Fell ponies

[FAYEFUDGE]

Following on from my last post, looking for advice.
After a lot of recommendations I’m interested in Fell ponies.
Can any owners/riders give me opinions on them, temperament etc.
Pony will be for myself and my niece.
Pony will mainly be used for hacking/riding club/flat work.
Niece is 8 but tall and I’m about 5’4 and 10.7 stone.
Does this sound feasible?

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Depends how well your niece can ride, they are usually forward going ponies with a big stride. I find they ride bigger than their size would suggest. My pony has been ridden by novice children and on the lead rein, but steps up when someone more experienced rides him.

Where abouts are you? Someone on here may know of something

 

[FAYEFUDGE]

Depends how well your niece can ride, they are usually forward going ponies with a big stride. I find they ride bigger than their size would suggest. My pony has been ridden by novice children and on the lead rein, but steps up when someone more experienced rides him.

Where abouts are you? Someone on here may know of something

Niece will be on a lead rein, she just likes to walk about etc.
Was worried I’d be too heavy but seems not from research
Based in NI

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Niece will be on a lead rein, she just likes to walk about etc.
Was worried I’d be too heavy but seems not from research
Based in NI

If you look on the fell pony society website they have a sales page

 

[Jellymoon]

I haven’t had one but have a friend who shows them along with all the other native pony breeds. They are lovely, but wide and powerful for little kids. They can be quite forward going.

 

[Jellymoon]

Would you not go for a connie or a small lightweight cob given you’re based in NI?

 

[asmp]

Just seen this Fell for sale and was surprised by its colour. I assumed they were always dark bays or black.

Talented & Fun Fell Pony

Full details on the NFED Classifieds - www.nfed.co.uk

nfed.co.uk

 

[gallopingby]

Don’t know why you’re surprised that there are grey fell ponies around. All the native breeds except Exmoors have potential to throw grey.

 

[Cloball]

Just seen this Fell for sale and was surprised by its colour. I assumed they were always dark bays or black.

Talented & Fun Fell Pony

Full details on the NFED Classifieds - www.nfed.co.uk

nfed.co.uk

Grey, bay and black are the only accepted colours, there are quite a few grey stallions about at the moment. I've even seen a pic of a chestnut but although pure bred would have to be registered as partbred.

My fell pony is very forward she was a bit much for her child owner as have a few I have ridden in the past.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Grey, bay and black are the only accepted colours, there are quite a few grey stallions about at the moment. I've even seen a pic of a chestnut but although pure bred would have to be registered as partbred.

My fell pony is very forward she was a bit much for her child owner as have a few I have ridden in the past.

Grey Bay brown and black. My current mare is brown.

OP, I've had a very good number over the last 40odd years from those who came in to be backed, for producing and anything in between. Fell ponies can usually fall into 2 camps, v steady (sometimes v ploddy) and forwards going.
As with any breeds, some lines have foibles tho.
Definitely worth researching much more.
Have a look at the Registered Fell Pony group on Facebook, no sales ads there but worth a trawl through to see the different types within the breed.
Good luck.

 

[Cloball]

Apologies my genetics brain won't accept brown as a colour
In case anyone is interested

 

[Jeni the dragon]

As people have said, a lot of them are pretty forward going, fun ponies!

The summer before I bought mine, our family were on holiday in the Lakes. Sister and I went twice for a hack at a local stables. First day on ex racers, second day on Fells! The speedier and naughtier two were definitely the Fells!

I've had mine for over twenty years and she still keeps me in my place! She is very sensitive and far too intelligent for my own good but worth her, not inconsiderable, weight in gold!

 

[FAYEFUDGE]

Would you not go for a connie or a small lightweight cob given you’re based in NI?

My last horse was a Connie, old fashioned type and very hard to get now

 

[tda]

I had a Fell Pony a few years ago, whirlwind by name, whirlwind by nature, never fallen off as much as I did with her , sold her to a more suitable younger owner(perfect fit)
But apart from that, they are generally good natured ponies

 

[pinkfluffy]

Forward going and full of energy. Mine is quite sensitive but if you let him know exactly what you expect of him, he's amazing and actively wants to please you. I've only ridden 2 Fells, but both were/are beautiful to ride. I knew I would buy my boy when he took his first step with me on him! Very smooth to ride, which is good for me as I have a bad back and (apart from the falling off) makes for a very comfortable ride. He's also a lot faster than I thought he'd be. Long stride and piles of energy in every step - if it can be walked, he will do it at a gallop! Depends on the individual pony, but mine is a big excitable puppy who I'm sure will calm down in a few years

Good typical native pony health-wise - great feet (never shod), very friendly, loves food and can live off fresh air.

