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NEWS last updated:    (MM/DD/YYYY format)

Secretary and Treasurer Required for the Society

Located in Appleby, Cumbria
Full-time | 30–37.5 hours per week
Salary: £29,250 (based on 37.5 hours per week)
 
We are looking for an organised, detail-oriented individual, who has great interpersonal skills, strong IT and financial management skills, with a passion for our rare breed.
 
We are looking for someone who is dedicated and who will take the lead in the administration, financial management, and promotion of our rare breed.

Please see the full advertisement here

Please see the job description here

10 June 2025

Problems with Grassroots database

There was an issue this week with logging service details on Grassroots.

If you attempted to record service certificates online, even if a message appeared to say it was successful, it’s unlikely that you will have received an automatic confirmation email or an email from the FPS office to confirm which means that the details have not been recorded in the system.

The problem regarding the input of service certificates online has now been fixed, so if you have tried to log service details recently then please try again and you should now receive the appropriate confirmation emails.

Thank you for your patience with this matter.

12 June 2025

Learning with Fells 2025

The Society is beginning to prepare for this year's Learning with Fells scheme, so if you are interested and have not yet lodged your interest with the Society then you have until 31 May to get in touch – email please to secretary@fellponysociety.org.uk.

Anyone out there willing to host please get in touch by 31 May.

22 May 2025

Survey Request

Roni Cradock, a student on an MSc course in Sustainability and Ecology at the Centre for Alternative Technology, is doing research into extensive and conservation grazing with horses and ponies in the UK. If you are doing this type of land management, your input to this survey would help - it takes about 10 minutes.
This is the link to the survey: please feel free to share it with others who may be interested.
https://forms.office.com/e/F68uCkTa5Z

27 March 2025

New Training Bursary

A grant of up to £250 is available to a Fell Pony Society member who is under 25 years of age and wishes to attend  a series of lessons with an instructor or a short intensive course with approved instructors, in any discipline. Closing date for apllications is 1 May 2025. For more details please see the Bursary information and the Bursary application form

13 March 2025

NPS Stallion Parade at the Spring Festival Show

Once again there will be a stallion parade open to all the UK breeds at the NPS Spring Festival at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern. The parade will take place at 13:00 on Saturday 26th April in Malvern Ring and will run for an hour. A colour booklet will be produced and handed out which will include 1 colour photograph, pedigree information and a short description of each stallion. There will be commentary throughout the parade and Stallion owners may also hand out their own stud cards to spectators if they wish. Entry will be limited to the first 20 completed forms received. If you know of anyone who may be interested in attending, please contact  hollie.sanderson@nationalponysociety.com or studbook@nationalponysociety.com.

NPS Stallion Parade Entry form 10 Mar 2025

Check that you have the right email address for us

Just a reminder that the FPS Office email is secretary@fellponysociety.org or secretary@fellponysociety.org.uk

The Gmail address that was set up as a workaround during lockdown DOES NOT WORK ANY MORE.

The Secretary receives phone calls every week saying, "I sent an email but I haven’t had a reply!" and that's always because it’s been sent to Gmail!

Do please check which one is in your email address books. 11 Feb 2025

Learning with Fells 2025

The Society will consider applications from any FPS member, irrespective of age.

It is hoped that sufficient numbers will come forward for visits to 2 or 3 studs during 2025.

If you’re interested in taking part as a learner please send an email to the FPS office secretary@fellponysociety.org.uk by no later than 30 April 2025.

Stud Owners – if you think you could accommodate visitors, then please get in touch with the FPS office ASAP with possible dates.

There is a bursary, payable from the Mary and Henderson Dodd Memorial Fund, of £50 for each participant to assist with travelling expenses, provided at least two visits are attended. 7 Feb 2025

Membership renewals for 2025

Thank you to all members who have renewed your membership. However, we have received several payments at the old rate.

To save us time in having to contact you individually, please can you check and if you have paid the old rate, send the extra payment as soon as possible, then we can issue your new membership card. The 2025 rates can be checked on the Membership page and on p12 of the Autumn 2024 Magazine.

Priority will be given to those who have paid correctly. Members are only eligible to vote for Council if their subscription has been paid *in full* by 15 February, and we cannot guarantee you will receive a reminder by this date and therefore you will miss out on the opportunity to vote. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Happy New Year! 3 Jan 2025

Voluntary DNA Testing of Filly Foals in 2025

Voluntary DNA testing of filly foals (1 test per filly) will be offered again this year, from January 2025. The test will be paid by the FPS (1 test per filly), UK and overseas via Weatherbys where possible but US breeders can use a lab in their own country and then be issued with a credit against future transactions once confirmation of amount paid is received, up to a max of £50.  Full details are here >>> . 13 Dec 2024

"Notification of Service" Certificates via Grassroots

Unfortunately there have been issues with notifying Service Certificates online since 12 November that have only been brought to the Society’s attention over the last few days. Grassroots have overnight issued a software update that has rectified the problem.

