News

RBST publish 2019/20 Watchlist

Posted on April 10, 2019 at 12:20 PM

The RBST have just published the Watchlist for 2019/20 along with the Watchlist report.

The report highlights the situation facing the Eriskay pony and states ''Conservation effort in 2019 will once again be on focussed on the perilously rare Eriskay, a versatile pony with a superb temperament, which sadly saw only 2 foals registered in 2018''.

The report further states ''Some equine breeds remain particularly vulnerable, and without the ability to freeze embryos successfully, the “living Gene Bank” of horses and ponies in the hands of dedicated breeders is especially important''.

To view the Watchlist and the report, please go to www.rbst.org.uk

RBST Equine Breeders Seminar

Posted on October 21, 2018 at 10:10 AM

The EPS was represented at the Equine Breeders Seminar organised by the RBST and held on Saturday 13th October 2018 at Stallion AI Services, Chapel Field Stud, Whitchurch, Shropshire.

A very interesting day with talks by Prof. Tim Morris, Vice-Chairman, RBST, Ruth Dalton, Northern Field Officer, RBST, Dr Andy Dell, Tullis Matson of Stallion AI Services and Jeannette Beranger of the Livestock Conservancy USA.

Following lunch there was a tour of the impressive facilities at Stallion AI and a demonstration of Equine Gene Banking and Equine Reproductive Technology.

Dr Andy Dell gave a talk on SPARKS as a breeding tool which highlighted the issues rare breeds face. The slide used in his presentation can been found at

https/www.rbst.org.uk/Pages/Category/rbst-documents

Scottish Smallholder Festival 2018

Posted on September 25, 2018 at 10:25 AM

The Scottish Smallholder Festival 2018 will be held at Forfar Mart on Sunday 28th October.

Once again in the Festival will explore our equine heritage and is delighted to welcome along representatives of some of the wonderful native breed horses and ponies. Many folk getting into smallholding (and many existing smallholders) enjoy having an equine or two around the place – and they can do a job of work too.

The Festival will feature an Equine Parade with examples of most of our native breeds being presented along with expert commentary from Donald McGillivray. It’s a rare opportunity to see and learn about some of the scarcest breeds of ponies and horses including of course Eriskay Ponies.

The Eriskay Pony Society will have a stand with a pony on display who will also take part in the parade carrying creels. The stand will feature information about the breed with members able to give advice and support to anyone wishing to own or breed these wonderful adaptable ponies. There will also be the opportunity to have a cup of tea and a bit of cake so do pop past and see us.

More information on the festival can be found at www.ssgf.uk

EPS Autumn Meeting Saturday 8th September.

Posted on August 18, 2018 at 12:10 PM

The EPS autumn meeting will be held on Saturday 8th September at Scotland AI Services, Craigton Farm, Winchburgh, West Lothian. EH52 6PY by kind permission of Mr Ben Wentink. Meeting at the farm at 10.30am, (sat nav will take you right there) Ben will show us around the stud and explain the AI process. We expect to be there until about 12.30 then will adjourn to the nearby Rouken Glen Garden Centre Café for lunch. It would be helpful if members and guests could advise if they are attending and further details can be obtained from Ruth McMinn on 01467 681231, 07780643909 or email ruthmcminn@btinternet.com

RBST Marsh Christian Lifetime Achievement Award 2018

Posted on July 11, 2018 at 10:30 AM

The EPS is delighted to announce that the RBST Marsh Christian Award 2018 has been awarded to Donald and Mary McGillivray. The nomination read as follows - Mary and Donald McGillivray have spent forty years helping ensure the survival of one of the most critically endangered equine breeds, the Eriskay pony. They began with two mares of original Western Isles stock and went on to breed a large number of ponies, many of whom were vital in other breeding programmes both on the mainland and on the islands. It is amazing to note that 25% of all living Eriskays were either bred by Mary and Donald, or are descended from ponies bred by them. They have bred and produced several Royal Highland Show Champions. Mary, with Donald's support, is a linchpin in the Eriskay Pony Society and has served on the Council in numerous roles, presently being the breeding advisor, and she has amassed an encyclopaedic knowledge of ponies and bloodlines. Active members of RBST Caledonian Support Group, Mary and Donald are always willing to turn out to shows and events taking ponies for display or providing a demonstration with a pony carrying authentic harness and creels. Donald is much sought after to provide the commentary at such events due to his knowledge of the breed and its history. The Eriskay pony owes them a great deal. The award was presented to them at the Royal Highland Show by Ruth Dalton of the RBST.

