Lundy Pony

Lundy Pony

Image: TheBritish Horse.com website no longer a working website

Image Credit - A Luny Pony Photo

Country of Origin: England

The Lundy Pony is a breed of pony first developed on Lundy Island in England. The breed originated in 1928, when the owner of the island, Martin Coles Harman, introduced 34 New Forest pony mares, eight foals and a Welsh Mountain B strawberry roan stallion. Diana Keast, his daughter, explained why he chose to cross these breeds: "He wanted ponies with a bit of style and height. Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies were nearer and more convenient - after all he had to charter a special train to bring the ponies from Lyndhurst - but they wouldn't have had the height he wanted." The Welsh stallion died only a year after arriving on the island, having sired just one foal - a colt called Pepper. Luckily this first "Lundy pony" grew into an upstanding stud stallion, creamy dun with a black mane and tail. By the Thirties there were so many ponies roaming the island that about 50 were rounded up and sold on the mainland. During the war there was no way of shipping ponies from the island and the herd reached nearly 100. There was constant warring among the entire stallions so that in 1944 a number had to be put down.

The pony herd was moved from the island in 1980 and taken to Cornwall, where it continued to breed. Some were also taken to New Devon. In 1984, the Lundy Pony Breed Society formed to oversee the breed. The Society later decided to return some of the mares and foals to the island of Lundy.

Due to the harsh environment of the island, with its poor vegetation and severe weather, the ponies grew to be incredibly tough and hardy. They typically are dun, roan, palomino, bay, or liver chestnut in color, and rarely exceed 13.2 hh in height. The ponies have a wide, deep chest, sloping shoulder, and hard, sound legs. Their necks are usually well-set and muscular and their backs strong and compact. Lundy Ponies are useful as mounts for children, as they are both attractive animals and good natured.

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