There are four pure-breed registry sections, D through A,  in the Dales Stud Book.  However, sections D and C are effectively nonexistant and there are no section D or C mares in North America.   The ponies in sections A and B are differentiated only by the amount of white marking at birth.  Section  A ponies are allowed to have a small star of white on the forehead, a white snip at or below the nostrals and white to just above the fetlocks on the rear feet.  Section B ponies are allowed additional white markings.  Both are full-blood Dales and both can produce registerable off spring.  Properly colored filly foals from section B mares will be registered in the A section of the registry.  To be eligible for licensing inspection all stallions must be at least three years of age, sired by a registered Dales stallion and out of a section A mare.  Section A colts out of section B mares are not eligible to be licensed as stallions. 

In addition to the pure-breed registry there is a part-breed registry section for ponies with at least 25% proven Dales breeding, calculated from either or both parents.  There is no upgrading from the part-breed to full-breed registries.   In recent years one more section has been added to the registry due to regulatory requirements of the European Union (EU).  This section, titled "section X" consists of ponies sired by an unlicensed or unapproved Dales Pony stallion and out of a registered Dales mare or any progeny from any pony entered in section X of the stud book.  We encourage all breeders to avoid the breeding of any section X animals since it works directly against the purposes of the breed standard. 

Blooming Dales Pony Farm is the first home of registered Dales Ponies in the United States.   Our current breeding stock of three mares and one stallion were all born in England.  They were brought into the United States as foals in November of 1994.    Our mares are section "A" (top ranking) registered with the Dales Pony Society of England and the stallions are licensed through the Society.  All our foals are registered with the Dales Pony Society in England, are microchipped for identification and carry the prefix "Redprairie" in their names.  We are members of both the Dales Pony Society (England) and the Dales Pony Society of America (DPSA).  Dales ponies are not only unique they are also rare.  There are only about one hundred in all of North America.  The first Dales Pony born in the United States is Redprairie Knight foaled at our farm April 29, 1998 and now residing in Lousiana.

 

Our interest in Dales Ponies began in the 1980's from a picture in a book. We established contacts with the Dales Pony Society soon after that and made our first visit to England in 1993. Since that first trip we have been back six times, attending pony shows and visiting farms to see a cross section of this wonderful breed. On our most recent trip we attended the 2005 Summer Breed Show at Barnard Castle, Co. Durham. Through our visits to England we have seen a great number of  Dales Ponies and we are still impressed with their friendly nature and their handsome beauty.  If you live too far away to come and visit please check below and consider purchasing a video or book about these wonderful ponies.

The Dales Pony Society (England) published a comprehensive book on the history of Dales Ponies in 2001.  It is a 200 page hard bound edition that traces the origins of this exceptional breed  back to Roman times.  It also includes  the history of the Dales Breed Society with stories and photographs exemplifying the strength and character of these little giants.  Copies of  this excellent reference book have been provided to us by the Dales Pony Society and we are pleased to be able to offer them to you for $44 US, postage paid.

Since 1998 we have been compiling a video record of  the ponies here at Blooming Dales Pony Farm.  The tape is over two hours long and includes ponies being ridden, in harness, at play and in-hand.  It is a great way to see how these beautiful ponies move.  For those considering a pony purchase in the near future, we always include recent footage of our sales stock.  The video is available as a VHS tape for $12 US, postage paid.

The Dales Pony Society is now making available a 30 minute video showcasing Dales Ponies in a variety of equine performance categories.  This video was professionally made in Great Britain in 2003.  It includes interviews with well established breeders in England and will take you over rolling hills and pastoral streams to breed shows, logging trails and dressage arenas.  Purchasers of this video have told us that they are impressed with the great quality and excellent content of the production.  Please note that the North American video format (NTSC) version of this video is available only through Blooming Dales Pony Farm.  The Dales Pony Society 30 min. video is available for $22 US on VHS tape or $24 US on DVD, postage paid.