Regulations of the Fell Pony Society

INTRODUCTION

The Rules of The Fell Pony Society are contained within the Memorandum and Articles of Association dated November 2004. Rules may be amended only at an Extraordinary General Meeting called for the purpose.

The Regulations of The Fell Pony Society, which form the remainder of this document, may be amended only by a majority vote in Council.

1. THE STUD BOOK

1.1 The Stud Book of the Society is divided into the following Sections:

1. Main Section (UK) - contains ponies that have registered and licensed sires and registered dams and are resident in the UK at time of registration.

2. Main Section (Overseas) - contains ponies that have registered and licensed sires and registered dams and are resident outside the UK at time of registration.

3. Inspection Section - contains ponies that have only one registered parent, or an unknown pedigree and have been inspected by two recognised Fell Pony Society Inspectors. NB This Section is now closed.

4. Inspection Section (A) - contains filly foals or colts from (IS) mares by registered and licensed Fell stallions. NB Colts are not eligible for an FPS Stallion Licence.

5. Inspection Section (B) - contains filly foals or colts from Section (A) mares by registered and licensed Fell stallions. NB Colts are not eligible for an FPS Stallion Licence.

6. Section (X) - contains ponies that have registered and licensed sires and registered dams but are of a colour other than black, brown, bay or grey and/or have an excess of white markings. Ponies in this section may not be shown at Fell Pony Society affiliated shows. Any foal by an unlicensed but registered sire and registered dam will go into Section (X) but, after proof of parentage by DNA testing, may transfer to the main section, subject to Council approval. Progeny of ponies in Section (X) may be registered in the main section provided they conform to the breed standard and have registered and licensed sires and registered dams. NB Colts are not eligible for an FPS Stallion licence.

1.2 Filly foals or colts from Section (B) mares by registered and licensed Fell stallions go into the Main Section. NB Colts are not eligible for an FPS Stallion Licence.

1.3 For ponies registered in an Inspected Section or Section (X), on the Equine Passport the ponies will carry (IS), (A), (B) or (X) after their name to indicate in which Section they are registered.

1.4 Only progeny born in the United Kingdom (UK) may be registered in the UK section of the FPS Stud Book.

1.5 Fell ponies which are directly descended from registered UK stock, and which are bred in other countries may be registered in the Overseas Sections of the FPS Stud Book.

2. PROCEDURE FOR REGISTRATION OF A FOAL

2.1 All registrations for foals eligible to be entered in to The Fell Pony Stud Book have to be made through The Fell Pony Society. Forms for registration are obtained from the Secretary of the Society and are contained within the Equine Passport application form.

2.2 Every application for registration of a foal must be accompanied by a Service Certificate and the correct registration fee before an application for registration can be accepted.

2.3 In the unlikely event that a Service Certificate has not been issued for a foal, the application for registration will be considered by Council who can require that theapplication be supported by full and satisfactory evidence of a proven parentage test by DNA testing of the foal for registration and the sire and dam. The person(s) involved will pay for any costs incurred and the owner(s) of the foal must satisfy themselves that all parties who own the respective ponies involved are willing to comply with the parentage test.

3. CONDITIONS OF REGISTRATION OF A FOAL

3.1 Colours are black, brown, bay or grey. Other colours must be registered in Section (X). A star and/or a little white marking on or below the hind fetlock is acceptable. An excess of white markings and/or white on the front feet means the pony must be registered in Section (X). If in doubt, breeders should include a photograph of the foal with the application for registration. If it is subsequently found that a breeder has omitted to declare white markings, Council have the right to move that pony from the Main section to Section (X).

3.2 The sire and dam must be registered Fell ponies. The sire must be licensed according to The Fell Pony Society Regulations and be in possession of a Fell Pony Society Licence at the time of covering.

3.3 All foals must be registered by 31 December in their year of birth.

3.4 All females to be identified by a microchip and three identification markings (to include colour).

3.5 All males to be identified by five identification markings (to include colour). Colts will be microchipped upon licensing. It is up to the individual breeder, if they so wish, to use option 3.4. All males born after January 2007 will need to be microchipped.

3.6 Once registered, the name of the pony cannot be changed, except for circumstances where the Society is rectifying a mistake made by itself.

