Pure bred dales?

[kirt]

I went to see a dales pony last night with a view to buy him. The owner had told me that he was a pure bred dales, although he was not registered. When i got there the first thing i noticed was that he had white markings on his front feet (as well as the back).
I am aware of the breed standard and that it only allows white markings to the hind feet. Is it likely that he has some other breed in his bloodlines, or could he just be mis-marked?

can anyone help?

[polly]

he could just be a section B dales pony, this is when the pony is a pure bred but has white in the wrong places!

[flintfootfilly]

It's possible he could be a purebred Dales, and that the breeder did not submit the mare's covering slip to the DPS to be able to have him registered as a purebred foal. From what I gather, it's more common for some geldings/colts not to be registered, whereas fillies are more likely to be registered (I think, because they would need to be registered in order to be able to produce any registered purebred foals in due course).

However, I think it makes more sense for breeders to register all their purebred stock, not least because it'll almost certainly add to the value of the pony if/when they choose to sell.

I suppose my own thoughts are that you'll probably never know whether or not the pony is purebred. I think it's fairly widely accepted that some sellers will describe a pony as a "Dales pony" if it's black and hairy, even having no other proof of its breeding. Again, I think this comes down to the likely value and demand for such a pony, and it may well not actually reflect the pony's true breeding.

I guess it's worth thinking about how important it is to you whether or not the pony is registered as a purebred Dales. If he's not registered, then you won't be able to show him in many M&M classes (a lot of which are only open to registered purebreds), although some shows do have classes for unregistered M&M types. As he's a gelding, there is no question over him ever breeding, so no issue with potential foals and their registerable status.

As an unregistered "Dales type" pony, you'd not be able to show him at any of the DPS breed shows, although the performance show is open to unregistered "Dales type" ponies.

Then again, if you aren't interested in showing, then does it matter at all whether he's registered or not?

Section A Dales ponies are only allowed at most a star, a snip and white up to the fetlocks on both hind feet. If there's any more white than that, the pony is registered as a section B, so that would include those with either a blaze or with white markings higher than the fetlocks on their back feet, or those with white to their front feet. I understand that some people show registered section B's quite successfully, and it's only at the DPS breed shows that the section B's have their own class, separate from the A's.

If you do decide to buy him, then do make sure that you are paying a fair price for him. Without any proof of breeding, I don't think you should be paying as much for him as you would for a registered Dales pony.

Sarah

[grace]

Just want to add that some breeders didn't register mis-marked ponies.

[kirt]

Thanks all. It is not my intent to show him, but it is always nice to know where your horse/pony came from.

If i decide to take him I may try to trace his breeding through past owners, although it may not be possible.

thanks again

[greydales]

If the owner is adamant he is pure bred, then she must know his breeding, otherwise she can't state this as fact. She may be saying this to ask more money for him. However if he is a nice pony, it doesn't really matter - if as you say you don't intend to show him.

Let us know how you get on

[DalesLady]

flintfootfilly said:

Section A Dales ponies are only allowed at most a star, a snip and white up to the fetlocks on both hind feet. If there's any more white than that, the pony is registered as a section B, so that would include those with either a blaze or with white markings higher than the fetlocks on their back feet, or those with white to their front feet.

May I just add, this is all correct, but they will also be Sec B if they have only a little white but it is in the wrong place. ie., we have a beautiful registered Sec B mare with a star in the correct place above eye level and a sprinkling of a few white hairs below eyelevel. This make her a B although she has no white anywhere else.

We have just begun to show her and we are doing quite well with her. Many Section B's are good quality animals sometimes better than Sec A's.

[vjjjebony]

Section b's have won many championships in hand and ridden.
and represented the breed at Olympia.


this lady must know both parents to register a pony. and have very good proof.
registering a pony is NOT easy.
It is a long costly job unless you have very good proof of parents and DNA from all of them.
Valerie.

[harleydales]

Harley is a Section B because he has too much white on his hind leg. Healso forgot to stop growing, not sure if this countsagainst him or not?? He was late registered.If you register a foal, how do you know how big it will grow?

[anna85]

The height defiantly doesn't count Jane, the breed standard now reads around 14-14.2 h rather than to be no higher than. It was changed around 5/6 years ago now I guess. For what its worth tucker (sec.A) is just over 14.3 (and looks it cos he's such a solid chap) and he took two ridden breed classes in his day.

[manorian]

The breed standard reads preferred height 14h to 14.2 but for showing anything outside this range is a confirmation fault and it is up to the judge to penalise the pony.