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
Fell
ponies are native to the North of England, and are mostly found in
Cumbria, in the old counties of Cumberland and Westmorland, where probably
they roamed from pre-historic times. By the Iron Age, equines were in
relatively common use in Britain.1
They averaged 12.1 hh in height and resembled the modern Exmoor breed in
terms of overall build. By the later part of the Roman occupation,
somewhat later than the improvements in other domestic species, the
average height of British ponies had increased to around 13 hh.2
The Vikings used ponies to plough and pull sledges as well as for riding and pack work. The animals in use were kept handy in the villages, and the breeding stock lived out on the fell. From the 11th and 12th centuries ponies were being used for longer distance pack work carrying loads of fleeces, woollen goods, foodstuff such as cheeses, meat, fish and preserves, and local metal ores. They were used for shepherding and to hunt wolves that might attack the flocks on the sheepwalks.3
By the 13th century there was a brisk trade in wool to Belgium, and ponies or "capuls" were used to transport merchandise all around the country. The Fell type would have been particularly good for this purpose, being strong, a fast and steady walker and small enough to be easily loaded.4 Pack trains were well organised and made regular journeys. For instance, in the winter of 1492-93, 11 Kendal traders made a total of 14 journeys to Southampton with pack horses carrying loads of cloth. From the end of the Middle Ages to the 18th century, pack-horses continued to transport imported goods.
Fell
Ponies, known locally as 'galloways', were also used for the Cumberland
sport of trotting races.Modern Fell ponies are reknowned for their ground
covering trot. 5
As industry developed, ponies were needed to transport copper, iron and lead ores from mines in the north-west of England to the smelting works. They also carried iron and lead long distances across country to Newcastle, returning with coal. Fell ponies were used by big Northeastern collieries such as Ashington until well into the 20th century. They were used underground, where the mine height allowed, and above ground for moving machinery and also hauling dairy produce to town from the colliery farms overlying the pits. 6 When canals and railways became the main means of transport pack-pony trains and pony-based postal services remained a lifeline for remote communities.
Pony breeders began to record pedigrees in the late 19th century, and show classes for "Fell ponies" were held at Hesket New Market in 1894 and at Shap in 1895. The first Fell ponies were registered in the Polo and Riding Pony Stud Book in 1898.7
In
1922 the Fell Pony Society was set up in its present form, not to
"improve" but to "keep pure the old breed of pony" in
the face of cross breeding to produce farm horses and showy road animals
such as the Wilson pony. Bay and brown ponies were very common at that
time. It was not until the second half of the 20th century that
black became the predominant colour, followed by brown, bay, and grey.
White markings, in the form of stars and small amounts of white on the
hind pasterns, have remained fairly constant over the decades. More than
half the breed population has no white markings.
The affluent 1950's saw the rising popularity of riding for pleasure, a pursuit that has guaranteed the future of many native breeds. The number of ponies being registered with the Fell Pony Society has risen steadily, with foal registrations annually exceeding 400 in the first decade of the 21st century.
1. Bendrey, in press 2009, in Extinctions and Invasions: A Social History of British Fauna
2. Johnstone, 2004, PhD Thesis: A Biometric Study of Equids in the Roman World
3. Richardson, 1990, The Fell Pony
4. Richardson, 1990, The Fell Pony
5. FP Museum
6. Charlton, 1952, A Lifetime with Ponies
7. FP Museum
The Fell Pony Today
The Fell is an ideal all-round family pony suitable for both adults and children. 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. The Riding for the Disabled movement employs a number as mounts. 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 appear to know which is the soundest track through soft marshy ground or the safest descent of a rocky hillside.
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 clever on their feet. Their abilities are well up to working
hunter pony competitions and Pony Club events.
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 and
soundness. The fact that the Fell Ponies breed very true to type makes it
easy to find matched pairs.
Fells take part in endurance riding and Cumbrian trotting races. They perform light forestry and farm work such as shepherding, and carry tourists on pony treks. They transport equipment to help repair walking routes. 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.
All these attributes make the Fell pony an all round versatile family pony.
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. |
|
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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