Lucky 13 for Dales pony family

A TEESDALE family is riding high after winning 13 championships as the dales pony marked its centenary year.
But Middleton-in-Tees-dale’s David Eccles has warned that the future of the iconic animal, which remains listed as endangered, cannot be fully secured unless there are more breeders.
The Dales Pony Society celebrated the 100th anniversary of the studbook with a week of special events in August, culminating in a grand ride through the streets of Barnard Castle.
A dinner and dance at The Morritt, in Greta Bridge, last week brought down the curtain on a momentous year. It has helped to raise publicity of dales ponies, which are Teesdale’s native breed.
David and Alison Eccles, together with their children, have spent a busy year showing their ponies at a number of major events.
Out of 14 championships they entered, they won 13, including many reserve championship titles too. Mr Eccles, who farms at Hardberry Hill, Aukside, said: “It’s nice to have had such a successful year in the centenary. But it’s been hard work and has taken a lot of time and effort.”
The 2016 success story started with a win at the Dales Pony Society’s spring show, at Streatlam, in May. Many others followed – from Equifest, in Peterborough, to the Great Yorkshire Show.
“But the ones I really wanted to win were the society’s spring and summer shows and we managed to do that. That’s a big achievement because there were a lot of entries as it was the centenary year,” Mr Eccles said.
The only championship to elude the Eccles family was Eggleston Show in September. The family are especially proud of their achievements at the Great Yorkshire Show.
“We took a three-year-old filly we had never shown before and got the overall championship,” beamed Mr Eccles.
The old favourite Westwick Heather, who has won countless prizes of the years, showed age was no barrier and was judged as the reserve champion.
Aged 14, she is past her prime but still stands perfectly, Mr Eccles said.
“She looked really well that day,” he added. Because of her good temperament, Westwick Heather is seen as an ideal training pony for Mr Eccles’ three grandchildren, who are all involved in the family tradition.
“It’s nice that the kids are coming on, going to shows and enjoying themselves,” he said.
Being judged overall mountain and moorland champion at the Ryedale Show also ranks highly in the Eccles’ year.
But those achievements were not down to just one or two star ponies.
“Westwick Kate and Westwick Polly won, Westwick Jessica won and so did Millie. It’s like the old saying, ‘don’t put all your eggs in one basket’,” said Mr Eccles, who has been on the top of his game for more than 15 years.
Mrs Eccles said: “What’s his secret? It’s his knowledge of back breeding – David’s head is like a computer with that, but it’s also due to his stocksmanship.”
The family sell ponies across the country and further afield – a German enthusiast snapped up one of their ponies recently.
But Mr Eccless is worried about the future of dales ponies. He said: “There are six or seven of us breeding 50 per cent of the foals. There are just 70-odd registered foals across the country. That’s not good,” he said. “The older generation were leaving us, but there were people like us coming through as breeders. Who is coming behind us now? That’s what I’m worried about. People breed them in ones and twos, but not in any numbers.”
However, he hoped a big year would lead to a change for dales ponies, which are renowned for being strong, sure-footed and versatile.
Mr Eccles said: “It’s been a massive year and a massive success for promoting dales ponies. Hopefully that will encourage more people to have them.”