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horse The Eriskay Pony Society
John Crawford was able to meet the Eriskay Pony Society at the Equine Event 2000.

The video of the interview is available in the following formats: Audio, 56k modem and ADSL. Please use the link best suited to your computer.

Audio Only,
/archive/equiworld-net/video/2000-ee-eriskay-audio.ram

56k Modem Users,
/archive/equiworld-net/video/2000-ee-eriskay-56k.ram

256k ADSL/Cable Modem Users,
/archive/equiworld-net/video/2000-ee-eriskay-256k.ram

Note, you will need to have the RealMedia, RealPlayer installed to play these files, you can get a free, basic version from, http://www.real.com/
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The Eriskay Pony

The Eriskay Pony is the last survivor of the native ponies of the Western Isles of Scotland. Its origins are ancient, certainly with Celtic and Norse connections. Although numerous in previous centuries, numbers decreased dramatically around the beginning of 19th century. Eventually, only a handful remained on the small island of Eriskay, which lies between South Uist and Barra in the Outer Hebrides. The last survivors of this ancient breed have become inextricably identified with this tiny island, hence the name Eriskay Pony.

horse On Eriskay the crofters continued to use their ponies for the traditional tasks of carrying peat and seaweed in panniers slung in pairs across the ponies' blacks. The ponies were handled mainly by women and children whilst the menfolk were away at sea in their fishing boats.

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.

Please click here to learn more about the Eriskay Pony

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