Fell Pony

The Fell Pony is closely related to the Dales Pony, but is smaller and of purer blood. It comes from the western side of the Pennine hills, which run down the northern half of England. The Fell Pony is a true mountain and moorland pony, still bred and running free on the hills, although some are bred on farms and private studs. It is almost certainly descended from the Celtic Pony, and also contains Dutch Friesian blood introduced initially by the Romans. A now extinct breed to influence the Fell was the Scottish Galloway, a tough breed whose qualities
have been inherited in full by today's Fell Pony. The Fell Pony was used as an informal trotting race pony, for sheep herding and as a pack pony in the lead mining industry. The Fell Pony transported lead in panniers weighing up to 110lb(50kg) each. The ponies walked in single file herded by a single rider, covering up to 30 miles (48km) a day. The Fell Pony has a iron constitution, with great pony character and wild air. It has a friendly, willing, yet determined, nature. The Fell Pony is widely used in England's Lake District as a trekking pony for tourists. It makes an excellent children's pony and is also good in harness. A few farmers still use Fell Ponies for herding sheep. Fell Ponies stand about 14 hands high.