A NEW video dedicated to the much-loved Dartmoor Pony was released at a launch in Princetown last week.
Friends of the Dartmoor Hill Pony, which commissioned the video, hope it will help ensure the future of the ponies on the moor, plus educate the public about the importance of their history and the vital role they play in moorland conservation.
The video, called A Year of the Dartmoor Pony, has been narrated by actor Brian Blessed. It features a potted history of this hardy species and takes a look at a variety of important moorland events throughout the year, including the annual drift, or round-up, of the ponies in the autumn.
Charlotte Faulkner of Friends of the Dartmoor Hill Pony said the group wanted to ensure the future of ponies on Dartmoor for future generations. She said the ponies played a huge part in keeping the moor as it looks now and preventing it from becoming an ?overgrown jungle?.
As much of the proceeds from the video as possible will be used for the welfare of ponies ? for example, the establishment of an office to oversee the issuing of the new pony passports, which animals will shortly be required to have if they are sold at market.
The history of Dartmoor ponies goes back to very early times. Hoofprints investigated by archaeologists reveal that Dartmoor ponies have been in existence for around 4,000 years. They were popular with the ancient Romans, who used them for chariot racing.
They have been used by man for hundreds of years, whether for the transport of peat and tin across the moor or as pit ponies underground.
At their peak, there were around 30,000 ponies running free on Dartmoor. Now, their numbers have been reduced to just 2-3,000.
The video can be seen at an exhibition, ?Spirit of the Pony?, currently on display at the High Moorland Visitor Centre in Princetown.
There is something for everyone to enjoy at the exhibition, including contributions from artists such as Suzie Marsh, Duncan Rice, Yvonne Burchell, Beryl Coles, Yli Sonne and Nicola Werner.
There are also a variety of artefacts on display along with contributions by the Dartmoor Pony Society and publishers Halsgrove. The exhibition includes fascinating photos and a ?Moor Memories? listening post which provides a glimpse of the everyday life of ponies in the early 20th century. Children can enter a Ranger Ralph pony quiz and there will be specially oganised guided walks where you can meet pure-bred Dartmoor ponies. They last for two hours and leave Widecombe-in-the-Moor car park at 10.30am on Saturday November 29 and Saturday December 6.
The exhibition can be seen at the visitor centre daily between 10am and 4pm, until December 17.
The Year of the Dartmoor Pony video can be bought in local shops priced £12.99 or by phoning 01364 631036.