AN innovative fostering scheme which could help protect the future of Dartmoor ponies is looking for volunteers to get involved. Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust believes the value of the ponies needs to be increased ? one of the primary aims of the trust is to make the indigenous Dartmoor Pony more valued. Dru Butterfield, manager of the Trust, said: ?We want the ponies to be valued for their precious bloodlines, conservation grazing and their value to tourism and our heritage. However, we also need to increase their financial value.? The Trust believes that one of the most effective methods for improving the ponies? value is to handle and mature them to a more valuable age. Their foster scheme is based on the success of the Guide Dogs for the Blind, who have used puppy walkers to take on potential guide dogs in their first years. Mrs Butterfield said: ?Our foster scheme works in a similar way. It ensures ponies in the scheme are given the best possible start to a long and useful life. ?We have a continual supply of young stock requiring experienced equine homes, from just weaned foals to gelded yearlings.? Dartmoor foals are usually weaned after six months, following the pony drifts in early October. They are sent to foster homes for their first winter as they do not thrive on the open moor during the harsh winter months. At twelve months the colts are castrated and returned to the 1,000 acre site for conservation grazing. At four or five years the stock are backed and sold for riding and driving. The Trust supply herds of ponies for conservation grazing and have a continually updated sales list. The Trust runs a number of training days every year. This basic handling ensures the ponies are given the best possible start in life. Mrs Butterfield said: ?Our principal trainer is Vanessa Bee of Positive Horsemanship. Vanessa and husband Phillip introduced the DPHT to a quick and kind method of handling stock using a round pen. ?This method has proved so successful that we are now in a position to handle a minimum of 150 ponies per year.? Every training day includes health and safety advice, using a round pen to halter a foal for the first time, teaching a foal to lead, grooming and picking up feet and loading into a trailer and catching. Due said: We firmly believe in handling foals as soon as they are weaned, training is much easier at this stage of their development. ?A well handled foal is a pleasure to work with and will pay dividends in later years. ?By carrying out this work we are creating a better product to sell and this will undoubtedly help keep the breeding stock on the moor where they belong.? A day course costs just £20. For further information regarding Dartmoor pony fostering, contact Dru Butterfield at [email protected]">[email protected] or call 01626 355314 or go to http://www.dpht.co.uk">www.dpht.co.uk