Fell Ponies

Fell ponies are one of Britain’s native pony breeds. They hail from the northern border country between Scotland and England and take their name from a local word for ‘hill.’ Like all the native ponies, the character of Fell ponies has been shaped by centuries of living in its home climate and terrain. Fell ponies are known for their hardiness, their profuse mane and feather and their ground-covering trot. Having walked on the fells with semi-feral ponies, I understand where they get their hardiness, why so much hair is important, and how their distinct action evolved. While black is now the predominant color in the breed, brown, bay, and gray are also allowed and were more common in the past. Standing at an average of 13.1 - 13.2 hands high, Fells are used by adults and children alike and participate in many ridden and driven disciplines. Their carrying capacity rivals that of a quarter horse or Arabian. 




Many years ago, Fells were esteemed as pack ponies, transporting ore, wool and other goods from the Lake District to port cities. Hill farmers have used them for shepherding (before the advent of the quad-bike or ATV) as well as for pulling carts or light farm equipment on hill farms. They’ve also been employed as deer stalking ponies. As with many breeds of draft animals, the advent of the internal combustion engine in the early 20th century nearly wiped out the Fell Pony.

Now the role of the Fell Pony is more often for competitive and pleasure riding, driving and showing. They compete well against other breeds in events such as endurance trials and combined driving. They are also enjoyed by their owners for trekking, hunting, and jumping, and have accompanied brides and grooms during wedding ceremonies. The Fell Pony Society says, “You cannot put a Fell to the wrong job.”

Fell ponies are known for their good temperaments and intelligence. To survive in their home terrain, they mature slowly, timing their growth with available forage. They shouldn’t be ridden before four years of age nor put to hard work before seven. If these guidelines are followed, ponies work well into their twenties, giving them a long and useful life.

When the breed was most endangered in the early 20th century, dedicated enthusiasts formed The Fell Pony Society which still stewards the breed today. The Society publishes stud books with the registration information for the breed, including names of ponies and prefixes. A prefix is specific to a person or group of people, and many prefixes, especially for English breeders, make reference to the place where they breed or have an historic connection. My prefix is Willowtrail. The number of prefixes in use has doubled in the past twenty years, as has the number newly registered. Only 23 out of 142 prefixes in use in 2006 have been in continuous use for thirty years or longer.