3.7 The breeder of a pony is defined as the one who is the registered owner, or lessee, of the mare at the time of foaling. In the case of joint ownership of a mare, all named owners should sign the registration form, even if only one is recorded as the breeder. Two or more individuals may be recorded as joint breeders provided that the mare is owned by at least one of them and all are registered on the prefix. The breeder(s) must be members of the Society.

3.8 The Society must be notified in writing before the birth of the foal of any leasing of mares for breeding purposes if the borrower is to be regarded as the Breeder of any progeny born during the period of the lease. Forms for this can be obtained from the Society Office.

4. LATE REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS

4.1 A Fell Pony Registration and Equine Passport application will be accepted for a pony of any age or sex provided the appropriate ‘Conditions of Registration’ are met and the application is supported with full and satisfactory evidence of a proven parentage test by DNA testing of the pony for registration and the sire and dam.

4.2 In addition, the person(s) involved will pay for any costs incurred, plus a ‘Late Registration’ fee payable to The Fell Pony Society. It is also a requirement that the owner(s) of the unregistered pony satisfy themselves that all parties who own the respective ponies involved are willing to comply with the parentage test.

5. DISPUTED REGISTRATIONS

5.1 Any dispute over registration of a pony is strictly a matter between the vendor and buyer, or any third party involved in the dispute.

5.2 In the event of any proven discrepancy in a pony’s breeding, the Council will have the right to move that pony to Section (X) and any future offspring, including unborn foals, will also be registered in Section (X). Existing registered progeny may remain in the Main Section, but future offspring from these ponies will be registered in Section (X).

6. ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION & EMBRYO TRANSFER

Please apply to the Fell Pony Society’s Secretary for the latest regulations.

The Society does not currently approve the use of Embryo Transfer.

7. IMPORTATION

7.1 All imported ponies must be microchipped and transfer of ownership should be registered

with the Society within 30 days of purchase in accordance with the Horse Passports (England) Regulations 2004 (see 10.1). If the pony does not have a passport or the passport does not contain Section IX, application for a passport or the Section IX page should be made within 30 days of the pony entering the country. Such a passport or Section IX page shall state that the horse is not intended for slaughter for human consumption.

7.2 Anyone importing a stallion licensed other than in the UK should apply to the Society for a UK licence. If the DNA profile can be obtained from the country of licensing, the fee will be halved.

8. EXPORTATION

8.1 All ponies that are to be exported must be microchipped prior to leaving the United Kingdom.

8.2 The owner must sign the declaration concerning slaughter for human consumption in Section IX and ensure that it is countersigned by the Society or the Secretary of State before the pony is sent outside the United Kingdom.

8.3 The vendor should ensure that the buyer, who may not be a member of the Society and may be unaware of the Society’s regulations at the time of purchase, is informed of the requirements to be followed to register change of ownership (see 10.1).

8.4 The buyer is also expected to have satisfied him/herself that the pony that they purchase is the pony as described on their Equine Passport.

8.5 In all cases the Fell Pony Society is not responsible or will not be held accountable for any problems resulting from a pony being exported to another country. Any dispute that may arise from a pony being exported is purely a matter between the vendor and the buyer.

9. LOST/DAMAGED/DESTROYED EQUINE PASSPORTS

9.1 A duplicate equine passport may be issued upon payment of a fee and subject to the following requirements:

a) If the pony has been microchipped and the Society has a record of this, a duplicate passport will be issued on receipt of written confirmation from a veterinary surgeon that the pony has been scanned and microchip number confirmed.

b) If the pony has not been microchipped :

i) Colts/stallions/fillies/mares

Must be parentage tested and microchipped.

ii) Geldings

Must be microchipped.

9.2 In the event where a pony’s parentage cannot be tested due to death or unknown whereabouts of its sire and dam, or in other exceptional circumstances a duplicate equine passport may be issued at the discretion of the Council.

9.3 Application for a duplicate passport should be made within 30 days of loss or damage in accordance with The Horse Passports (England) Regulations 2004.

10. TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP

10.1 The equine passport and a completed Certificate of Transfer form or Indemnity Certificate of Ownership form is to be forwarded to the Secretary with the appropriate fee within 30 days of the sale taking place, in accordance with The Horse Passports (England) Regulations 2004. The Secretary will then endorse the passport and return it.

11. TRANSFER TO GELDING

11.1 It is essential for Society records that all transfers to gelding are notified to the Office within 30 days of the event taking place. The equine passport and a signed Certificate of Transfer to Gelding form is to be forwarded to the Secretary, who will then amend, endorse and return the passport.

12. PREFIX

12.1 The Society affiliates to the Central Prefix Register whose rules apply. These rules deal with both prefixes and suffixes but the Society allows the use only of a prefix.

12.2 A Prefix may be registered at a one off charge for life and cannot be used by another person without the written consent of the registered owner or his or her executors. The Prefix is for the exclusive use of the Breeder and may precede the name of any pony bred by the owner and is of much service in tracing the pedigree of a pony. It also enables the Breeder to have entries placed together in the Stud Book. Application forms are available from the Society office.

12.3 As from 1 January 2001, the Central Prefix Register will only accept applications where there is one principal owner named on the form. Additional co-owners may be added at the discretion of the principal owner. Application forms are available from the Society office. In the event of a dispute, the principal owner retains the right to use the registered Prefix.

12.4 For Prefixes registered prior to 1 January 2001 the following applies:-

a) if a dispute arises over a Prefix, the Society retains the right to suspend the usage of a Prefix for a length of time agreed by Council.

b) the Prefix will not be reactivated until the person(s) involved can prove to the Society that the matter has been resolved.

12.5 A Prefix will become defunct upon the death of the breeder. Unless a Prefix is willed to a named person by the owner of the Prefix, the Prefix will not be available for use. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Council and the Central Prefix Register in conjunction with the family.

12.6 A list of all Prefixes will be printed in the Stud Book.

13. STALLION LICENCES & SERVICE BOOKS

13.1 When a colt or stallion is to be used for stud purposes it must have a Temporary or Life Stallion Licence. No registered colt/stallion can be used until a Temporary or Life Stallion Licence has been issued. The owner must be in possession of the Licence and Service Book at the time of service. Service slips may not be completed retrospectively.

13.2 Applications for a Stallion Licence for colts in their second year should be made to the Secretary. The name and full postal address of a Veterinary Surgeon other than the vet normally used by the owner must be supplied to the Secretary when the application is made enclosing the correct licensing fee. When a colt/stallion is inspected by an independent Veterinary Surgeon for the purpose of being licensed and is passed as suitable for stud use, the veterinary surgeon will take a hair sample for DNA testing and the colt/stallion must be microchipped, if not already done. The hair sample will be used by the Society for the purpose of parentage testing. Should the pony fail inspection, half of the licensing fee will be returned to the owner.
See 2007-07 Amendment.

13.3 Any colt measuring 13.2½hh (138.5cm) at two years of age will be issued with a Temporary Stallion Licence for use on only the owner’s mares until the colt is four years of age. In the year that the colt attains its fourth birthday it must be re-measured by a Veterinary Surgeon at the owner’s expense to obtain a Life Stallion Licence. The colt will be issued with a Life Stallion Licence upon receipt of a satisfactory report that the colt does not exceed 14 hands (142.2 cm). If the colt exceeds 14 hands (142.2 cm) no further Stallion Licence will be issued. Any foal sired by a stallion on a Temporary Stallion Licence that has not been issued with a Life Stallion Licence at the age of four years old will remain a registered Fell pony subject to Regulation 18.2.
See 2007-07 Amendment.

13.4 All registered and licensed Fell stallions must have a Service Book (obtainable from the Secretary). The Book must be returned to the Society no later than 31 December each year. The Book will be available for collection at the Annual General Meeting and/or Stallion Show in the Spring. Uncollected Books will be posted on request.

13.5 At the time of registration the owner of the progeny must present the Certificate of Service slip together with a Registration and Equine Passport application form to qualify for registration.

