Tell me about Fell Ponies

[Zoesmom]

Hi

I posted this under the "Mature Riders Who Ride Ponies" group, but thought I'd post it here too.

Hi! I am new on this forum. I am a "mature" women in her 50s whose been riding steadily for over 20 years (and have owned my own horse for almost as long). I live in Massachusetts in the States, but I adore all the British Isles! I have never been the most confident rider, but I have learned to be competent. As the years have cranked on, along with aches and pains (and osteopenia), I have been thinking of downsizing to a pony. I currently own a lovely 15.2 hand Quarter horse mare, whom I can't seem to part with even though she can be a tricky ride. I lease to two great teenagers who love her. I've owned her for 5 years, but much of my riding time can be frustrating. She was only 3 when I bought her and now she is almost 9. She can be opinionated and can blow off my aides. I am a short petite person:5'3" and about 100 lbs (don't know how that translates to stones, sorry!). So lately my instructor has been giving me lessons on a 13.1 welsh pony cross and I have been having a blast. He is willing and comfortable, and fits me so well!

I recently found an ad for an 8 year old Fell Pony for sale in my area (they are very rare in the States). He sounds great and does just what I'm looking to do--trails and hacking, and low level dressage. I showed the video to my instructor and she thought he needed a lot of balancing at the canter, and thought it may be related to the breed (like a Freisian?). Since Fells are much more common in the UK than in the USA, I was looking for any opinions or thoughts on this breed as a safe, steady mount. I know one can't make generalizations about any breed, but I know so little about them, I thought I'd ask.

I love to see all the people riding ponies on this Board. I look forward to getting to know all you nice people Thanks, Nancy

[selside]

Hello! I'm from the upland Northern part of the UK from where Fells and Dales ponies originated. Any individual pony will only be as good as its genes, upbringing and training, and of course they can be very different. An show level Fell can be a pretty powerful and impressive sight. Built to work, traditionally used as pack ponies, working on farms and so on.

In theory one would suit your needs well. They are popular in trekking centres, being sure footed and having a steady disposition. Fells make great adult rides - I ride one regularly (I'm 52yo, 5' 2 and a lot heavier than you. She's only 13.1hh). Fells make good adult rides as they tend to be wide in the barrel and take up the leg well. You may need to try a pony with this kind of build to see if it suits your hips/knees/back. If you are used to a more slenderly built mount you may find osteopenic hips will ache a bit with the extra wide bod. Just something to think about, no a definite no no.

There are Fell owners on here who will give you better advice!

[Tomas]

I think they are stunning and they are usually one of the first breeds I check out when I am fantasy shopping.

[eml]

As Selside said be careful they are not too wide for you!

As a breed are not generally light on their feet or in hand and very different from the welsh you have been riding. The good ones will be pleasant rides but bear in mind they were origionally bred as weight carriers and many will be heavy on the forehand unless really well schooled...I personally do not like the feel of a Dales or Fell canter but it suits some.

[Lot1983]

I used to have one when I was younger, his name was Tarquin and he had been expelled from the local Riding for the Disabled.

He was a dream to handle and I could walk underneath him, I could spend hours and hours grooming him and he'd just fall asleep.

To ride him was fab fun, he was sharp, had a habit of trying to tank off home, he used to buck when over excited and he could throw the biggest cob strop on the planet. In his own way he was safe as houses but he was by no means a plod.



Sadly we lost him in May 1998

[Zoesmom]

Thanks for the thoughts and information! I know one can never generalize about a breed. If he is still available, I think I am just going to go and try him and see how we fit each other. Also, like any breed or pony or horse, there are forgiving ones and not so forgiving ones. We have a lot of quarter horses in the States (like my own lovely girl) and they can run the gamit from slow-moving and thinking western pleasure to hot, sensitive reiners, cutters, and barrel racers. I do like the way the Welsh pony I ride moves--more like a hunter, not a lot of knee action. However, there is another Welsh pony mare at my barn that moves entirely differently. High knee action at the trot and canter--almost like a carriage horse.

As I mentioned before, the Fell Pony, like other native breeds such as the Dales Pony and the Exmoor, are still pretty rare in the States. I've seen them, but never had an opportunity to ride them. At one point in my life I owned a young sweet, beautiful black draft cross that looked a lot like a Cheval Canadien, but unfortunately he died way too young from colic. Fell Ponies remind me of a smaller version of my Simon.

Thanks again for your stories and opinions. It helps. This is a great board!