RARE BREED of the YEAR SHOW

Posted on June 10, 2018 at 7:45 PM

The 2018 Rare Breed of the Year Show will be held on Saturday 6th October 2018 at Arena UK Allington Lane Allington GRANTHAM Lincolnshire NG32 2EF The ERISKAY classes will be held late a.m and consist of Class 30 Youngstock, colt, filly or gelding 3 years old and under to be shown in hand Class 31 Stallion, Mare or Gelding 4 years old and over to be shown in hand Class 32 Stallion, Mare or Gelding 4 years old and over to be shown under saddle incl leading rein Class 55 Championship, Winner from each class to go forward to the Breed Championship Class 65 Breed Champion will go forward to the Rare Breeds of the Year Championship in the afternoon. Contact Judith Harris. Telephone: 01297 560560/07799054085 Email: jegharris42@gmail.com for more information. More info can also be found on the RBYS Website: www.rbys.org.uk

Eriskay Ponies on the BBC

Posted on April 13, 2018 at 5:55 AM

A few weeks ago a film crew from BBC Scotland came out to see EPS Chair Ruth McMinn's Eriskay ponies and filmed them for a feature on the Landward TV programme. Ruth got the chance to explain how versatile the ponies are and also how critically endangered the breed is. The feature will air on Monday 16th April at 7.30pm during the first Landward programme of the year and then be available on the BBC iPlayer. Some photogarphs of the filming session are in the Photo Gallery of this website. The link to the BBC iplayer version of the programme is https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0b050j4/landward-20182019-episode-1 The feature on Eriskays starts at 17 minutes into the programme.

New Registrar / Treasurer Address

Posted on March 27, 2018 at 2:05 PM

Please note the address for the Registrar / Treasureris now :

Wester Invervar

Glenlyon

Aberfeldy

PH15 2NJ

Tel : 01887 877219

AGM Notice

Posted on March 24, 2018 at 12:00 PM

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Notice is hereby given that the 23rd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Eriskay Pony Society will be held at Auchterarder Community Church Centre, 24 High Street, Auchterarder, Perthshire, PH3 1DF on Saturday 21st April 2018 at 2.00 pm AGENDA 1 Apologies 2 Minutes of Annual General Meeting held on 22nd April 2017 3 Chairmans Report 4 Accounts to 31st December 2017 5 Election of Council Members written nominations proposed and seconded by Members and with an undertaking of willingness to serve, should be sent to the Chair at the address given below. All nominees must be members of the society. 6 Any other business / open forum. This is an opportunity for any members to raise and have discussed any items that may be of general interest or concern. 7 Speaker: Dr Alistair Crozier BVM&S MRCVS, Parkside Vetinary Group, Dundee Dr Crozier is an equine vet in a busy practice in Tayside and has expertise in Artificial Insemination of horses and ponies. He will give a talk on the use of AI, with particular reference to the technique for small native ponies. The Society continues to encourage responsible breeding amid perilously low numbers of ponies, and there has been recent work done on semen collection for both the RBST Gene Bank and availability for use in current breeding. This will be a useful opportunity for members to find out about what is involved and to have questions answered. Auchterarder is off the A9 approximately 14 miles south of Perth. Further details are available at http://auchterarderparish.org The Community Church Centre is Wi-Fi enabled so that Members who are too distant to travel to the AGM may join the meeting by Skype or FaceTime. Please contact the Chair if you wish to arrange this. The Eriskay Pony Society Council will be meeting in the morning then having lunch in Delivino restaurant, 22 High Street, Auchterarder. Please feel free to join us there or contact the Chair for further details.

Malvern 3 Counties Show 2016

Posted on March 28, 2017 at 9:40 AM

Report by Judith harries.

Vanessa Harvey with handler (who had to be substituted by the vet at the last minute as the handler needed to go with mother to hospital) plus husband Anthony brought 15yr old Peewit pony club pony and mum, and 4yr old gelding Merlin (just backed) for the second day.

Merlin had never been anywhere before (except to the vet). All animals had a loosebox with a cattle pen enclosure at the front.

Both ponies were intensely interested in everything - goats penned 15' away, American Quarter horses next door, huge deerhounds (or some such breed) in the next row.

A sunny day, the place was crowded - sometimes with people 3-deep at the pens with Peewit and Merlin successfully entertaining their visitors.

There was a display which involved all the Rare Breeds parading round the ring with commentary as each one came forward. 6 Equine breeds, 8 sheep breeds, 2 goat breeds, 5 individual donkeys, 2 alpacas - and a Hereford bull. I decided I would go into the ring just in case someone needed help and donned gloves and hat. How silly. Of course they didn't need help but behaved wonderfully well. Little Merlin will have learnt a lot about loudspeakers, flags, huge marquees full of very noisy fowl and the general public who don't get out of the way of ponies.

By 4.30 pm both ponies were nearly out on their feet but refused to go inside the loose boxes and miss the fun.

Cannot thank Vanessa Harvey and husband Anthony enough, and their friends who came to help - I had fascinating questions from the public and the day was a great success.