Skip to content

Breed Societies

HBLB has supported non-Thoroughbred breeds since the early 1960s. Grants are made to breed societies and the aim is to improve and maintain the quality of pure-breeding among Britain's native breeds of horse and pony. Since 2010 only breeds that are listed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist are eligible for funding.

Breed societies use their grants to preserve, improve and maintain their breeds in a variety of ways, such as stallion and mare premiums, youngstock grants, DNA testing or blood typing and Artificial Insemination (AI)/semen collection schemes.

The total funding for the year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 is £190,000.  In addition to the awards to the 12 breeds designated as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' by the RBST, HBLB is also supporting the breed classes at the National Pony Society Great British In Hand Show in September 2024.

Click on the links below for further information on the breeds supported.

Breed Society Grants in 2024

Shire Horse

http://www.shire-horse.org.uk

£35,000

Shire Horse
Courtesy of the Shire Horse Society

Cleveland Bay Horse

http://www.clevelandbay.com

£27,000

 
 
Cleveland Bay
Courtesy of Roy Parker

Clydesdale Horse

www.clydesdalehorsesociety.com

£12,000

 
Clydesdale Horse
Courtesy of the Clydesdale Horse Society

Suffolk Punch Horse

www.suffolkhorsesociety.org.uk

£30,500

 
Suffolk Punch Horse
Courtesy of the Suffolk Horse Society

Hackney Horse

www.hackney-horse.org.uk

£20,000 (for Hackney Horse and Hackney Pony)

 
Hackney Horse
Courtesy of the Hackney Horse Society

 

Dales Pony

www.dalespony.org

£10,000

Dales Pony
Courtesy of the Dales Pony Society

Dartmoor Pony

www.dartmoorponysociety.com

£10,000

 
Dartmoor Pony
R.A. Brown and Miss S. Sellars

Eriskay Pony

https://eriskaypony.org/

£10,000

Eriskay ponies
Ruth McMinn

Exmoor Pony

www.exmoorponysociety.org.uk

£11,000

 
Exmoor Pony
Sue Baker

Fell Pony

www.fellponysociety.org.uk

£8,000

 
Fell Pony
Courtesy of the Fell Pony Society

Highland Pony

www.highlandponysociety.com

£8,000

 
Highland Pony
Courtesy of Susan Wardrop

New Forest Pony

www.newforestpony.com

£6,500

New Forest Pony
Courtesy of Jane Murray

 

Last Updated: 04 June 2024