Testimonials - Higher Venton Farmhouse Dartmoor Bed and Breakfast

From Trisha Luxton - This wonderful chap has been part of the successful carriage driving team
who did John O'Groats to Lands End 3 years ago and is now looking after a 10
year old jockey in everything he wants to do. Not the fastest pony on the
circuit but probably the safest, as Taylor's mother said, "I knew Felix
would bring my son home safe and sound and give him a good experience" he is
without a doubt an exceptional pony - thank you Mike and Margaret for all
your hard work with these Dartmoor ponies.

An update on Bracken from Harriet Houghton

I took him to his 1st show yesterday and he was quite amazing. Firstly we took 2 others and he was left in the box on his own while we competed them. When I got him out it was as if he had been at shows all his life. An 8 yr old child could have led him around. He did have a look at the stalls and tents a bit but not in more than in a normal way. Everyone admired him and wanted to know what breed he was so I was full of praise for the Dartmoor heritage ponies. I had entered in a mountain and moorland small breed in hand(they didn’t need to be registered) but it was all ages .i think about 9 in the class and he came 3rd beaten by 2 very flashy welsh section A’s. I have enrolled my step grandson Noel to help me back him next week. He is 12 and a keen pony racer. We will just ride him round the yard for a few days and leave it at that for this year. I can long rein him anywhere and he even comes into the tack room!!

He still has the most amazing temperament.

Ponies supporting conservation on a site at Shaldon South Devon with the RSPB

From Cath Jeffs

“The ponies have settled in extremely well and look like they belong here. No problems with them coming to be fed. They are very curious and like to come and see what people are doing.”

“Spring in particular is very sweet and wants to come and be friends - it feels very heartless shooing her away!!”

“So far so good - we are all really loving having them with us.”

‘We wanted to have the ponies on the site so that the scrub we have spent the last two winters clearing does not just grow back. The ponies will compliment the cattle and sheep already used on site. What we are trying to achieve is a mosaic of open grassland and scrub across the whole reserve. This provides fantastic habitat for insects, plants and birds, in particular the cirl bunting which is a speciality of Labrador Bay.’