The Fell Pony Society
Education
Educational Video: The Fell Pony - Type and Conformation
Tom LLoyd's new DVD was launched in May 2022 at the Stallion & Colt Show. It is part of the Society's educational activities as a charity, in celebration of our 100th year. It is available to purchase from the Society, £15 & P&P. You can also watch it online on Tom's Vimeo accountorhis Facebook page.
The Fell Pony Society Display Team
The Fell Pony Society’s official Display Team gives Fell Ponies a public presence at country shows by performing musical rides and pageants with commentary.
The Team was formed in 2015 from a group of FPS members who are prepared to take part in displays throughout the year, and to create costumes for themselves and their ponies. Merchandise and Information are made available wherever we go, offering Fell-themed goods of interest to the general public and to children as well as to Fell pony enthusiasts.
In 2023 the Display Team are booked to perform their displays at several shows in Cumbria, and will provide an FPS presence, with the promotional stand only, at several others.
At these shows the team will present their educational historical pageant "Introducing the Fell Pony" (whose content varies year on year depending on team members' availability) and/or the Musical Ride which was developed in 2018.
If you would like to be involved or want some more info, you are welcome to come along to a team practice session, where you can meet us all, and see what we get up to. Riders must be (or become) members of the Society in order to be covered by FPS Insurance while taking part in our performances.
Please get in touch with one of the committee or drop us a message on the Team's Facebook page.
The Display Team is based in Cumbria, so because we are all volunteers we can only occasionally perform at shows outside the area that require overnight stays.
We are happy to share scripts, plans and advice to FPS Area Support Groups if they would like to create their own local Fell Pony Display Teams.
April 2021
School Visits
The Society has arranged visits to several Primary schools in Cumbria which enabled pupils to meet a Fell pony and learn about how they live on the fell. The visits scheduled for 2020 and 2021 were postponed due to Covid-19 but resumed in 2022.
April 2021
Learning with Fells
Since 2009 the Society has run a "Learning with Fells" scheme for our junior members.
Participants are invited to visit working Fell pony studs in Cumbria to learn how the ponies are kept in their native area. These are active and intensive days and they are deliberately kept to very small numbers to enable all participants to ask questions freely and hear the answers given.
Applications will be taken from adult FPS members as well as junior members. There will be 4 places plus 2 reserves. Priority will be given to those aged 10 – 18 years of age.
PLACES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS YEAR. If you are interested in taking part please get in touch with the FPS office. Email secretary@fellponysociety.org.uk
There is a bursary, payable from the Mary & Henderson Dodd Memorial Fund, of £50 for each participant to assist with travelling expenses, provided at least two visits are attended. Again, apply to the Secretary, please.
April 2021
Conservation Grazing
The Society has a Conservation Grazing committee to promote the use of Fell ponies as native grazers of a managed landscape. The Fell Pony is a historic part of the Cumbrian countryside and well suited to conservation grazing, being easy to manage and inclined to stay away from people even though there may be public access to the land. (see our Conservation Grazing page).
And Finally - Where to Find Help, for New Fell Pony Owners
