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The Eriskay Pony Society was delighted to be announced as the winner of the RBST Scotland Food and Farming Sustainability Award for Native Breed Society of the Year 2023. The award was presented to the Society at the Royal Highland Show by the Chair of RBST’s Conservation and Research Committee, Claire Saunders and was accepted by Mary McGillivray, Breeding Advisor, and Nigel McWilliam, Treasurer, on behalf of EPS.

The award reflected the ongoing work that the Society is doing to protect and preserve this Priority breed including the DNA project with Nottingham Trent University, now entering it’s second year, and the placement of stallions around the UK to where they can be of most use to the breeding population. The Society continues to encourage appropriate breeding through it’s use of SPARKS and the availability of breeding grants as well as advice and further support.

This year marks 50 years of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s work to save and safeguard the future of rare and native livestock and equine breeds. The Watchlist is the annual situation report for these breeds, reflecting robust measures of the genetic diversity within each breed as well as the numbers of breeding females registered and in 2023 the Eriskay Pony remains in the Priority category.

On publication of the 2023 Watchlist, RBST CEO Christopher Price said ”It is also notable how well the keepers of our rare equine breeds have managed to navigate the impacts of the pandemic, when they needed to work within restrictions which put breeding opportunities at risk. For some of our rare equines the number of breeders is increasing, thanks to a strong equine market and growing appreciation of these breeds’ unique characteristics and modern uses. However we will be keeping a close watch on the impacts of the economic downturn, especially the small pony breeds.”

The Eriskay Pony Society was also present when RBST Scotland held a reception within the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood to celebrate RBST’s 50th anniversary but also to mark the formation of the RBST Scotland Support Group. This was hosted by Jim Fairlie, MSP, and invited guests included MSP’s, Scottish Government officials, RBST Scotland members and the Breed Societies for Scottish breeds on the Watchlist.

Addressing the event, RBST Scotland Support group Chair, Steve McMinn, said ”We want to gain widespread recognition that native livestock and equines are a key part of Scotland’s biodiversity and its national heritage.” He went on to say ”Whilst it is easy to see livestock breeds being part of our heritage and agricultural culture, we should not forget native equines” and ”Overall, RBST Scotland will continue to press the case that native breeds are worthy of support because they are a cherished and fundamental part of our heritage”.

More details about the Watchlist can be found by going to http://www.rbst.org.uk

The AGM of the Eriskay Pony Society will be held on Saturday 22nd April 2023 at the Auchterarder Parish Community Church Centre, 24 High Street, Auchterarder, Perthshire, PH3 1DF starting at 2pm. This will be a blend of in-person attendance and video conferencing via Zoom and members wishing to attend via Zoom are asked to contact the Society in advance, and by the Friday beforehand at the latest, and they will be sent the link. Land line telephone can be used to join the meeting via audio only.

There will be a soup and sandwich lunch served from 12 noon and anyone intending to come for lunch is asked to contact the Secretary, Ruth McMinn (secretary@eriskaypony.org or 01467 681231) for catering purposes. There will also be tea and coffee available so please come and join us if you can.

After the AGM business and open forum, we will be hearing from Judith Barker about her experiences with, and her observations of, the lifestyle, management, behaviour and history of the horses of Mongolia. Judith has been on four trips to Mongolia, including one research expedition with Col John Blashford Snell, CBE, in which she reported to the Royal Geographical Society on the native horses of Mongolia – their lifestyle in the extensive terrain, and management by the Mongolian herdsmen who depend on them for their existence. Judith has just returned from an adventure incorporating riding, the Ice Festival and Reindeer people.