Welcome to the Kingmaker Dales Pony Stud situated just to the north of the beautiful Loire Valley of Western France, a World Heritage Area renowned for it's fine vineyards, tranquil scenery and numerous royal castles.

 

We are Helen and Martin Rhodes, an english couple who moved to France in Summer 2004. We run a small stud, set in forty acres, committed to preserving the talented but endangered Dales Pony, a British Mountain & Moorland breed.

 

Due to previous injuries - not horse related - we no longer compete with our ponies, but do still ride for pleasure. We therefore have ample time to concentrate on our stud activities and aim to produce a small number of quality, true-to-type, selectively bred Dales Pony foals each year.

 

Our foals are lightly-handled from birth and gently prepared to be sold on to new, approved homes where they should excel in a wide variety of equine disciplines, and be excellent ambassadors for their breed.  

 

We have sold Kingmaker youngstock to the UK, mainland Europe and the USA and enjoy on-going contact with all of our buyers as we love to follow our youngstocks' progress.

 

All of our ponies are certified CLEAR for Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIS).

About the breed

 

The Dales Pony ideally stands at 14-14.2hh (140-145cm).

 

Colours are black, brown, bay, grey or occasionally roan.

 

Minimal white markings are permitted to the face and lower hind legs only.

 

Manes, tails and forelocks are left long and flowing. There should be a small amount of silky hair at the heels.

 

Dales Ponies are native to the harsh environment of the Upper Dales & Pennine regions of North East England.

 

They are renowned for their hardiness, excellent conformation, versatility, quality of limbs & bone, and willingness to please.

 

They are very people-orientated and form strong bonds with their human partners.

 

Thanks to their famed paces, in particular a powerful and eye-catching trot, Dales Ponies make an excellent ride & drive pony.

 

Dales Ponies achieve success in a diverse range of equestrian disciplines, including Dressage, Endurance, Show-Jumping, Working-Hunter Pony, Cross-Country, In-hand Showing, Ridden Showing, Private & Trade Class Driving and Le Trec. Several work commercially in carriage driving enterprises and others in a farming or forestry role.

 

In short, they really do live up to their title of the GREAT ALL-ROUNDER !  

 

Please see our Gallery page for pictures of Dales Ponies in action.

 

 

 

 

To learn more about the Dales Pony, or to view the Breed Standard, please click on the logo for the

Dales Pony Society (UK) :