What is a 'Rare Breed' Horse?
Odds Farm Park is an approved Farm Park by the Rare Breed Survival Trust. All Odds Farm Park's horses, ponies and donkeys have a log book and females are selectively bred with males to ensure healthy blood lines.
The Rare Breed Survival Trust has five criteria for rare breed horses, based upon how many breeding females (called mares) are left.
Horses
Critical - less than 300 breeding mares left
Endangered - 301 to 500 breeding mares left
Vulnerable - 501 to 900 breeding mares left
At Risk - 901 to 1,500 breeding mares left
Minority - 1,501 to 3,000 breeding mares left
Donkeys
How rare are they?
Donkeys are not rare and are vast in numbers.
Where does the Donkey come from?
Donkeys came to England with the Roman invasion of Britain in AD43. They were used for agriculture and the Romans also used donkeys in their new European vineyards, some as far north as France or Germany.
Throughout history, donkeys have been used for transporting supplies, pulling carts, pulling wagons and working on farms. In the UK the donkey remained a working animal until the early 20th Century, when they were replaced with machinery.
Why have Donkeys at Odds Farm Park
Donkeys have played such a role in history transporting goods and working on farms that children should definitely meet them on a day out at this children's farm. With their long ears they are also incredibly cute. The donkeys at Odds Farm Park are called Mary and Joseph and children can sometimes see them up close at our Meet The Animals show.
Donkeys are still at work. Did you know?
Worldwide, the donkey numbers are actually growing. Experts believe there are over 44 million, with the majority still doing the jobs they have done for 6,000 years.
Eriskay Pony
How rare are they?
The Eriskay Pony is classed as 'Critical' by the Rare Breed Survival Trust, with less than 300 registered breeding mares left.
Where does the Eriskay Pony come from?
Modern Eriskay ponies are the original native ponies from the Western Isles of Scotland. Until the mid 19th Century, they helped with everyday tasks like bringing home peat and seaweed in baskets, pulling carts, harrowing and even taking the children to school.
With improvements in farming methods and more people moving to the mainland, the breed steadily declined in numbers. By 1968 the only Western Isles ponies left were on the islands of Uist and Eriskay and it is at this time The Breed Society Trust was founded.
Why have Eriskay Ponies at Odds Farm Park?
Lottie, the Eriskay Pony at Odds Farm Park, is in an ongoing breeding program to try and increase breed numbers and we hope that one day Lottie will have her first foal. With her friendly temperament, she is also excellent for children to see on their day out.
How would children identify Odds Farm Park's Eriskay Pony?
On a day out at Odds Farm Park, children can see Lottie, a typical Eriskay Pony. She stands between 12 and 13.2hands (122 to 137cm) and is brownish/grey in colour. In relation to her leg length, she also has a dense body, large head and wide forehead.
We hope one day to have a new Eriskay foal, which is likely to be black, bay or roan at birth and then gradually fade to the grey coloration usually seen in most adults.
Exmoor Pony
How rare are they?
With between 301 to 500 breeding mares left, Exmoor Ponies are classed as 'Endangered' by the Rare Breed Survival Trust.
Where does the Exmoor Pony come from?
The Exmoor Pony originates from Exmoor in the South West of England. They are the oldest breed of pony to be found on British Moors and have lived wild on the Moor since the Romans. In fact herds of semi-wild Exmoor Ponies and their foals can still be found on the Moor.
Why have Exmoor Ponies at Odds Farm Park?
The Exmoor Pony at children's farm Odds Farm Park is called Beauty and she is in an active breeding program. Beauty has had several foals already at the farm and we hope to have another very cute foal in the future. They are also at Odds Farm Park for their historical significance as the oldest British Moor breed.
How would children identify an Exmoor Pony?
The Exmoor Pony is a hardy and strong breed, with a wide forehead, thick neck, broad back and short legs. Children on a day out should look for a pony that stands up to 12.3 hands and is brown, bay or dun with black points. Their most identifiable characteristic, however, is their lightly coloured muzzle (the area around the pony's nostrils, mouth, lips, and chin).
Shetland / Miniature Shetland Pony
How rare are they?
Shetland/Miniature Shetland Ponies are not classed as rare by the Rare Breed Survival Trust.
Where does the Shetland/Miniature Shetland Pony come from?
Shetland/Miniature Shetland Ponies originate from the Shetland Isles, located northeast of mainland Scotland and excavations have revealed they date back to the Bronze Age. With rough island conditions, these small ponies adapted to survive bitter cold weather, rocky steep hills and poor grazing lands.
They were domesticated on the Shetland Isles to pull carts and farrow the land but it was not until 1847 when the demand for those ponies increased dramatically. Following a Government Act prohibiting children from working in coal mines, these small hardy ponies took over the children's duties of pulling coal tubs through the narrow and cramped mines. The breed remained as "pit ponies" until the introduction of the miniature horse.
Why have Shetland Ponies at Odds Farm Park?
Small in size, Shetland/Miniature Shetland Ponies are very cute for children to see on their day out at Odds Farm Park. Whilst not rare, they are adorable to see and at Odds Farm Park we have Marmite who is dark brown and is a Miniature Shetland and Treacle who is chestnut and is a Shetland cross Miniature Shetland pony.
How would children identify the Shetland Pony at Odds Farm Park?
Their small size (measuring only up to 10 hands in height) is their most distinguishable feature for kids to recognise on a day out. They have a wonderful full main, chunky tail and can be black, bay, brown, chestnut or grey in colour.
