| The Fell Pony gets its name, FELL, from the Norse | | | | left to run free until two or three. They're brought in for |
| word meaning "hill." During the four centuries of Roman | | | | basic training and turned out again for another year. |
| occupation on the border between England and | | | | They're started under saddle around five years old. |
| Scotland, extra troops -- French, Dutch, German, Polish, | | | | Today Fell ponies are still used for logging, farming, and |
| Spanish and eastern European cavalrymen -- were | | | | shepherding. They have been quite successful in |
| brought in to protect Hadrian's Wall which separated | | | | competitive endurance at the Olympic level, LeTrec, |
| the countries and to maintain law and order. Since | | | | jumping and dressage and also excel at competitive |
| bones of foreign horses have been found in Northern | | | | and pleasure driving, and therapeutic riding. |
| Britain, its thought that the Fell pony may be a mixture | | | | Preserving the Fell Breed |
| of these horses and local ponies. A cross between | | | | Sue Millard of England, talked about the importance of |
| foreign horses and the Celtic pony might have | | | | unseen traits of a native pony at a rear equine breed |
| produced an animal closer to horse size, but larger | | | | event at the Kentucky Horse Park. "A good example |
| animals couldn't have survived in the northern fells | | | | of a native pony should tell us, just by looking at it, |
| without extra food. It's believed that the breed | | | | what kind of life its ancestors led," Millard said. "A well |
| stabilized through natural selection as a pony. | | | | built body is the first requirement. Good teeth for |
| After the Romans withdrew there weren't many | | | | grazing and a well designed coat that sheds rain. |
| roads until the 18th century. Fell ponies were used to | | | | Hoofs that take the wear of rough terrain. You can |
| transport goods throughout the country. As canals, | | | | see all these. But natives ponies have other qualities: |
| roadways and train lines were developed in the 18th | | | | an even sensible temperament, hardiness, vigor, self |
| and 19th centuries, other forms of transport developed | | | | reliance and brains. These qualities are vital to the |
| and Fell ponies were used for light farm work, carrying | | | | breed but they are not visible. They're the inner pony, |
| mail, sports events, shepherding and or carrying goods | | | | the bits that you only get to know by doing the job and |
| to market by cart. | | | | living the life. These invisible characteristics can't be |
| Size and Showing Characteristics | | | | retained without giving the pony a job to do and if |
| The ponies average 13.1 to 13.2 hands high; the | | | | possible, allowing it to live and reproduce as its |
| maximum height allowed for a Fell pony is 14 hands. | | | | ancestors did and still do." |
| Fells come in black, brown, bay and gray. A star and | | | | For more information on the Fell pony, contact the Fell |
| or white on or below the hind fetlock is acceptable for | | | | Pony Society and Conservancy of the Americas, 125 |
| showing today. Fell ponies are well groomed for | | | | Edwards Farm Lane, Dobson, NC 27017. An FPS |
| shows, yet untrimmed to emphasize their natural looks. | | | | overseas branch is committed to conserving and |
| Most Fells mature late, sometimes not until they're | | | | promoting the Fell pony as the hill breeders of northern |
| seven years old. In their native country Fell ponies are | | | | England have done for many centuries. |