A partnership that’s built on trust

Leading the way as the Dales Pony Society’s centenary ride passed through Barnard Castle last year was forester and breed enthusiast Charlie Parker. Wendy Short went to meet him at his Baldersdale farm  

CHARLIE Parker has 46 years of experience as a commercial forester and at one time had a team of more than a dozen employees. It was not until the early 1990s that he became interested in working Dales ponies and naturally his interest was drawn towards snigging, a Cumbrian term to describe the use of ponies for wood extraction.

His current main snigging pony is Rocky, whose striking colour is known as bay roan; the rarest colour within the breed, which itself is on the critical list published by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Rocky, along with all of Charlie’s other mature ‘Roandale’ ponies, is also broken to ride and drive.

“I went on a snigging course in the South Lakes and was then fortunate enough to receive help and advice from George Read, who is a well-known figure in the industry and has been snigging for many years,” says Charlie.

“Under George’s guidance, I took to it like a duck to water and I soon acquired a field and a couple of ponies, which he helped me to break in. I would not describe myself as an expert horse logger, because I think there are far too many ‘experts’ in the equestrian world. My preferred term is professional.”

The interest in horse logging is not confined to equine enthusiasts and teams make a wonderful sight, perhaps because they remind us of days gone by, when life was simpler and humans were more in tune with nature. Nevertheless, professional horse logging is very hard work, stresses Charlie.

“Some people go into it with a romantic view, but in fact it takes many years to acquire the skills and you have to work efficiently, if you want to make a living. Neither can it be done without having a lot of knowledge of forestry work in general. It can also be dangerous, especially when working on steep banks.

“The tonnage per day will vary, depending on a number of different factors, but I can consistently remove 24 tonnes of softwood thinnings a day with one pony. That is enough to keep three men busy with chainsaws.”

While pulling logs out of the forestry is Charlie and Rocky’s speciality, their first job for 2017 was the exact opposite, when they were asked to take a set of wooden poles along a half-mile track into Deepdale woods, where they were being used to construct a footbridge.

Versatility is one of the breed’s key strengths and Rocky is also put to use when it comes to chain harrowing fields on the 125-acre holding. The pair also attend various working demonstrations and agricultural shows throughout the year.

Animal training of every kind relies on an abundance of patience and this quality is at the forefront of Charlie’s approach. Dales ponies are slow to mature, compared with many other breeds, he points out.

“My youngsters are usually mouthed at about two-and-a-half years old and long-reining is started, but then they are turned away,” he explains. “They are brought back into work at three-and-a-half to gain some more long-reining experience.

“Once they are going quietly, they are taught to pull a tyre, but they are soon turned away again to mature further. The real work does not start until they reach four and they will not be used for heavy logging or road work until they are five years old.

“Dales are long-lived and can still work into their late 20s, as long as they are not pushed when they are too young. They like to have a job to do and thrive on a challenge, so I like to keep them busy for as long as they are physically capable.”

Another prerequisite of animal training is getting the basics right and Charlie believes that any well-trained pony can turn its hoof to snigging, or pulling farm implements; as long as it has the right temperament.

“A calm, quiet nature is essential, because a nervous pony and a 60-foot pole running behind is not a safe combination. It also has to be willing to work in a partnership and the trust will build, as long as the hours are put in. The relationship builds as time goes on and the pony gets better, while machines tend to deteriorate. Native ponies tend to be naturally sure-footed and this is essential, when working in the woods.”




Showing

ROANDALE stud is currently home to nine bay and blue roans; colours which are rapidly increasing in popularity. Only a handful of youngstock is produced each year and just eight mares have been put in foal for 2018. Over the years, the stud has generated dozens of prize winners and Charlie himself likes to support as many local shows as possible, time permitting.

His ponies do “fairly well” at Kirkby Lonsdale and have won every breed class, as well as picking up ribbons in the in-hand and driving classes at Bowes, Eggleston, Brough and Appleby.

“The main reason for showing is to promote the Dales and demonstrate its versatility,” says Charlie, who moved to Teesdale from Ingleton, in North Yorkshire. “My interest lies in retaining temperament and type in the breed and preserving its working ability.

“In my opinion, there is no satisfaction in winning in the show ring, if a pony cannot go home and carry out a job of work. A century ago, the vast majority of Dales were employed in some form or another, but today only a small number are being used. The Dales is unique and it is also a very unspoilt breed.

“I would really like to think that it will retain its working characteristics.”




Goats

VISITORS to Hill Gill will probably smell the Old English billy goats, before they catch sight of them.

These are known as a cottage breed, being cobby and producing just enough milk to suit a small family. The only show within striking distance which has a class for Old English goats is held at Pateley Bridge, and Charlie’s goats have picked up several prizes at the event.




Sheep and Cattle

IN keeping with his commitment to native local breeds, Charlie has 100 Dalesbred ewes, some of which date back to a flock which belonged to his uncle.

Lambing in April, their lambs go to mart off grass by November, usually going through Kirkby Stephen. The farm also supports a small herd of Belted Galloways, which fit in well with the farm’s Higher Level Scheme agreement.




All in a Dales Work

CHARLIE’S wife, Gina, has written a book, All in a Dales Work. It contains stories, anecdotes and photographs of their working Dales ponies and is on sale at The Bowes Museum.