Ruth on the Hoof

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Native Pony Project: The Hidden Hoofbeat of Britain & Ireland. DM for prints & art references 🐴🐴
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Animal photographer (primarily equine) and advocate for rare breeds and their place in our landscapes

The Hidden Hoofbeat of Britain & Ireland

14/06/2026

The cheeky bottoms of twins 🍑🐴

The rare Liddelpark Fell pony twins were born a few years ago. They have now grown into gorgeous little ponies all thanks to their wonderful dam Kinkryhill Cracker and their breeder.

Twins are rare in equines. I am extremely lucky to have been able to visit this rare pair - not only rare as twins, but a rare breed too. Their mother was absolutely wonderful with them, and they both had such an individual character from an early age! It was quite tricky trying to get images of both of them, and I spent most of the time just sitting and letting them do what they do. At one point they lay down near me and their mother left me “babysitting” whilst she went to graze (she is very busy producing milk to keep these two growing!). I was just so enchanted by them🐴⛰! The Fell pony is one of the UK’s rare native pony breeds. They originate from the Cumbrian fells (where they get their name) and are adapted to live, work, and thrive in all the extreme weather the region is known for. They are an extremely versatile breed and well suited to all kinds of riders, drivers and liberty trainers. Not to mention their wonderful suitability to conservation and rewilding due to their natural hardiness 🐴🐴 ©Ruth Chamberlain also known as Ruth on the Hoof. Any use of these images (including art references) and text must have prior permission from the author/creator🐴🐴______________________________________

13/06/2026

Beautiful Highland pony mare and foal 🐴⛰️

The highland pony was developed in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland as a Crofters’ pony (a Croft is a small scale farm that supports a small family) - but they also are known for carrying red deer carcasses off the hill as seen in some of these clips (check out my pinned post for more information). They are valued for their strength, kindness and easy keeping. They come in a range of colours: bay, black, red, grey, and of course the dun variations. The silver gene is also present in certain lines🐴🌄 ©Ruth Chamberlain also known as Ruth on the Hoof. Any use of these images (including art references) and text must have prior permission from the author/creator🐴🐴________________________________________________

12/06/2026

Eriskay pony at the highest point of the island 🐴⛰️ The Eriskay pony is one of the oldest and rarest breeds in the UK. It is the last remnant of the western isles pony and survived extinction due to isolation by sea of Eriskay. It was utilized by the islanders until better connections were made to Uist and the Mainland. During this period, machines became more available replacing the work of the ponies, threatening their existence. These ponies are critically rare and hardly found outside the British Isles 🐴⛰. There were around twenty left in the world during the 1970’s, and due to the hard work of the crofters and locals, they saved the breed and formed the mother society and studbook (Eriskay Pony Society-CEnE). Eriskays have a very dense coat that is shorter than most of our other natives, most likely an adaption for living by the sea. They are prized for their lovely temperament and willingness to work, which makes them an ideal family pony and working partner.
Eriskay ponies are categorised as priority by Rare Breeds Survival Trust 🐴🌄

©Ruth Chamberlain aka Ruth on the Hoof. Any usage (including art references) must have prior permission from the author/creator.

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11/06/2026

Viking the Shetland pony back when he was a little foal 🐴🥰 Shetland ponies are an ancient breed, with remains of small ponies being found on the Shetland Isles dating to 2000 years ago! The remoteness of Shetland meant that very few horses were imported which has kept the breed pure. The lack of available fodder (especially in the winter) made these ponies extremely hardy, strong, and resilient - it also possibly accounts for their small stature (which would need less energy than a larger animal). Like a lot of the UK breeds, they can turn to seaweed in times of scarce food - in fact all the Scottish pony breeds often lunge at the chance to forage seaweed. Shetland ponies an important part of life on these islands and the crofts people lived and worked on. From transporting fertilisers like seaweed and peat, ploughing, and transporting people. They have legendary strength and are the strongest horse breed relative to its size - they can pull nearly twice their own weight! Shetland ponies also became very in demand as pit ponies - in fact many of the best Shetlands were exported to the mainland and there was a risk that the best stock may be lost to the islands if it carried on. Some of these ponies were reimported to Shetland to keep the breed quality high. Today the Shetland pony is immensely popular all around the world. The Royal family have a great fondness for them that started with Queen Victoria. Perhaps the success in popularity of the Shetland pony is the great love and pride many people in Shetland have for them. I have never travelled to a place where a breed originated to see so much merchandise and physical ponies in fields. In my opinion this is how we should see all of our breeds - a part of our heritage that should be celebrated and preserved 🥰🐴

10/06/2026

The phenomenal young Highland pony stallion Macleod in the evening autumnal sun a couple of years ago- he just oozes presence and quality. This breed was developed in the highlands and islands of Scotland as a crofters pony and are also well known as a deer stalking pony (see my other posts). They are valued for their strength, kindness and easy keeping. Highland ponies are categorised as “At Risk” by 🐴🌄 ©Ruth Chamberlain known as Ruth on the Hoof. Any use of these images (including art references) and text must have prior permission from the author/creator🐴🐴_______________________________________

