Fell ponies

[FAYEFUDGE]

Interested in potentially buying a fell as a family pony.
Reading up on the breed atm.
I’m 5ft4 and about 10.7 stone.
Would I be too tall/heavy?
Can any owners/riders tell me a bit more about them.
Thanks!

 

[southerncomfort]

Fell ponies...my favourite subject!

My boy is approximately 13.1. I'm 5'3 and weigh around 8st4. Because he is quite small, albeit very stocky, and still only 6, I probably wouldn't put more than around 9.5st on him at the moment.

Fell ponies make great family ponies, however I do find that you have to be very black and white with them. Give an inch and they'll take a mile. They are incredibly cheeky and full of character. Mine will steal anything left unattended (including my husbands hammer!). They can be a bit in your face if you let them.

They are incredibly versatile and turn their hoof to anything. My boy just loves hacking. He bounces out of the gate with great energy and enthusiasm!

Obviously they are absolutely beautiful and as shiny as its possible to get. My boy is fully black and I swear he even shines in the dark.

He came from the Wellbrow stud who are known for breeding lovely quiet ponies. He is my first Fell pony and was an absolute doddle to back. He has a quick, buzzy brain and loves to learn new things.

I absolutely adore him, we have so much fun together. I think everyone needs a Fell pony in their life.

 

[FAYEFUDGE]

Fell ponies...my favourite subject!

My boy is approximately 13.1. I'm 5'3 and weigh around 8st4. Because he is quite small, albeit very stocky, and still only 6, I probably wouldn't put more than around 9.5st on him at the moment.

Fell ponies make great family ponies, however I do find that you have to be very black and white with them. Give an inch and they'll take a mile. They are incredibly cheeky and full of character. Mine will steal anything left unattended (including my husbands hammer!). They can be a bit in your face if you let them.

They are incredibly versatile and turn their hoof to anything. My boy just loves hacking. He bounces out of the gate with great energy and enthusiasm!

Obviously they are absolutely beautiful and as shiny as its possible to get. My boy is fully black and I swear he even shines in the dark.

He came from the Wellbrow stud who are known for breeding lovely quiet ponies. He is my first Fell pony and was an absolute doddle to back. He has a quick, buzzy brain and loves to learn new things.

I absolutely adore him, we have so much fun together. I think everyone needs a Fell pony in their life.

Thank you!!

 

[sbloom]

Bear in mind that little legs can struggle with wide ribcages, and also think very carefully about saddles, having one that works for riders of different sizes isn't easy and you may well need a shim pad for one rider. They are great ones but best to have your eyes open

 

[southerncomfort]

Ah yes...the big downside as SBloom says, is finding a saddle to fit both pony and various riders is an absolute nightmare!

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

I love fell ponies! I am 5’4 and about 8.5 stone, I don’t feel to big at all on mine who is roughly 13.2 but very chunky.

I rode a few fells before I got mine and felt a bit to big on some of the less chunky ones, but then I was going from a 16hh sports horse

My fell is great that he will adapt to his rider, when I take him out with my friends tbs he flies and keeps up but then I can pop a kid on the lead rein on him and he will plod round slowly with them.

The main issue I found was as sbloom said saddle fitting, in the end we went for a showing saddle. Also keeping weight off them can be an issue depending what your grazing is like.

 

[Glitter's fun]

Would someone like to comment on the differences between fell bloodlines/prefixes please? (I heard that temperament varies, is that true?)
Thanks.

 

[southerncomfort]

As mentioned on the other thread, Wellbrow ponies are renowned for their good temperament. They also tend to be smaller and of stockier build.

I would say my boy is a typical Wellbrow pony. He was incredibly easy to back and doesn't have a bad bone in his body.

Still buzzing from the fantastic 2 hour hack we had this morning. So much fun, he is the best hacking pony ever.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I had a Lownthwaite pony who had the sweetest, kindest temperament. He was an absolute pleasure to ride and deal with. He wasn't a plod but he wasn't whizzy and wild either. He was pretty much the perfect pony. His sire was a Townend pony, his mother Lownthwaite. Very big active movement and could jump for fun.

 

[Glitter's fun]

As mentioned on the other thread, Wellbrow ponies are renowned for their good temperament. They also tend to be smaller and of stockier build.

I would say my boy is a typical Wellbrow pony. He was incredibly easy to back and doesn't have a bad bone in his body.

Still buzzing from the fantastic 2 hour hack we had this morning. So much fun, he is the best hacking pony ever.

Sorry , didn't realise it had been covered elsewhere.
Have you heard anything about Lunesdale?

ETA found this from 18 months ago Fell experts | Horse and Hound Forum