Synopsis: Since the bronze age, ponies have roamed Dartmoor. They are the living, breathing emblem of the moors. But this is all about to change. Years of disagreement between farmers, and a lack of clear management is leading towards an irreversible crisis for the ponies.
As well as taking in the spectacular sights and sounds of Dartmoor, this film explores the ongoing debate between pony keepers and the heartbreaking affect that this is having on a local farmer, Steve, who is giving up his herd. A herd that has been in his family for over a century.
Steve is the last person on Dartmoor to herd ponies on horseback. This film captures unique footage showcasing his outstanding horsemanship as he rounds up his ponies for the penultimate time.

This isn’t your typical, fairytale pony story.

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‘Dartmoor Ponies: The Final Round Up’ is Kathy’s final project for her masters degree in Wildlife Filmmaking at Bristol UWE, England. She has ridden horses since she was 4 years old and has always wanted to produce her own film about a native breed of pony. Her dream is to produce a film on every native breed in Britain, before travelling the world to film other breeds of horses and ponies.

Having studied Zoology and an MA in Wildlife Filmmaking, I now aspire to build a career within the natural history television industry. I have been lucky enough to be involved in a wide range of projects such as the Festival of Nature, and the Aardman Slapstick Comedy Festival, which have allowed me to gain a diverse set of filmmaking skills. One project that I co-produced in 2015 was nominated at both the WildFilmFest and BWPA Awards and my final film produced for my master’s degree, Dartmoor Ponies: The Final Round Up, was screened at both the EQUUS Film Festival in New York and the Element Film Festival in Bozeman, Montana.

In May 2016 I joined Equine Productions, a production company that produces high quality, bespoke films for all equine-related industries. I am currently working as an Assistant Producer / Production Manager, helping with developing creatives, budgeting, storyboarding, filming and editing. Watch some of the work I have done with them by clicking on the Equine Productions page.

I enjoy the challenges that filmmaking brings and am always looking out for new stories to bring to life on screen. I hope to continue producing my own work whilst also working within the industry to open up more opportunities for the future. Eventually I aspire to be a self-shooting producer and produce documentaries that make a difference.

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