Fell Ponies

First and foremost, please visit the sites below (if you haven't already!). Your first visit should be the Fell Pony Society website, as the FPS is the official governing body of the breed worldwide. There are daughter organizations, and affiliates, such as the FPSNA, but Fells in the U.S. still follow registration protocol and receive papers thru FPS.

So rather than try to paraphrase what these sites offer, I thought focusing on a few key points would be more unique and exciting for our discussion here.

Fact: Fells are considered one of the 11 Native Pony Breeds, that is, native to the United Kingdom. Welsh ponies and Connemaras are other examples. Specifically, Fell breeders are historically & currently concentrated in the Cumbrian region, located on the map above.

Fact: Although black Fell ponies can sometimes look like miniature Friesians, they are really not genetically related to Friesian horses at all, just like Haflingers are not miniature Belgians. Aside from the massive amounts of hair and feathers, their body structure, movement, attitudes and heritage are very different.

Fact: Fells Ponies are named after topography of the region they are from, the Cumbrian Fells. A fell is basically a really large hill, almost like some Midwestern ski hills. Please scroll down to look at some pictures I've taken while in England to get an idea of what it is like.

Fact: Fell ponies are some of the hardiest equines around today, with some herds (such as Lunesdale) still being raised in a semi-feral state, similar to American Mustangs. This means they receive basic care necessary for proper stewardship, but otherwise are left alone for large portions of the year out on the fell. The word Fell can describe the hill itself, and also their use as large common areas of agricultural land several breeders and farmers share.

Fell Ponies- How Much?

Fells are still relatively unknown in this country, and wherever they go they attract attention. Newcomers to the breed often wonder how much Fells are sold for. Foundation stock for this breed must be imported, and the cost to bring in breeding stock is affected by rising fuel costs, the currency exchange rate of the American dollar against the British pound, and the extremely competitive market for the breeding stock itself. The average price range for weanling Fells in the USA is $6,000 - $8,000. Mature stock, Fells with training, and of course breeding animals have a higher price range.

Our interest in fell ponies began many years ago, after seeing one owned by a friend. Finding out anything about them was quite difficult, as many of the US breeders were just getting started, and with less than 200 ponies in North America at the time, it was not easy to find any close to home to see in person. Over time and with perseverance, we were drawn to many things:

Versatility: Fell ponies can do anything! Ride on the trail, compete in shows, pull a cart, jump...the list goes on. All this combined with their natural beauty and hardiness.

Size: Fells have a top height of 14.0 HH, perfect for small adults and children. Yet their build and structure allows them to carry most any adult rider easily.

Attitude: Fells are incredibly intelligent, which allows them to train very easily. It is up to the trainer to teach them only good things!

Heritage: We've had wonderful opportunities to visit England, specifically to learn about Fells. These trips are so important to our vision, as being surrounded by the pony's natural environment allows a true appreciation for what these ponies are about, why they move and think the way they do, and why they must continue to do so to remain true-to-type Fell ponies. The breed is considered endangered and the gene pool is small. We feel compelled to take part in their preservation.