365 Days in Horse Country – The Fell Pony
Fell Ponies are among those native English breeds called
mountain and moorland ponies. They were
bred to be easy keepers in the harsh country of northern England, able to
survive and even thrive with poor grazing land and only rough shelter. The name Fell derives from the local word for
the surrounding hills.
The Fell Pony is a descendant of dark-coloured native ponies and horses from Friesland that were brought to the British Isles when the Romans invaded in 55 BC. When the Romans withdrew, many of the horses remained. Those in the north bred with the native ponies, and among their offspring were the equines that became the Fell Pony.
The Fell Pony has had a varied career, being used as a plowhorse, packanimal, draft horse, and even under saddle. The Industrial Revolution brought an end to its useful, and many were sold for slaughter, but enough remained in their original Lakeland home in the hills of Cumbria that they didn’t disappear entirely.
Fells bear is a striking resemblance to the much larger Friesian, in appearance and also in trotting ability. They were famous for their speed and stamina at a trot, which is trait they retain to this day.
In appearance the Fell Pony has a neat head set on a fairly long neck. A large or coarse head and short, thick neck are undesirable. Muscular quarters and good legs with plenty of bone are hallmarks of the breed. Primarily black but sometimes dark brown, bay, or gray, it rarely has white markings. The mane and tail are long and thick, and straight, silky feathers extend up to the knee. Most Fell Ponies average 13.2 hands but the height limit is 14 hands.
This lively and alert pony is characterized by hardiness, courage, and adaptability. It’s sturdy enough to carry an adult, but a docile temperament makes it suited to be a child’s mount. In competition it is suited to combined driving. The Fell Pony’s advantage in this sport is its great stamina, although it lacks the speed of some other breeds. It is also a creditable jumper. Any rider will find it a comfortable ride, with its easy, steady trot over long distances and surefootedness over rough, rocky, hilly, or marshy terrain.
Michael