Our aim at the Springwater Stud is to spread the word about Dartmoor Ponies. Katy’s first pony was a Dartmoor pony called Boveycombe Zeus and he was every mother’s dream. Gently forward going, he was bombproof and 100% safe but not a slug! He gave Katy lots of fun and confidence. We believe most Dartmoor ponies will do the same for the children who ride them.

Dartmoor ponies are willing to please and very placid. Many Dartmoor ponies are willing to jump with enthusiasm. Our breeding programme is aimed at producing Dartmoor ponies that will give children the wonderful experience of a good ride, but will do so entirely safely. The Dartmoor Pony is likely to become your child’s best friend as the photo taken more than fourty years ago shows.

I had a terrible panic one evening as Katy (then aged 6) had disappeared from her bedroom.

This is where I found her………. in the farmyard, reading bedtime stories to Zeus.

Over the years we are proud to say the stud has won many of the leading titles in the Dartmoor showing world with major wins at shows all over the country. In fact virtually all of the homebred mares have been either DPS Youngster of the Year or DPS Mare of the Year, or both, at least once. These titles are gained by winning the most points across DPS selected Star (considered the most competitive) shows in England and Scotland.

Ponies either produced for ridden classes or sold to be produced ridden have won many major titles at the highest level, including Mini M&M championships at both HOYS and the RIHS. The most recent example being Springwater Tactician; he is the only native pony, of any breed, to win both the RIHS and HOYS Mini M&M Champion titles in the same year, 2023, The ultimate definition of consistent success.