The versatility and hardiness of a native pony means they’re an apt choice for many riders. But which breed would be the best fit in your life? Alex Robinson investigates
VISIT any livery yard in the UK and you’re likely to find a pony with native influence residing in one of the stables. The idea that the mountain and moorland (M&M) is only suitable for a rider with low ambitions and competitive expectations is a thing of the past, as we witness them performing grand prix dressage, winning horse trials and scooping supremes at the likes of Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).
“All 12 of the M&M breeds from the British Isles are tough and, as their heritage demands, extremely intelligent,” says the National Pony Society (NPS) council’s M&M breed council representative Madge Taylor. “Each individual breed – and indeed, each individual pony – has their own special attributes.
“Many riders started their careers on a Shetland. They’re a good introduction to the joy of riding and learning to care for a pony, its diminutive size not being too overwhelming for a small child.
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"}
This feature can also be read in this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 6 May
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Aimee Devane is on board two victorious Welsh section D stallions, including Clare Granger’s London Golden Eye, who tops both Silver Medal and British Isles ridden championships
Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
Freelance equestrian journalist
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
