The Fell Pony Society
About Fell
Ponies
[ Early
History ] [ The
Fell Pony Today ]
[ Description
of the Fell Pony and Scale of Points ]
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Early History
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The Wild European pony is thought to have migrated to the British Isles approx 15,000BC. One type predominated in northern England, and can be credited as the progenitor of the Fell pony. When crop farming and animal husbandry replaced hunting, wild ponies were drastically reduced to conserve available pasture. In northern England ponies became almost extinct in some parts and those that remained existed in small pockets which encouraged inbreeding and so led to regional characteristics.
By the time the Romans were well established in the North there must have been a definite type of dark coloured pony, standing perhaps just over 13hh, bred within the local catchment area of Hadrian's Roman Wall. During the Roman occupation on the border between England and Scotland, auxiliary troops were brought in from other countries to help man Hardian's Wall, which separated these two countries. These auxiliaries would have brought along their own war stallions, many of these were probably left behind to breed and produce a mixture of types in northern England.
A cross between these French, Fresian, German, Polish, or Spanish horses and the Celtic pony is believed to have helped shape many British native pony breeds, including the Fell (79AD to approx. 420AD).
Most of the ponies were probably of subdued colours such as brown, dun, black or dark bay, and white markings were limited. The size of the pony was governed by the quality of grazing, it is unlikely that ponies exceeding 13hh could have survived on the northern moorland. It was not until the second half of the 20th century that black became the predominant colour, followed by brown, bay, and grey. Some of the oldest present day Fell pony men strongly prefer a brown or bay pony because they say it cannot be beaten for hardiness.
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The early fell pony type of animal made an ideal working animal, it was strong and sure-footed, placid in nature and not too big to make loading and unloading difficult while being up to the weight of a full load. Unlike the small native ponies of pre-Roman times, the improved Fell type was large enough for a man to ride and was recognised as a dual-purpose breed.
The Vikings used the ponies for ploughing and sledge pulling, the Normans for shepherding, by the thirteenth century there was a brisk trade in wool to Belgium, and local ponies were used to transport merchandise around the country, old packways can still be seen today.
Fell ponies were used to transport slate, copper, and lead as well as iron ore and may well have done so since Roman Times. The advent of the Industrial Revolution was a comparatively rapid innovation but one that, directly or otherwise, affected the whole country. Its initial effect on the Fell pony came by way of iron-ore mines situated in the north-west of England. Once excavated the ore had to be transported across country to the smelting works of the north-east coast, and because of the uneven topography of the country and complete lack of suitable roads and canals, other feasible methods of transport had to be found. The coming of the railways meant redundancy for many of the pony teams and their dependant tradesmen, within an incredibly short period of time hundreds of ponies disappeared, many being sold abroad for slaughter. Fortunately the Fell pony was still surviving in its native Lakeland home, and despite its dramatic rise and fall at the hands of the industrialists, as a breed it was quite unchanged, for the disbanding of pony teams had not affected the true pony breeding stock at home on the Cumbrian hills.
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The affluent 1950's saw the beginnings of the popularity of riding for pleasure, a pursuit that has gained momentum ever since and in its wake guaranteed the future of many native breeds. The number of ponies being registered with the Fell Pony Society has risen gradually ever since.
Ref: "The Fell Pony" - Clive Richardson 1981, 1990 and [the] Fell Pony Museum webmaster/researcher Sue Millard.
The Fell Pony Today
There is a demand for an all-round family pony capable of carrying all members of the family and versatile enough to fulfil a wide variety of jobs previously done by two or three more specialised animals. In this capacity the Fell pony is ideal being well up to the weight of a heavy adult. Their size still makes them suitable for experienced children, with many having the right temperament for younger children. In many respects the present day family Fell pony is mainly continuing to apply to modern demands, the same adaptability which endeared it to the Lakeland farmers of approximately a hundred years ago.
As a hack and general riding pony, the Fell's fast walk and easy paces make it a pleasant and comfortable ride, and its sure footedness ensures a safe passage over the roughest country. It is possible to ride a Fell pony through places where other lighter bred ponies would come to grief and Fells seem to have a sixth sense which alerts them to possible danger, they seem to know which is the soundest track through soft marshy ground or the safest descent of a rocky hillside.
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To test these qualities The Fell Pony Society holds an annual performance trial where the course comprises a varied range of difficult terrain including steep and twisting hills, boggy ground, a watercrossing and several natural hazards such as fallen logs and the like. Fell Ponies are generally creditable jumpers, particularly across country, being both agile and very clever on their feet, which is a valuable asset when jumping "blind" when out hunting. Although most lack the scope to make top class jumping ponies, their abilities are well up to local shows or Pony Club events where many prove their worth.
