Kingshaugh Native Ponies are situated at Laurel House Farm, East Drayton, Retford, Nottinghamshire. The prefix Kingshaugh is taken from the local 13th century hunting lodge of Kingshaugh which translated from the original Saxon means "King's Enclosure". The hunting lodge was used by King John, of the Robin Hood legend. East Drayton was part of the hunting grounds where the King came to hunt deer etc. The ancient manor house is a local landmark and place of interest, see links for more information.
Our first pony for the children was a Welsh Section A but it was not until we purchased our first Dartmoor - Hopelaws Weka - that we became interested in breeding ponies. We owned Weka for ten years and once she was outgrown by the children we decided to breed from her.
Here at Kingshaugh we keep the ponies purely for the love of them and the joy they give each day not just for the rosettes. We have ponies young and old who have become valued members of our family.
We generally prefer to keep the ponies until they are older and have fun showing them in hand and give them a good start and foundation in life. They are usually sold with an in hand show record. Unfortunately we have no small jockey to take them into the ring. We mouth them and long rein them and Jane (Kyleburn) breaks them, rides them away and has them established in walk and trot. Our own daughter no longer rides due to educational committments and she is now too large to ride Dartmoors.
As Dartmoor Pony Society members for a number of years we wish to acknowledge our gratitude to the society for all they do. We have made some very good friends over the years all with a common love of these wonderful ponies. We especially would wish to thank the Secretary, Viv Brown, for all her help and advice, you do a brilliant job Viv. Also Marilyn Parker of Hackamore Dartmoors (http://www.hackamorestud.com) for her friendship, loyalty and integrity, you are a great chum.