RARE BREEDS TRUST OF AUSTRALIA
powered by TidyHQHorses: Fell
Horses: Fell
Country of Origin 
United Kingdom. The fells of the old counties of Cumberland, Westmoreland and Northumberland - most now Cumbria - north and north-west England.
Australian Status
International Status
The Fell Pony is listed as Vulnerable in its home country (500 to 900). Globally safe. From the Equus Survival Trust website “According to the Fell Pony Society in the UK, the mother registry, global populations are over 6,500 with over 500 in North America.
Uses
Driving, trotting races, packing, trekking, forestry, carting, jumping, pony club, hunting (also carry deer).
Breed traits
An immensely strong, kind pony, with a distinctive handsome profile. Feathering. Good long, fast walk. The Fell has a tremendous ground-covering trot. At one-time trotting races were popular with their owners (and occasionally still are). The Fell also has a good gait to get to market, and for pleasure driving, with impressive action.
Most Fell are black. However, there are also bay, grey and browns. The only white is a star and small white markings on the hind pasterns. Over half Fell have no white at all.
Characteristics:
- Height doesn't exceed 14hh.
- At least 8 inches of good flat bone must be seen.
- Well sprung ribs.
- Good sloping shoulder, no dumped withers nor prominent wither.
- Hardy and wise from time on the fells, and working days.
- Sure-footed.
- Strong broad quarters, muscular thigh and gaskin.
- Plenty of impulsion.
- Steady temperament, good-natured.
A congenital problem to look for is FIS - foal immunodeficiency syndrome, which can be tested for.
History
A breed with ancient lineage going back to prehistoric times and living on the fells. Used by Viking settlers, shepherds, miners to cart ore and farmers to cart wool.
In the 20th century they were also used in coal mines - they had to be very strong for sustained heavy work over long hours.
Classes for Fell Ponies were held at local shows in the last part of the nineteenth century and in 1898 the first to be recorded were put into the Polo Pony Stud Book. In 1922 the Fell Pony Society was begun.
At times this beautiful breed has faced extinction, numbers are still low. The Royal family patronised this breed - Queen Elizabeth II rode one, helping to keep the breed alive. The current stud in Australia owns the sire of some of Queen Elizabeth's Fell Ponies. Prince Philip used Fell Ponies for driving.
History in Australia
In 1948 Linnel Sandpiper, a 4-year-old black mare and sister to Princess Margaret's pony arrived for Mrs T. Coffey at Mulgrave, Victoria. Possibly earlier importations.
Breed Organisation
In Australia the Australian Pony Stud Book http://www.apsb.asn.au/. A full breed description is available on their site - https://apsb.asn.au/breeds/fell-pony/
In Britain The Fell Pony Society http://www.fellponysociety.org/about_breed.htm#TheFellPonyToday.
In Australia the only breeder to date is Llancloudy Fell Ponies who brought the breed here in 2007 - they have a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057281717450
Australian Population
2020: 27 breed age mares, 29 mares in total. 3 stallion and 2 colts as well as 12 geldings. – 2020
2025: Mares 40
Additional Notes
Foal chart for the past decade https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VlreA42LEJi-EbAwh8vrOTRbk_y0-VTP/view?usp=sharing
Comment JL 2023
This [that is the 6500 number] consists of all genders and ages. As the RBTA only counts breeding age mares as a simple viability measure and as horses tend to have 50-50 gender foals, that makes an international population of mares of 3,250. As some may be aged and others filles, an estimate of international numbers are 2,500 breeding age mares thus putting them in safe numbers. Yes genetic bottlenecks, non-breeding owners etc play a part but that is out of our hands, we simply do a census, create awareness and support the breed organisations.
Photo credit
"Heading home" photographer Gina Feakin, of Llancloudy Fell Pony Stud, Australia - ponies on the stud.
Page by Janet Lane
updated June 2023 JL.
(population updated 08/05/2020 by A.Y.)
Updated and revised January 2026
