. Please contact us in advance if you need help.
After Sales Checklist
After you have made your purchase
- Pay for your pony at the auctioneer’s office and collect your receipt.
- Go to the Passporting area and show your receipt as proof of purchase.
- Payment £35.00 (cash only) this is the cost for each pony purchased of their microchipping and passporting.
- You will receive a “Temporary Identification Document” (TID) which is valid for 30 days. Please check your details are correct on your TID before leaving the auction, especially the address!!
- You will receive a full Pet ID passport during the 30 day period following the Sale. If you have NOT received your full Passport within 30 days of the Auction please send your TID back to us and let us know.
Note: Some ponies may already have a passport issued by another passport issuing authority, these passports will have to be returned to the Passport Information Office (PIO) with payment required by that PIO for administration to transfer into the new owner’s name within 30 days. The cost of the transfer will depend on who the passport issuing authority is for that passport. (This isthe responsibility of the new owners and not covered by the DHPA)
We would like to say a huge thank you to DEFRA for valuing semi-wild ponies and working with us to specially accommodate thepassporting of them at the Sale.
At Home with
Your Pony
We recommend worming your pony once they've had a chance to settle into their new home and are comfortable.
After that, a regular worming routine will keep them healthy! Remember, these ponies are used to roaming up to 20 miles a day in search of food, so it’s important not to overfeed them. Overfeeding can cause digestive issues and even lead to laminitis, so keeping their diet balanced is key to their well-being.
Make sure to keep your pony passport in a safe place—you'll need it for vet visits or if you ever decide to sell your pony. The Dartmoor Hill Pony Association is here to help! We have information sheets and advisors ready to offer support on all aspects of pony care, including training tips. We also recommend a fantastic book, "No Force, No Fear" by Sarah Weston, which is full of helpful advice.
We wish you the best of luck with your new pony and hope you enjoy them as much as we do! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at buyers@dartmoorhillpony.com
WHY THIS OPPORTUNITY IS
Special
Discover the unique magic of the Dartmoor Hill Ponies:
- Found Nowhere Else: These incredible ponies roam only on the rugged, beautiful landscapes of Dartmoor.
- Semi-Wild Majesty: Though owned and distantly managed for welfare, these ponies live freely in natural herds, led by a stallion. As the last semi-wild equine herds in England, they embody the untamed spirit of Dartmoor.
- Ancient Heritage: With over 4,000 years of history on Dartmoor, these ponies may even carry Ice Age equine genetics. A living link to England’s ancient past!
- Newly Recognised: After being listed by the British Breed Revival Trust in 2021, the Dartmoor Hill Ponies were officially placed on the Rare Breed Survival Trust Watchlist in 2023.
- Critically Endangered: With fewer than 1,000 breeding mares left, these ponies face an uncertain future. Their numbers are so low that the population risks becoming genetically unviable.
- Rare and Resilient: These ponies possess rare genetic traits that help them survive harsh environments, making them invaluable to scientific research and one of only two types of equines globally with these qualities.
- Champions of Biodiversity: Their grazing habits enhance biodiversity, supporting rare species like the Marsh Fritillary Butterfly and curbing invasive plants. These ponies graze even at high altitudes, year-round, thanks to their unique genes.
- Beloved Icons: Visitors and locals alike cherish the Dartmoor Hill Ponies, who have become an inseparable part of the moorland’s culture and landscape.
- Cultural Stewards: Dartmoor’s Commoners continue to uphold age-old traditions, caring for these herds and preserving a way of life that’s deeply intertwined with the ponies.
- Natural Grazing Experts: Each herd's stallion plays a vital role in maintaining balance, directing the herd to the best grazing spots and managing herd dynamics.
- Protected Yet Threatened: Classified as endangered by Defra and the United Nations, these ponies face an uncertain future due to government agricultural policies that may threaten their survival.
Help keep these magnificent ponies roaming Dartmoor! Support the efforts of the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association and Friends of the Dartmoor Hill Pony by joining the movement to save this rare breed. Become a Dartmoor Warrior today by joining our wonderful Facebook page Dartmoor Warriors!
No Fear, No Force
A guide to handling and training semi-feral foals in a gentle and effective way
The autumn sees 1,000’s of wild native foals changing hands at the sales. Many of them have had little or no handling. For the new owner it can be a daunting prospect taming their new foal. This is where my book No Fear, No Force will come into its own. Beautifully illustrated, the book will make an incredible difference to the lives of foals that are trained using the gentle and effective methods described. I have every hope that it will become the new tradition in foal handling.