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The rediscovery of Driving as a recreational sport has given the Fell pony the means of continuing in a job which it has traditionally done for centuries. They are well suited to this work, having great stamina. The fact that the Fell Ponies breed very true to type makes it very easy to find matched pairs than is the case with many of the other breeds. Their main limitation in competitive work is their lack of speed, but their tireless energy compensates amply and several acquit themselves well in combined driving events. A few Fell Ponies are still used in Scotland carrying the stags and grouse panniers down from the moors. Some of HM The Queen's ponies are sometimes used for this purpose at Balmoral while others are used for both riding and driving by the Royal Family. Large numbers of Fell Ponies are used in riding and trekking stables throughout the country because of their steady temperaments and useful size. The Riding for the Disabled movement employs a number as mounts for both disabled children and adults.
All these attributes make the Fell pony an all round versatile family pony.
Ref: The history of the Fell Pony & The Modern Fell Pony - Fell Pony 2000 and [the] Fell Pony Museum webmaster/researcher Sue Millard.
Description of the Fell Pony and Scale of Points
| HEIGHT: | Not exceeding 14 hands (142.2 cms). |
| COLOUR & MARKINGS: |
Black, brown, bay and grey. Chesnuts, piebalds and skewbalds are debarred. A star and/or a little white on or below the hind fetlock is acceptable. An excess of white markings is discouraged, but such ponies are eligible for registration. |
| HEAD: | Small, well chiselled in outline, well set on, forehead broad, tapering to nose. |
| NOSTRILS: | Large and expanding. |
| EYES: | Prominent, bright, mild and intelligent. |
| EARS: | Neatly set, well formed and small. |
| THROAT & JAW: | Fine, showing no signs of throatiness nor coarseness. |
| NECK: | Of proportionate length, giving good length of rein, strong and not too heavy, moderate crest in case of stallion. |
| SHOULDERS: | Most important, well laid back and sloping, not too fine at withers, nor loaded at the points - a good long shoulder blade, muscles well developed. |
| CARCASE: | Good strong back of good outline, muscular loins, deep carcase, thick through heart, round ribbed from shoulders to flank, short and well coupled, hind quarters square and strong with tail well set on. |
| FEET, LEGS AND JOINTS: | Feet of good size, round and well formed, open at heels with the characteristic blue horn, fair sloping pasterns not too long, forelegs should be straight, well placed not tied at elbows, big well formed knees, short cannon bone, plenty of good flat bone below knee (eight inches at least), great muscularity of arm. |
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HIND LEGS: |
Good thighs and second thighs, very muscular, hocks well let down and clean cut, plenty of bone below joint, hocks should not be sickle nor cow-hocked. |
| MANE, TAIL AND FEATHER: | Plenty of fine hair at heels (coarse hair objectionable), all the fine hair except that at point of heel may be cast in summer. Mane and tail are left to grow long. |
| ACTION: | Walk, smart and true. Trot well balanced all round, with good knee and hock action, going well from the shoulder and flexing the hocks, not going too wide nor near behind. Should show great pace and endurance, bringing the hind legs well under the body when going. |
| GENERAL CHARACTER: | The Fell Pony should be constitutionally as hard as iron and show good pony characteristics with the unmistakable appearance of hardiness peculiar to mountain ponies, and at the same time, have a lively and alert appearance and great bone. |
SCALE OF POINTS
| Height and colour | 5 |
|
Head, nostrils, eyes, ears, throat/jaw and neck |
10 |
| Shoulders | 15 |
| Carcase | 20 |
| Feet, legs and joints and hind legs |
25 |
| Action | 25 |
| General characteristics | 25 |
The Fell Pony Society has recently been made aware, by FPS members in England, Europe and USA, of advertisements containing the term "Mini Friesian" with reference to Fell ponies. Our Overseas Branches also tell us that they have to correct the use of this term on a regular basis, when exhibiting Fell ponies to the general public. "To make such comparisons deliberately in any advertisement is misleading both about the Fell pony and about any other breed that is compared to it. For a longer discussion of the historical arguments about the Friesian comparison, please see the Fell Pony Museum web site, http://www.fellpony.f9.co.uk/rom_dark/friesian.htm.
The Fell Pony Society wishes to state that it strongly disapproves of the use of comparisons with other breeds to describe, promote or advertise the Fell. A Fell pony is a Fell pony, a strong, hardy, versatile, purebred English working pony, who should not be described as a mini version of any other breed.
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