You will always receive an email from the FPS confirming receipt as well as an automatic email from the system, therefore if you have not received an email and you submitted the information since 12 November,  you need to re submit the details. Apologies for any inconvenience. 12 Dec 2024

Membership fees increase from 1st January 2025

As approved at the AGM in April 2024, fees are increasing for 2025. If you are a current member paying by Standing order please remember to get the mandate updated in advance of 1st January. The new range of subscription fees can be seen on the Membership page. 26 Sept 2024

EHV reports in France – extra vigilance required

British Equestrian and its member bodies are currently monitoring a reported outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1 - neurological form) in France.  More >>> 19 November 2024

FIS testing - update

FIS testing kits can again be purchased through the FPS (see Registration and Other Fees for details). On receipt of the payment the kit(s) will be issued to the owner.  A vet must take the sample and complete the label on the packet in full before returning to the FPS, who will forward it to the lab, Animal Genetics. Animal Genetics will issue the result by email, direct to the  owner, within 7-10 working days of receipt of the sample.

This does not affect DNA typing/parentage testing which will be continuing through Weatherbys in Ireland. 11 July 2024

FIS certificates - caution

For the first time since FIS testing was introduced in 2010, the Society has seen an FIS certificate that has been tampered with.

Please be aware that this can happen.  If you have any doubts about the authenticity of a certificate then please share a copy with the FPS office who will check it out for you.

The Society would like to encourage owners who have had their pony tested to have the result recorded in the passport. We understand that sending in the passport to the office is a bind, but this process can’t be done automatically.  If you’re sending a passport in for some other reason you can just send a copy of the certificate along with it and ask for the info to be recorded. This can also be done for you at the Stallion Show and at the Breed Show.

If you are a new owner, and you’re not sure if your pony has been FIS tested, ask the FPS office to enquire if it has, and, if so, then a duplicate certificate can be obtained for a small fee. The lab will email it direct to you, as the owner. 3 June 2024

King Charles III Patron of the Fell Pony Society

The Fell Pony Society is extremely proud, and deeply honoured, to announce that the charity's new Patron will be King Charles III, following more than 40 years of patronage by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This fabulous news was received on the 1st anniversary of the King's Coronation.

Fell ponies have been a favourite breed with the Royal family since the 1930s when King George V bought ponies both to ride and to breed from. Her late Majesty enjoyed riding and bred Fell ponies under her Balmoral prefix. The late Duke of Edinburgh competed in pony driving trials at National level with a team of four Fell ponies, and presented the Society with the Edinburgh Award, which is presented on his behalf by the Society each year for excellence in driving. The current Duchess of Edinburgh and her daughter Lady Louise Windsor both drive Fell ponies.

The Society currently has around 1,000 members. Fell ponies, which are classed as "At Risk" by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, are most common in the North of England but are also found across Europe, the USA, Russia and Australia. Around 350 foals are born each year.

A Spokesperson said, "We're absolutely delighted that the King has chosen to continue the Royal patronage that we have enjoyed for over 40 years. This is wonderful recognition of the work of the Society, which aims to foster and keep pure the old breed of pony which has roamed the northern fells since prehistoric times; and to provide information to raise awareness of this wonderfully versatile pony breed."

PRESS details:

for further details of the Society and Fell ponies please see https://www.fellponysociety.org.uk/index.html

Chairman, Peter Boustead - 07790 736192.

Secretary, Katherine Wilkinson - 01768 353100.

Claire Simpson, Press Officer - 07767 838662. 15 May 2024

Update from British Equestrian: official import controls on consignments of chilled equine germinal products from 30 April 2024

British Equestrian has been working with the British Horse Council to secure a workable solution to accommodate the implementation of Border Control Post (BCP) checks beginning 30 April, that will affect chilled fresh semen imports from the EU. More >>>  7 May 20244.

The UK Genetics for Livestock and Equines Committee (UKGLE)

The UK Genetics for Livestock and Equines Committee (UKGLE) newsletter includes information about the National Breed Inventory. "The inventory helps to show how breed populations are changing over time and identifies status, trends, and potential threats." Full document >>>

DEFRA: Farming Support Packages

Secretary of State, Steve Barclay, announced up to £45 million in competitions and grants, including a list of payment schemes that are potentially relevant to native breeds. Particularly note the Native Breeds at Risk Supplement :: Full document >>>      14 Feb 2024

New "Junior Handler" Points Award & Competition

The Support Groups have put forward the idea of a new Junior Handler section within the FPS Performance Awards Scheme and (from September 2024), a Junior Handler competition with a final at the Breed show (from 2025). Read More on the awards page >>> 12 Feb 2024