Height: The preferred height range is 14hhh to 14.2hh. Over height ponies will be downgraded to the grading-up register.

General: A strong, active pony, full of quality and spirit. Head: Neat and pony like, showing no dish. Broad between the eyes, which should be bright and alert. Pony ears slightly incurving. Long forelock of straight hair down the face.

Neck: Strong and of ample length. Stallions should display a bold outlook with well-arched crest. Throat and jaws clean-cut. Long, flowing mane.

Shoulders: Well-laid, long, sloping shoulders with well-developed muscles. Withers not too fine.

Body: Short-coupled and deep through the chest, with well-sprung ribs.

Hindquarters: Hindquarters deep, lengthy and powerful. Second thighs well-developed and very muscular. Tail well set on, not high, with plenty of long, straight hair reaching the ground.

Hocks: Broad, flat and clean. Well let down with plenty of dense flat bone below.

Forearms Set square. Short and very muscular, with broad, well-developed knees.

Feet, legs & joints: The very best of feet and legs. Flexible joints, showing quality with no coarseness. The cannons should display 8"-9.½" of flat flinty bone and well defined tendons. Pasterns should be nicely sloping and of good length. Ample silky feather on the heels. Large, round feet, open at the heels, with well developed frogs. Hooves have distinctive blue horn.

Colours: Black, brown, a few grey and bay, and occasionally roan.

Markings: A white star and/or snip on the head. White fetlocks to the hind legs only. Mismarked ponies will be down-graded to the grading-up register.

Action: Clean, high straight and true. Going forward on "all fours" with tremendous energy. The knee and hock are lifted, the hindlegs flexed well under the body for powerful drive.

Character: True pony character. Alert, highly couraged, intelligent and kind.

Showing Rules: The Dales pony is shown untrimmed and unplaited, except that some ponies are shown with a traditional tail plait bearing a ribbon. This is gently discouraged, but is considered by some to be a useful 'marker' for the breed in mixed classes, where judges can be less than familiar with the breed. Manes and tails should be full and flowing, and 'a yard long'. Feather should be full, curtaining the coronets and hooves. Youngstock are usually shown in white halters, and the mares are also traditionally shown in this way, but may also wear either a riding or in-hand bridle. Licensed stallions, (NB Three years and over) are shown in full stallion tack, and this is a rule at the Breed Shows.