08/06/2026

One from the archive of Amadeus. This was back during my first few visits to these boys and they were getting to know me ☺️🐴 Amadeus is part of a small herd of Exmoor ponies who have been conservation grazing in this little wetland nature reserve for over a decade - a testament to native hardiness and further proof that native breeds are the best choice for grazing projects 😍🐴 It is important to note that welfare provision for any grazing animals in enclosed wetlands must be provided - even water buffalo do not want to be in water 24/7. These welfare provisions include (but are not limited to) providing a dry escape where the animals can rest out of the water and providing welfare checks and acting upon any issues. The exmoor pony is an ancient breed, with some speculation that they may even be descended from the wild horses that roamed Britain before the last Ice Age. This is not supported by current DNA research, but these ponies certainly resemble those carved and painted by ancient humans. Exmoors are famed for their mealy markings which are considered a primitive trait and one that is not as common in other breeds. Ponies have been reported on Exmoor throughout much of written history, and these ponies formed the basis of the modern Exmoor pony. Sadly, they nearly became extinct in the 20th century (as did many of our native breeds) due to factors such as mechanisation and war. Some accounts also suggest that they were a target for easy meat during hard times of hunger during the World Wars ©Ruth Chamberlain known as Ruth on the Hoof. Any use of these images (including art references) and text must have prior permission from the author/creator ______________________

07/06/2026

This was a cheeky Welsh Section B foal from my visit to the Hilin Stud last year 🐴🐴

The Welsh Pony, otherwise known as the Welsh Section B is one of the middle-sized of the 4 Welsh pony sections. It is the only Welsh pony breed on the RBST watchlist where they are considered “At Risk”

The Section B descends from the Section A (Welsh Mountain pony) and was developed to carry more weight by introducing Arabian and Thoroughbred blood. It was important to retain all the hardy characteristics of the Mountain pony, but creating an ideal mount for riding - particularly on the hill farms in the region. They must have bone and substance but be of definitive “Riding Type”. They are wonderful all-purpose ponies and make excellent (and fast) ridden and driven ponies. Like all of the U.K. M&M breeds, they are very hardy and can live out in open areas with the ability to work when called upon 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🐴

©Ruth Chamberlain aka Ruth on the Hoof. Any usage (including art references) must have prior permission from the author/creator.

_______________________________________

06/06/2026

Highland pony carrying a red deer stag in the Scottish Highlands. I was invited to accompany these Highland ponies (known as garrons) and their handlers (known as ghillies) to document them collecting red deer stags from the hill. This is a very traditional job, and it was very interesting to see the pony not only in its natural surroundings, but also doing a job it was bred for. The UK has no natural predators for Red deer, and as a result the deer numbers need to be managed to prevent overgrazing (and ecological damage) across the Scottish Highlands. One of the traditional roles the Highland pony developed was to carry deer back off the hill - even today, the terrain is so steep and uneven that machinery cannot always be used. Their job is to go out onto the hill where they are loaded up with the carcass, and they then bring it home for processing (where the venison goes into the food chain). These ponies can access places where modern ATVs cannot, and they still have a valuable role across Scotland carrying these deer. The ponies have to be highly trained to do this work, and the highland pony is perfect for the role - it is valued for its strength and courage, which allows them to physically do this very demanding job. Some stags can weigh over 20 stone and the pony has to keep its balance as it picks its way across the hill - when you seem them moving, you soon see that it is not like carrying a rider. It was quite something to witness, and very interesting to see first hand. Highland ponies are categorised as “At Risk” by 🐴🌄 ___________________________________________

05/06/2026

Handsome Toby the Highland pony on sand dunes in the Outer Hebrides. Highland ponies are equally at home high up on a hill, or down by the seashore. This breed was developed in the highlands and islands of Scotland as a crofters pony working in all sorts of agricultural roles. They are also well known as a deer stalking pony where they carry red deer carcasses off the hill (see my other posts for more details). They are valued for their strength, kindness and easy keeping. Highland ponies are categorised as “At Risk” by 🐴🌄 _______________________________________

04/06/2026

The handsome Dales pony stallion Roandale Bobby. He was a stunning blue/black roan - which is a rare colour in Dales ponies as the roan gene nearly went extinct in the breed! Dales ponies originate in the Dales region of northern England (the east side of the Pennines to the Lake District). Dales ponies were developed as all-purpose working ponies, particularly on hill farms in the region where they would do all sorts of required farm and transport work. They have a rich history and one interesting aspect was the introduction of Trotter blood. When trotting races became popular, the Dalesmen bred Trotters into their working ponies which resulted in an animal they could work as well as race (not being able to afford to have both). As a result, the modern Dales pony possesses incredible athletic abilities accompanied by the most gorgeous and powerful trot🐴🐴 Dales ponies are categorised as priority by 🐴⛰ ©Ruth Chamberlain also known as Ruth on the Hoof. Any use of these images (including art references) and text must have prior permission from the author/creator🐴🐴
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