Eriskay Pony facts for kids
An Eriskay pony on Eriskay
|
|
| Distinguishing features | Dense, waterproof coat, large head. |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Outer Hebrides, Scotland |
| Breed standards | |
| Comann Each nan Eilean - The Eriskay Pony Society | Breed standards |
| The Eriskay Pony Society | Breed standards |
| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
The Eriskay Pony (Scottish Gaelic: Each Beag nan Eilean or Each Èirisgeach) is a special type of pony from Scotland. These ponies are usually grey and have a thick, waterproof coat. This coat helps them stay warm and dry in bad weather. The Eriskay Pony has lived in the Hebrides islands of Scotland for a very long time. Because these islands were so far away, the ponies stayed pure and did not mix with other horse breeds.
Today, people use Eriskay ponies for many things. They can pull light carts, carry children, and compete in different horse riding sports. They are also good for pulling carriages. This breed is quite rare now. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust says their numbers are "critical," meaning there are very few left. There are two main groups that help protect the Eriskay Pony. One is Comann Each nan Eilean - The Eriskay Pony Society, started in 1972. The other is The Eriskay Pony Society, started in 1986. Both groups keep records of the ponies to make sure the breed stays healthy.
Contents
What Makes the Eriskay Pony Special?
Eriskay Ponies are usually between 12 and 13.2 hands tall. Most are grey, but some can be bay (brown) or black. Darker ponies often have lighter hair around their muzzle and eyes. This is called "pangaré." However, they should not have a dark stripe down their back, which is called an "eel stripe." The breed groups do not like ponies with chestnut (reddish-brown) coats, or those with large white patches (called piebald or skewbald).
Their Coat and Body
In winter, their coat gets very thick and waterproof. This protects them from the harsh island weather. They also have a thick mane and tail. Eriskay ponies have a large head with a wide forehead. Their neck and shoulders are strong, and their chest is deep. Their back is short and strong. Their rump (the back part) slopes a little. They look quite similar to the Exmoor pony.
Temperament and Uses
Eriskay ponies have a calm and friendly nature. This makes them great for children to ride. They are used for pulling light loads. They also do well in sports like dressage (fancy riding), show jumping, and three-day eventing (a mix of riding challenges). Some Eriskays have even competed in international combined driving events. They are also used in therapeutic horseback riding, which helps people with special needs.
History of the Eriskay Pony
The Eriskay Pony comes from the Isle of Eriskay. This island is part of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. These ponies have a very old history, going back to ancient Celtic and Norse times. They look like ponies drawn on old Pictish stones found in Scotland. They are related to other northern breeds, like the Icelandic horse and the Faroe pony. The Eriskay Pony gets its name from its home island.
Life as a Crofter's Pony
Long ago, there were many Eriskay ponies. Until the mid-1800s, they were common across the western islands of Scotland. People used them as "crofters' ponies." A crofter is a small farmer. The ponies helped carry things, pull carts, and were ridden by children. They were very important for daily life on the islands.
Changes and Decline
During the 1800s, the number of pure Eriskay ponies dropped a lot. This happened because people started mixing them with other horse breeds. They wanted bigger ponies for heavier work. So, Eriskays were bred with horses like Arabs and Clydesdales. Other horses, like the Norwegian Fjord, were also mixed with island ponies to create breeds like the Highland pony.
A few pure Eriskay ponies survived on the remote island of Eriskay. It was hard to get to the island, which helped keep them safe from mixing with other breeds. But as machines took over horse work, the pony population kept shrinking. By the early 1970s, there were only about 20 of these ponies left. In 1941, a ship called the SS Politician sank off the Eriskay coast. The islanders, with the help of their Eriskay ponies, carried away the ship's cargo of 250,000 bottles of whisky!
Saving the Breed Today
Today, the Eriskay Pony is still rare. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust says its status is "critical." This means there are 300 or fewer breeding females in the world. In 2009, there were about 420 ponies worldwide. The Eriskay Pony might be the last remaining pony breed from the Hebrides.
Two main groups work to save the breed. The Eriskay Pony Society and Comann Each nan Eilean - The Eriskay Pony Society both keep official records of the ponies. Their goal is to protect the original genes of the breed. They use careful breeding plans to keep the ponies healthy and prevent too much inbreeding. Only ponies registered with these groups are used for breeding.
Wild Ponies on Holy Isle
Besides the ponies that live with people, there is a small group of Eriskay ponies living wild on Holy Isle. These ponies came from five ponies brought to the island in the 1970s. At that time, the island was a nature reserve. Today, the island is owned by a Buddhist center. They let the ponies live freely without human help.
Culture
A Gaelic poet named Donald MacDonald (Dòmhnall Aonghais Bhàin) wrote a special poem for the Eriskay pony in 1972. This poem celebrated the first official record book for the ponies. The poem talks about how useful the ponies were to the crofters. They carried seaweed and peat (a type of fuel) and were always gentle with children.
Bha iad riamh an Èirisgeidh 's gum b' fheumail iad don t-sluagh,
Bha iad troimh na linntean ann sna tìmean chaidh air ruaig;
Thàirneadh iad a' mhòine gu fògairt chur air fuachd
Is làimhsicheadh an òigridh iad 's bha iomadh spòrs 'nan cuairt.
Images for kids
-
Eriskay ponies at a show
-
Traditional creel rigging on an Eriskay pony
-
Eriskay pony on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland
