Fells and Dales

[Forever Fern]

This may sound really dumb, but what is the difference between fell and dales, horses
Would be really greatful if you could
Thanx
xXx

[horseygal90]

http://www.hamletshouse.co.uk/breeds/dalespony.htm
http://www.hamletshouse.co.uk/breeds/fellpony.htm

Fells can go up to 14.2, whereas Dales are meant to be below 14hh. Dales can be black, grey, bay, roan or brown and Fells can only be black, bay or grey.

[Whinneyha]

Hiya
I am no expert but I have just become the owner of an unrgistered Dales pony so I have been researching a bit to find this out myself.
Dales ponies were originally said to have been registered as Fells so no difference until about 1935ish when a Dales improvement society was set up to differentiate the 2 breeds.

Nowadays I believe the main differences are height, Fells are usually up to 14hh, whereas Dales are usually slightly larger, up to 14.2hh, or Colour/ markings, Registered Dales are usually black,bay,bay roan (rare) or sometimes a dark dappled grey (quite rare I think.)They may only have a white sock up to pastern level to qualify for Section A and some white face markings.
I think a lot is dependant too on the sire/dam/ breeding as to how they become registered.

I have just started to read a super little book on Dales ponies which gives their history and some detail as to how they became a separate breed from the Fell, some of it, is I think, governed by where the pony comes from eg County Durham/North Yorkshire.

(I will try to find the name of the author of the Dales ponies book for you and pm you tonight)

Hope this helps a little. There are, I am sure, others on this forum who know loads more than I do so hopefully they may respond too and correct my information if it is wrong.

Good luck

[Afellpony]

Actually it's the Dales that can can grow to 14.2hh the Fells' top height should only be 13.3hh, although obviously some do grow bigger.The differences between the two breeds is not that much. However, from my personal experience, the Fells look a little more primitive. Both Fells and Dales have a small amount of feather but nothing like that of the Shire horse. They are a handy size for carrying both children and adults. Owing to their isolation, they are rather shy at first and are perhaps not as easy to break as stud bred ponies. Both breeds are very very strong. Both make good driving ponies and many are used by riding for the disabled.
On the history front, bones of ponies that resemble Fell ponies have been found near Hadrian's Wall built by the Romans many centuries ago.

[Lot1983]

My gorgous Fell pony Tarquin, R.I.P

Possibly the most gorgous horse in the world, despite the complete lack of brakes!

x

[Lot1983]

Originally Posted by Afellpony

Both breeds are very very strong. Both make good driving ponies and many are used by riding for the disabled.

Ha ha, funny you should mention that, Tarquin was loaned to the RDA before we bought him, he was sadly expelled! Although when I went to help out there afterwards they all had fond memories of him!

[chickflick1066]

That Hamlets House is a fab source of fell and dale info

Nat, you've got the fells and dales the wrong way round

[kyanya]

To me, Fells are slightly more pony-like that Dales. I know they are both ponies, but Fells, as well as being slightly smaller, generally have slightly more refined, pony-like heads. Dales tend to have larger, plainer heads. That's just a personal observation though, but it holds true with all the Fells and Dales ponies I've known.

Here's Gyp - an unreg. Dales

Not the best photo, but I think you get the idea.

She feels far more horse-like to me than the Fell pony I knew. She is still very much a pony, but she's got the jump of a horse on her!

I can't find any Fell pics that I own, but here's one I found on the net.


Can you see any difference? (other than colour, obviously!)

[lindz]

Agree with that, the head shape is notably different.

Also, the Dales have more knee action at trot.

[kyanya]

And also, I seem to remember being told that one of the breeds originates from the West side of the Pennines (the mountains that run down the middle of Northern England) and the other breed originated from the east side of the Pennines, although I can't remember which breed came from which side. The fact that the two places are so geographically close though would explain why the two breeds are so similar, as interbreeding between the two was (and still is) possible.

[Forever Fern]

Can fells have white markings on?
Thanks for all your help
xXx

[bexj]

Fells come from the west side of the Pennines - on the fells of what is now Cumbria, although latterly Westmorland and Cumberland. Dales are from the eastern side - the Yorkshire Dales.

I think Fells have a much smaller head than a Dales, and of course there is the height difference too.

www.ydtc.net has some more info about the Dales pony

[Cheko]

Yes Fearn, Fells can have white markings on - not too much white tho. White star, or snip, small blaze on face.

[Herbie's mummy]

I liek fells better

[lindz]

Originally Posted by kyanya

And also, I seem to remember being told that one of The fact that the two places are so geographically close though would explain why the two breeds are so similar, as interbreeding between the two was (and still is) possible.

True, when the Polo Pony Society (which later became the NPS) started keeping records of native pony breeding they didnt actually differentiate between the two, they had them down as two types within the same breed.

[Samsky]

Originally Posted by Herbie's mummy

I liek fells better

Me too but only because i've got one!

[horseygal90]

Originally Posted by chickflick1066

Nat, you've got the fells and dales the wrong way round

Shhhh, no-one (apart from AFP) will notice!

[laz]

I used to have a dales pony she was stunning and was a serious weight carrier, sadly she died at 7 with grass sickness. My farrier breeds Fells, they are nice as well but a bit to small for me.

[chickflick1066]

LOL Nat, I'm a dales lover me