Talk to me about Fell ponies...

Rackwood in Durham and Drybarrows in Cumbria. I have a friend who won at the Highland show years ago with her Rackwood and really rates them. Another friend used to break and work with lots of Drybarrows ponies years ago and people used to come from all over to buy them. In the 1990's, a fair number of them went to Holland.

Think Inglegarth fell ponies are selling some youngstock too, I think they are Lancashire area.
 
You also have the Bracklin fell ponies up here in Scotland.
and Scotshaven too up by Thurso, but i think Diane only has 2 yr olds which might be house hunting.

I backed and produced a fab Drybarrows mare back in 88, she had a terrific pop and we did v well in whp classes, went home to her owner to be a mum.
Barncrosh were lovely natured ponies, had 3 of those. Also some Wolds and Tebay ponies too as well as others :)

I *think* the sale is mostly weanlings with just a few others this time.
 
and Scotshaven too up by Thurso, but i think Diane only has 2 yr olds which might be house hunting.

I backed and produced a fab Drybarrows mare back in 88, she had a terrific pop and we did v well in whp classes, went home to her owner to be a mum.
Barncrosh were lovely natured ponies, had 3 of those. Also some Wolds and Tebay ponies too as well as others :)

I *think* the sale is mostly weanlings with just a few others this time.

That's interesting, I've only bought wean lings the last few years anyways. Be interesting to see the catalogue when it is out. No mountain and moorland sale after the fells this year so I won't be getting a Dales there.

Did you ever know the registered name of the Drybarrows mare you had. The ones my friend used to get only ever had the pet/stable names she used to give them. We often wonder about them, if we'd known their registered names we could have searched them. Chris had lots of ponies and often used to take the mares back to breed from after they'd been broken.

Forgot to mention Brackenbank fell ponies, these belong to the society secretary.
 
I don't have a Wellbrow pony but I have a pony that is Wellbrow breeding (Wellbrow Leo x Wellbrow Gemma). He is so laid back and easygoing. He is not yet broken but unphased by anything (as yet!) On roads, farrier etc. They have a good reputation as being good ponies. Mind was second in the yearling class at a county show but admittedly there were only four entries.

Thats really good to know. Sounds like Wellbrow bred ponies generally have a really good temperament.

We're taking it slowly but so far he's happily done everything I've asked of him. He's a real 'people person', loves fuss and attention ?
 
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Ive seen a couple of adverts stating that the ponies have had lammi in the past but now managed and not lame. Is this something quite common if fells are on rich grazing? Would you avoid these ponies?

Im not that knowledgeable regarding lammi as always having Tb types, however after my current boys problems I said to myself I wasnt going to buy a problem again.
 
Both laminitis and sweet itch are not common in the breed. The latter is certainly there as with any other animals but definitely not a common ailment.

However, once removed from their natural habitat some ponies have access to far too lush grazing, are allowed to get very overweight and can succumb to laminitis.
I've had over 30 for backing etc and not had either issue with any of them in the past or present.
That said, I wouldn't purchase a pony that had had laminitis to be my forever pony as too much micro managing to be done.
 
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Thank you this is what I thought. Am I right in thinking they are more likely to get it again if theyve had it once?
Not necessarily but will definitely need a managing system all year round to keep in trim and to prevent it happening again. Red-1 has brought a cob recently and was aware of previous laminitis so has it on a tight management regime which involves stabling and short time turnout in bare area. She has a current thread running.
I'd go as far as saying I'd want xrays done to check for any rotation 1st too.
 
Any thoughts on this one? He is lunesdale bread but not a lunesdale prefix. He’s booked in to the auction at the end of the month but open to a viewing beforehand and would geld.
 

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No I don’t want a stallion, I spoke to the owner and she would geld at her yard. I did see that one but she didn’t catch my eye, not sure why

I think the bay is slightly older than your specification too. I just noticed that in the pictures it is with a local producer. I was told by a breeder that a lot of people are wanting stations now for the show ring presence.

Sounds a good arrangement to get him gelded before he comes to you if you did buy him. I've just had one gelded (should've been done in Spring but Covid restrictions measures prevented) and he's got ano infection now.
 
I think the bay is slightly older than your specification too. I just noticed that in the pictures it is with a local producer. I was told by a breeder that a lot of people are wanting stations now for the show ring presence.

Sounds a good arrangement to get him gelded before he comes to you if you did buy him. I've just had one gelded (should've been done in Spring but Covid restrictions measures prevented) and he's got ano infection now.

She is a little older than I’d ideally like, and I’m not against a mare but I get on better generally with boys :D

I think he’s worth a look.
 
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Only lot 3 really catches my eye (the one I posted about above), the owner is open to viewing beforehand so going to see him this weekend. Nothing else really matches what I'm after.

Are you going to the sale CM?

Thats good to know EOAS, I'll have a google of him :)
 
The FPS sales catalogue has very poor entries as most breeders sold their weanlings privately, they were very much in demand this year.
Also the protocol for attending the sale is also putting buyers off.
 
The FPS sales catalogue has very poor entries as most breeders sold their weanlings privately, they were very much in demand this year.
Also the protocol for attending the sale is also putting buyers off.

It's been the same with the shetland sales this year poor entries. Good quality ponies at the Lerwick sale. Same couldn't have been said for Aberdeen! High prices because of low numbers.
 
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