 

[RHM]

Oh I love fell ponies. They can literally do anything!
Mine is the biggest personality on the yard. Incredibly inquisitive and ALOT smarter than my ISH. Obviously it depends on breeding but him and his dad are some of the kindest ponies I’ve known, with busy little brains and keen to trot everywhere!

Ive put very small kids on him and he has happily plodded about. But, can be a live wire when someone more experienced gets on board.

 

[maya2008]

Check you can happily fit into the saddle size needed for anything you go and look at. They are not common though and I have seen a few for sale recently as being too spicy/forward for the homes they were in. In Ireland a nice cob would have the size, temperament and sturdiness you need and would be easier to find perhaps?

 

[southerncomfort]

Mine is happy to plod about in the school with a child, but he'd be far too bouncy and forward out hacking even on the lead rein.

 

[PSD]

I had a fell a couple of years ago. She was fiesty and very strong and definitely not suitable for kids on the lead rein. I would opt for maybe a little welsh, though they too are firstly as are many m&m ponies! But you see far more welshes in lead rein classes than fells! Mainly due to size, fells are very strong in their bodies and minds! I didn’t get along with mine so sold her. Two stubborn headstrong personalities clashed more often than not!

 

[PeterNatt]

I had a Fell pony who I had for 21 years (from age 8 to age 29). She was absolutely brilliant. I rode her in heavy traffic including in central London, did long distance rides on her and took her on holidays. She was forward going and a lovely personality. (She had previously been a childs show jumping pony). I had so much fun with her. Anyone could ride her and she would always behave beautifully. Best of luck with your search.

 

[Snow Falcon]

I've just re-clipped one-hairy beast!! Something to bare in mind is what is your ground like? Hairy feathered legs and mud are not a great combination.

If you do get one, make sure it has good manners as they can be strong opininated animals (as can any breed with the wrong handling!) My friend's is the slow steady but rude bargy type.

 

[Horseysheepy]

I remember breaking in a Fell gelding many years ago, he was super! Literally could hack him on his own anywhere and everywhere from the word go! Such a dude!

Get them schooling off the leg, be firm and clear about forwards but keep it fun, as in schooling on hacks rather than too much in the school and they'll be your best friend.

For the children, possibly too much pony, but for what you are intending on doing, you should be fine.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

In terms of height I’m 5’4 and my pony is 13.2 on a stick but very chunky.

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

Fells are fab ! Sparky but safe .
I am 5'9" and rode at around 10 st .
This is my 14hh Fell mare competing BD Elementary . She was mad as a box of frogs but incredibly safe at the same time !




Hunting





At a show with one of our foster children ( they won everything ! )

Me on her son , who was 13.2hh but chunkier !

 

[Horseysheepy]

Lovely pony BRB, and nice length of rein.
I can imagine it rides bigger than 13.2.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Lovely pony BRB, and nice length of rein.
I can imagine it rides bigger than 13.2.

Thank you yes he really does, I rode my friends 16.2 tb and felt there was ‘more’ in front of me on my fell!

 

[DizzyDoughnut]

Mine is the most friendly pony I've ever met, he's determined he should be involved in everything, he's also very clever and loves to be doing things with you. He definitely has a busy brain and loves to have a job to do, if you ask him nicely he will try his little heart out and do anything for you but if you ask him rudely or if he just doesn't like someone you don't stand a chance. He definitely has opinions and isn't shy about letting you know when he's not happy about something.

He's not sedate or ploddy and is sensitive but is fairly sensible and never makes me feel unsafe, he is also kind and generous and will happily wander along with toddler leading him and is very careful of small fingers. He is built like a small tank and would be very strong if he did decide to use his strength against you, if he wasn't reminded of his manners or was treated unfairly I could easily see him becoming very pushy and rude. But saying all that he is the best most fun pony I've ever had, and I wish I'd got a Fell pony years ago!

 

[Cloball]

Mine is the most friendly pony I've ever met, he's determined he should be involved in everything, he's also very clever and loves to be doing things with you. He definitely has a busy brain and loves to have a job to do, if you ask him nicely he will try his little heart out and do anything for you but if you ask him rudely or if he just doesn't like someone you don't stand a chance. He definitely has opinions and isn't shy about letting you know when he's not happy about something

Oh yes. D decided to plant and refuse to come in from the field yesterday definitely had to think around the problem rather than try and force the issue. She's a very independent pony mare with opinions.

 

[Gloi]

I had about a dozen Fells over the years. This brown Sleddale boy was great, fantastic nature, but very strong at times. I did a few endurance rides with him, 30 to 35 miles or so. Cracking jumper too.

 

[sbloom]

Very short backed, be sure they can take a saddle you can fit in, and for littlies they can be very wide, with littler legs struggling more, even though the thigh might be at a similar angle (forwards!) compared with a taller rider, the place the knee and ankle hits can make things harder.