Coffin Bay pony facts for kids

The Coffin Bay Pony is a special type of horse that lives in a wild or semi-wild way in Australia. These ponies came from 60 Timor Ponies brought by English settlers from Indonesia. They arrived in 1839 at Coffin Bay, a place on the southern tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.

People sometimes confuse Coffin Bay Ponies with Brumbies. Brumbies are Australia's most famous wild horses. They roam freely across the country. But Coffin Bay Ponies live in a special fenced area where they are protected.

What Makes Coffin Bay Ponies Special?

Coffin Bay Ponies have always lived in a wild or semi-wild way. This has made them very strong and healthy. They have tough bones and hooves. Their bodies look a lot like the Timor Pony. They have strong back legs and short legs. These ponies also have kind and smart eyes.

There are two main types of Coffin Bay Ponies:

• A lighter type, good for riding.
• A slightly stronger type, good for both pulling carts and riding.

Temperament of Coffin Bay Ponies

Ponies that have been trained are very gentle and friendly. This makes them great for children and smaller adults to ride. Even the wild ponies are known to be friendly and smart.

Colors and Size of Coffin Bay Ponies

Coffin Bay Ponies can be different heights. But they are never taller than about 14.2 hands. This is about 147 centimeters or 58 inches.

They come in many solid colors like:

• Bay (brown body with black mane and tail)
• Brown
• Black
• Chestnut (reddish-brown)
• Grey
• Red and blue roan (a mix of colored and white hairs)
• Dun (a sandy yellow or tan color)

Ponies with mixed colors, like pinto, are not allowed. This is because it shows they might have other types of horse in their family tree. But white markings on their legs or face are perfectly fine.

History of Coffin Bay Ponies

In 1839, a British settler named Captain Hawson came to Happy Valley in South Australia. He wanted to live there and breed horses. He brought 60 Timor Ponies with him. He bought these ponies from a ruler in Sumatra, Indonesia. These ponies were the start of his new horse farm. He wanted to breed horses that could handle the hot climate.

Moving to Coffin Bay Run

Captain Hawson's company grew. In 1847, he moved the Timor Ponies to his new land called Coffin Bay Run. Here, he continued to breed them in a semi-wild but controlled way.

In 1857, Coffin Bay Run was sold to W.R. Mortlock. Instead of just breeding pure Timor Ponies, Mortlock brought in bigger horses. He crossed them with the semi-wild Timor Ponies. This helped him create larger horses. Mortlock used good male horses from breeds like the Welsh Cob, Thoroughbred, and Arabian Horse. He also used Clydesdale and Hackney horses. These might have also influenced the Coffin Bay Ponies.

Mortlock used a plan called selective breeding. This means he chose which ponies would breed. He also removed ponies he didn't want by selling them. In the early 1860s, these ponies were very popular. They were often sold in pairs to pull carts. Others were used for polo or as horses for the cavalry (soldiers on horseback).

Challenges and Survival

In 1927, Mortlock's family sold Coffin Bay Run to Martin Cash. Before the sale, the farm and horse herd had not been well cared for. Breeding horses was no longer making much money. The ponies became wild and their numbers grew very fast. This caused big problems for the new owner. Many ponies were removed or shot to reduce their numbers.

The Morgan family bought Coffin Bay Run in 1932. They saw the potential in these ponies. Instead of removing them, they sold them. The ponies became popular again during the Great Depression. During this time, gas and diesel were expensive and hard to get. Tractors, which had replaced horses on farms, were now too costly to use. This made ponies and horses very important again. The Morgan family would gather a small part of the herd a few times a year. They would then sell them at markets in Port Augusta.

After World War II, people didn't need ponies as much. The economy got better, and machines took over farm work. Moss Morgan, who owned the farm then, found a new use for the ponies. He would gather them, train them to ride, and then sell them as riding ponies.

Saving the Ponies and National Park Life

In 1972, Geoff Morgan took over the farm. To save the herd, he gave the farm to the South Australia Government. The land became a national park. The ponies were still there when the Coffin Bay Peninsula was officially made a National Park in 1982.

At first, the ponies were seen as wild animals that didn't belong in the park. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) wanted to remove them. But local people who cared about the ponies formed a group. They called themselves the Coffin Bay Pony Society. This group worked out a deal. The ponies could stay if they were managed more carefully.

The ponies had caused some damage in the national park. But everyone agreed that the breed had historical value. In 1991, the Coffin Bay Pony Society and the National Parks and Wildlife Service made an agreement. It allowed a much smaller group, or "mob," of ponies to live in the park. This mob included twenty mares (female horses), one stallion (male horse), and their foals (baby horses).

To keep the numbers from growing too much, the ponies were gathered once a year. They were handled and then sold at an auction. A set amount of money from each pony sold went to the NPWS for park management. The rest of the money was used by the Coffin Bay Pony Society.

A New Home for the Ponies

In 1999, the National Parks and Wildlife Service suggested a new plan. This plan would move the ponies away from their natural grazing areas. After some disagreement, the government ordered the herd to be moved.

But in 2003, many people protested. The government had to change its mind. Instead of being removed, the ponies were moved to a special piece of land nearby. The Pony Preservation Society and the State Government bought this land together for A$200,000.

On February 29, 2004, the last group of about 35 or 40 ponies moved to their new home. It was called "Brumbies Run," near Coffin Bay. The ponies now live there with very little contact from people. You can arrange to see them from a vehicle through the preservation society. Once a year, they are still gathered, handled, and sold at auction.