Eriskay-Pony history
The Eriskay Pony is the only surviving variety of Hebridean pony and are found on the Hebrides islands off the coast of Scotland. They originated from the Celtic type with no imported bloodlines. The Eriskay pony is almost extinct.
Modern Eriskay ponies are the last surviving remnants of the original native ponies of the Western Isles of Scotland. Recent DNA testing by the University of Leicester has proven that they are a distinct, primitive breed, with ancient origins. Certainly they have ancient Celtic and Norse connections and Eriskays have been proven by measurement to be of similar proportions to those found on ancient Pictish stones throughout the North and West of Scotland.
Until the middle of the 19th Century ponies of the "Western Isles type" were found throughout the islands and used as crofters ponies, undertaking everyday tasks such as bringing home peat and seaweed in basketwork creels slung over their backs, pulling carts, harrowing and even taking the children to school.
was at this time that a dedicated group of people comprising a local priest, doctor, vet, zoologist and crofters, got together and decided to save the ponies whose numbers were dangerously low. Through their hard work and the establishment of breeding groups throughout the British Isles, numbers have risen steadily and now there are around 300 Eriskays in the world. Obviously, the breed are still seriously threatened and are listed by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as category 1 "critical", but with 12 pure bred stallions and a record 25 foals born last year, the future is looking a little brighter.
