The Fell pony is one of 15 native pony breeds in the British Isles

With an ever dwindling number of Fell pony mares running out all year in their natural habitat, the Cumbrian fells, the Fell pony is on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s ‘endangered’ list

Fell ponies can be found throughout the world, but in their native Cumbria, due to an ageing population of breeders and pressures on the use of the fells and commons, in the last 10 years we have lost many of the semi-feral herds of mares that live out all year on the Lake District’s high fells and are the core breeding stock.

Of the 15 native breeds to Great Britain and Ireland, the Fell is not as well recognised by the wider public in the same way as the Shetland, Highland, Dartmoor, Exmoor or New Forest pony - all of which are icons in their landscape and instantly placed.

With fewer than 200 Fell pony mares living out in their natural habitat, we want to make the wider public aware of the Fell pony and its cultural and heritage value to Cumbria.

There are no truly wild ponies in Great Britain anymore, and the term ‘semi-feral’ is more generally used by breeders referring to privately-owned herds of ponies that live out all year on extensive ground. These ponies may be handled only once or twice a year when the mares are brought to the stallion and when foals are weaned.

Pack ponies

Fell ponies were originally bred as pack ponies and were the backbone of goods transportation in the northern hills until the end of the 19th century. In the 1850’s there were up to 200 pack ponies leaving the market town of Kendal every day, carrying anything and everything including slate, wool and dairy produce throughout Cumbria and beyond.

Riding and driving for pleasure

Fell ponies make great all-rounders and are known for their stamina and being surefooted. They generally have a good temperament that makes them suited to all kinds of work and it is often said that “You can’t put a Fell to the wrong job”.

2022 is the centenary year of the Fell Pony Society whose patron is H.M. Queen Elizabeth II who has often been photographed riding one of her own Balmoral Fell ponies. Her late husband Prince Phillip drove a team (four-in-hand) of Fell ponies for many years at international events.

Tom LLoyd with his team of Fell ponies at the Fell Pony Society Breed Show 2022. Photo Ruth Eastwood

To find out more about the history and breeding of the Fell pony, you can watch The Fell Pony film, commissioned by The Fell Pony Society as part of their centenary celebrations.