Type the name of the breed you're looking for below

[wpdreams_ajaxsearchlite] Don't see the breed your're looking for? Click here and let us know!

[fbcomments]

Dülmen pony

Country Of Origin	Germany
History and Background	The Dülmen Pony, like most horse breeds, got its name from its place of origin. The Merfelder Bruch, which is located in the western part of the town of Dülmen, is the only breeding ground for these wild ponies. This is due to this area’s peculiar combination of heath, moor, and wood. In fact, this is the last pony breed of German origin that lives naturally in the wild and has never gone through selective breeding. The Dülmen Pony breed is said to have been around for more than 600 years, although the first record of the breed only dates back to 1316. Wild horses at that time were being persecuted, but the Lord of Dülmen obtained rights for them, thus providing refuge for these wild horses. As human settlements grew and spread, however, the reservations for these horses inevitably became smaller and smaller until the Dukes of Croy decided to collect all of the horses and give them refuge elsewhere. The Dülmen Pony was transported to and given a new home in Merfelder Bruch of the Wildbahn, an area for wild animals. Nearly 900 acres in size, the area contained everything that the ponies needed to survive on their own, including pastures and watering holes. The Dülmen Ponies have never had artificial shelters and have never been given supplemental food; thus, they are completely wild. These ponies now run in herds 300 members strong. Some zoologists claim, however, that the Dulmen Ponies are actually not "wild" because of the marks of domestication that can be seen in them. For instance, some Dülmen Ponies exhibit colors and have manes that are not natural to the breed.
Use Today	Pleasure pony, Riding pony
Height	12 to 13 hands (48-52 inches, 122-132 centimeters)
Colour	Any colour
Characteristics	The hindquarters of this breed of horses are not well formed. They have a primitive look. The neck is short. They have characteristics that are similar to that of the Polish Konik breed. Usually the mares of this breed are not given away to people. It is only the stallions and the yearlings of the breed that are made available to people.
Personality and Temperament	The Dülmen Pony is a hardy and self-reliant horse that has great stamina. It is intelligent and once tamed, good-natured and obedient.
Other Considerations	The ponies are left to find food and shelter, must cope with illness and death. Therefore, only the strongest in the herd survive, promoting the toughness of the breed, and making them resistant to disease. Once a year, on the last Saturday of May, the ponies are rounded off and the foals separated. The foals are sold at a public auction, and the mares are returned with only one or two stallions.