14. EQUINE PASSPORTS

14.1 Under the Horse Passports (England) Regulations 2004, a registered pony must be accompanied by its Passport

· When it is moved into or out of the United Kingdom

· When it is moved to the premises of a new keeper (eg for training or breeding purposes)

· When it is moved to other premises for competition

· When a sale takes place

· When the relevant breed society requests it

14.2 The Equine Passport is an important legal document cataloguing all registrations, ownerships, veterinary vaccinations, inspections and examinations, and it should be treated with great care. When this document is mailed to the Society, recorded delivery service should always be used.

14.3 The Society may issue a duplicate Passport (see 9.1) if the original is lost, damaged or destroyed. However the owner must be responsible for replacing through their Veterinary Surgeon, any veterinary information of relevance. If the information in Section IX is illegible, the Society as the passport-issuing organisation, shall indicate in the replacement passport that the pony is not intended for slaughter for human consumption by completing Part II of that section.

14.4 On the death of a registered pony, the Equine Passport must be returned to the Secretary for cancellation. It can be returned to the owner for reasons of sentiment if requested.

15. SOCIETY PREMIUMS

Please apply to the Fell Pony Society’s Secretary for the current regulations.

16. JUDGES PANEL

16.1 The Memorandum and Articles, paragraph 9.1, sub-section 9.1.7, defines the Councils responsibility to the Judges Panel. Additionally the Council is permitted once per annum to put up to a maximum of two people straight onto the Judges Panel by majority vote by secret ballot in Council. Nominees must have been a full member for a minimum of five consecutive years and must be proposed and seconded by two Council Members.

16.2 The remainder of these Regulations can be found in the ‘Judges Guidelines’ pamphlet produced by the Judges Sub-Committee.

17. SHOWING RULES

Please apply to the Fell Pony Society’s Secretary for the current regulations.

18. DISPUTED HEIGHTS

18.1 Following dispute, or from the measuring out at a Show, any pony suspected as being over the breed height limit of 14 hands (142.2 cm) and which is intended to be shown again, must be measured under JMB Rules within 21 days and a Certificate obtained, a copy of which must be forwarded to the Secretary for verification of measurement and height to be recorded.

18.2 Over-height ponies may be bred from and their progeny registered, provided the over-height pony does not continue to be shown as a registered Fell pony. Failure to comply will result in the pony being transferred to Section (X).

18.3 Current JMB Height Certificates will be accepted at Fell Pony Society events and shows. At shows where the ponies are required to be measured, both the pony and its current JMB Height Certificate must be produced to the official measuring Veterinary Surgeon for verification prior to being shown.

19. NON-DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT

In order to comply with Commission Decision 92/353/EEC the Fell Pony Society declares that there will be no discrimination between members.

20. ANNUAL SALE OF REGISTERED PONIES

20.1 The Council shall arrange a sale of registered ponies each year. The sale will be held at such place as the Council may decide. Anyone wishing to enter a pony (or ponies) in the sale will be required to comply with the conditions laid down by the Society and the Auction Mart.

20.2 The Society requires that all equine passports and a partially completed and signed Transfer of Ownership form be handed to the Secretary of the Fell Pony Society on arrival at the sale, before ponies enter the ring.

20.3 Any filly born after 1 January 2001 and any colt born after 1 January 2007 must be microchipped (see 3.4 and 3.5)

20.4 Any pony sold for exportation must be microchipped prior to leaving the UK (see 8) and must be in possession of a Passport.

20.5 The Fell Pony Society reserves the right to move any pony not complying with this regulation into Section (X).

21. BREACHES OF REGULATIONS

If any member of the Society commits any breach of these Regulations, or is guilty of any conduct tending to bring the Society or its Stud Book into disrepute, the Council of the Society may, after giving said person(s) the opportunity of being heard, register any ponies in Section (X) for such a period as the Society thinks fit.

NOTES

1 Due to changing legislation, it is frequently necessary to update and amend the Society’s Regulations. Consequently some of the Regulations listed above may be in the process of being altered or adjusted. Changes approved by Council will be published in the Society newsletter and on the Society’s website.

2 Older ponies outside the EEC may still be in possession of a registration certificate. These are still valid outside the EEC and may still be used to record transfer of ownership. If, however, the pony is exported to an EEC country, the certificate of registration must be exchanged for an equine passport (see 7.1).