Globetrotter
Fell Pony Stud

Ponies from the British Isles

The British Isles are indeed well-favoured in possessing nine distinct breeds of the native ponies: the Mountain and Moorland groups, as they are called, the Shetland, Fell, Highland, Dales, Welsh, Exmoor, Dartmoor, New Forest, and Connermara. Some are graceful, some are sturdy, and all are of amazing stamina. Their strength in relation to their size is a thing to be wondered at, and without exception they are sure-footed, active, intelligent and lovable.

Origins

No one has ever pinpointed the exact origin of any of our Native breeds, nor can we say when and where the Fell Pony was first found as we know him to-day. We associate him, and rightly, with the counties of Cumberland and Westmorland, and his name is linked with the Dales.
There is much historical evidence of the workings of Fell Ponies by the local inhabitants of the mountainous regions of Cumberland and Westmorland. Two thousands years ago the Romans mined for minerals in these inhospitable regions. We know that the Romans used the native ponies as pack carriers when constructing Hadrian’s Wall, and it is written that they improved the workability of these native ponies by crossing them with the then Friesian horse which probably stood at 14 hands 2 ins, that they had brought over to Britain by ships. The Romans improved the road systems in the north of England from east to west, but could not construct their straight roads into mountainous areas, so the native ponies would have been used to carry the copper and lead ore out of the mountains and hills.

Medieval Times

With the growth of the wool trade in Medieval England Fell Ponies were used to carry the sheep’s wool to as far away as Southampton docks for trading with foreign ships. They then carried back tea, silks, and spices.  It is also known that the Fell Pony was used as a Smugglers pony on the north western shorelines of England.

Industrial Revolution

At the start of the industrial revolution (1760’s) the mining of coal and iron ore was increasingly in demand. Records show that the Fell Pony was used in great numbers to carry these products from the mines in Northumberland and Durham to the coast for shipment. Think of the number of pack ponies employed to do this, as one tenth of all that was produced in Europe was from this area of England. Each pony carried up to sixteen stone in panniers, eight stone either side of their strong backs, these ponies would travel in droves of twenty with the lead pony wearing a bell, at a steady walk with one mounted man in charge, doing 240 miles a week, year in year out.

Coming of New Transports

It was not until the coming of the railways (1840’s) that the people who bred and used these ponies in such vast numbers were out-done by the quicker transport. Although a great amount of pack ponies disappeared where railways were constructed, their workability continued to thrive in the Dales of Northumberland and the Fells of Westmorland and Cumberland, where they were the only kind of working pony known in that district. These hard working pack ponies of course had other uses; they were the foundation of our good weight carrying Fell Pony of today. The Lakeland farmer used the pony as his shepherding pony. The Royal Mail used the Fell Pony, so the local postman could deliver his letters. In certain times in the history of the north the Fell Pony was used as light cavalry mounts for the Border Raiders.

"The Trotter"

The Fell Pony was famed throughout the North as a trotter, as at country fairs and local county shows pony trotting was the “sport” of the local farmer and tradesman, where they would time the trotting speed on the measured mile of their ponies. There are many records, many tales of distances covered at great speeds by these ponies.

Family "Ride and Drive"

Because of the Fell Ponies extremely even action at the trot they make an excellent driving pony. Fell Pony mares were used as the foundation stock for the early Hackney pony breed by Kit Wilson.
The biggest demand nowadays is for a family ride and drive pony, but Fell Ponies are still being used for hunting, shepherding, driving, trekking, working on small farms and forestry, and are very suitable for riding for the disabled. In fact it has been said, “you cannot put a Fell Pony to the wrong job”.

The Fell Pony

The height limit is 14 hands, the ideal being about 13 hands 2ins. A good specimen should be strong and active, showing true pony characteristics, with the unmistakable appearance peculiar to mountain ponies, being lively and alert. The head, though intelligent, is not always that of a pony, but with large nostrils and large, bright eyes, and short ears. The shoulders sloping, body strong and deep, with well-muscled quarters. The legs must be strong, with plenty of flat bone, (9 – 10ins around the cannon bone), and the feet round with fine silky feather. The Fell Pony should have a long stride at all paces, with good knee and hock action. The only colours are black, brown, bay and grey. A star, or a little white on the heel is allowed. A well-trained Fell makes a delightful ride – for his activity, strength and hardiness, born of generations of scrambling about the mountains, give him great balance, and what horse is worth riding without this?