Dülmen Pony

The Dülmen pony, or Dülmener, is a small German horse from the Merfelder Bruch near Dülmen in North Rhine-Westphalia. The best-known herd lives in a large reserve under semi-feral conditions, making it one of Europe's few long-managed free-ranging horse populations. Dülmen ponies are hardy, compact, and plain rather than polished, usually standing pony height with a dense coat, strong feet, and often dun, mouse-dun, bay, brown, or black coloring with primitive markings such as a dorsal stripe.

The reserve herd is managed for conservation, with young stallions traditionally removed during the annual Wildpferdefang so mares and family groups can remain on the range. Outside that setting, Dülmen ponies are kept for leisure riding, driving, conservation grazing, and as hardy family ponies, though semi-feral youngsters need patient early handling. They are thrifty animals, so rich pasture can be a bigger problem than cold weather. Buyers should distinguish registered Dülmen ponies and documented reserve lines from any small dun pony sold under a similar name.

Colors: Amber Champagne, Bay, Bay Dun, Bay Roan, Black, Blanket Appaloosa, Blue Roan, Brown, Buckskin, Champagne, Chestnut, Classic Champagne, Cremello, Dun, Dun Roan, Fewspot Appaloosa, Flaxen Chestnut, Frame Overo, Gold Champagne, Gray, Grey, Grullo, Leopard Appaloosa, Liver Chestnut, Overo, Palomino, Perlino, Piebald, Pinto, Rabicano, Red Dun, Red Roan, Roan, Sabino, Seal Bay, Silver Dapple, Skewbald, Smoky Black, Smoky Cream, Snowcap Appaloosa, Sorrel, Splash White, Tobiano, Tovero, Varnish Roan, White