None really. If you intend to breed, try to ensure pony is FIS clear.
There is nothing otherwise that Fell ponies are ailment specific, they are generally pretty tough ponies but like anything can pick up lameness etc.
People can say they are stubborn, or sharp, and all in between, but I find they generally are as good as the human who teaches them...... they learn very quickly, so teach a pony incorrectly and it will take you a zillion times longer to retrain the right mode.
Main ailment is their ability to eat otherwise usual native stuff -lookout for sweet itch, old signs of lammi. they are tough and mine has super feet, clever and very quick to learn.
Friend had two the first tried to kill her the second had such a choppy stride she has ruined her back and will never ride again. Both of us like the look of them but not the action
My first pony was a Fell. She lived to the age of 33. Always sound with beautiful feet. Very bold, versatile pony but like all natives they have strong, clever personalities. Wishing you best of luck, there is nothing quite like a hairy Fell cuddle xx
I have a fell and I would always want one of them knocking about. Amazingly versatile pony and on the whole sharp but safe. Could hack mine down a duel carriage way on a good day.
Mine has EMS which is very common in all natives really. Has been reversed with weight loss just have to keep him leaner then he would like!
I've had quite a few Fells in my time. They are tough in mind and body.
Mine have been pretty clever and fearless in general and with a good sense of self preservation riding tricky land. Some have been more forward going than others but all have been solid reliable ponies.
Yep, I trust mine completely over boggy and rough ground. He is forward, has a great active walk.we suffered a bit initially from him coming from an owner who’d got scared of him and who hadn’t been honest of the extent of it but we now have an understanding. he’s picked up Trec and archery really well. I don’t find mine choppy and I tried one who had the most amazing ground covering trot for a 14h but expect choppy ones are out there.
Sweet itch as others have said. Stubborn and self-opinionated like no other but loving and sure footed. Mine is a naughty schoolboy but I love him to absolute bits.
As TFF said the only thing I can think of is FIS which will only affect you if you want to breed. I think you would be OK if you had an FIS carrier as long as you put it to an FIS clear. I am not a breeder but have had a few fells and part breds. I have a two year old fell pony and another just sold. If you don't mind me asking do you know the pony's breeding. Quite a few of the Cumbrian fell studs aren't far from me.