Ask experienced horsey families to name the ideal first pony and a great many will say "a good Dartmoor". Kind, sensible, hardy and beautifully sized for children, the Dartmoor is a genuine confidence-giver that quietly gets on with the job of teaching a child to ride. It has none of the flash of some breeds and all of the substance. Here is an honest guide to what they are like and who they suit.
Dartmoor at a glance
- Height: up to 12.2hh (127cm)
- Origin: Dartmoor, in south-west England
- Temperament: kind, sensible, calm, honest
- Best for: a first or second pony, lead-rein, first-ridden, Pony Club
- Typical UK price: around £1,500–£5,000
Origins and character
Shaped by the harsh, open moorland of Devon, the Dartmoor is tough, sure-footed and economical, with a comfortable, workmanlike way of going that suits a learning child perfectly. Generations of use as family and farm ponies bred in a steady, reliable temperament. They are a little bigger and rangier than a Shetland, giving a child a pony they can genuinely ride and learn on.
Temperament: what they are really like
The Dartmoor's calling card is its temperament. A good one is calm, honest and forgiving — the sort of pony that looks after a nervous child and gives confidence rather than testing it. They are sensible without being dull, and kind without being sharp. This makes them one of the most sought-after native confidence-givers. As always, buy the individual and its honest history, not just the breed.
Height and the right rider
At up to 12.2hh, the Dartmoor is ideally sized for young children and makes a superb first pony — big enough to do proper riding, small enough to feel safe. Many children ride one for several happy years before stepping up. Use our pony height guide to check the fit, and remember a sensible established pony beats a green one every time for a beginner.
What Dartmoor ponies are good at
Dartmoors excel at exactly the things a first pony needs to do well: lead-rein, first-ridden, Pony Club, working hunter and happy hacking. Their comfortable paces and level heads make them ideal for building a child's confidence and skills. A well-schooled one is a lovely all-day family pony that never lets you down.
Keeping a Dartmoor: health and upkeep
Like all natives, Dartmoors are good-doers and prone to laminitis on rich grass, so careful grazing management is important. They are otherwise remarkably hardy, sound and long-lived — many work happily into their twenties and beyond. Budget for the running costs with our cost guide before you buy.
What does a Dartmoor cost?
As a broad UK guide, a sound, sensible Dartmoor commonly sells for around £1,500–£5,000, with proven first ponies carrying lead-rein and first-ridden experience at the upper end. A genuine confidence-giver is worth paying for — the running costs and the value of a child's safety and confidence dwarf the purchase price.
Is a Dartmoor right for your family?
Wonderful if you want a kind, sensible, hardy first or second pony for a child, value temperament above flash, and can manage a good-doer's grazing.
Think twice if your child is bigger or more advanced and needs more scope — look at a New Forest or Welsh Section B — or if you specifically want a competition pony to progress fast on.
Next steps
- Browse Dartmoor ponies for sale on Pony Search.
- Learn what "good" looks like in choosing your first pony.
- Compare the natives in our best breeds for a first pony guide, and always arrange a vetting.
For a huge number of families, a good Dartmoor is simply the perfect first pony — steady, kind and honest, the pony a child never forgets.