Shadow Of The Wall

Brief notes on the historical uses of Fell ponies
(For comprehensive information see ‘Fell Pony Report’ pages 46-47)

• Descended from British pony 1500 BC?
• Derives from pony in northern England 1 Century AD.
• Possiblyrelated to ponies that Helped build Hadrian’s Wall and / or Roman Fresian horses (research currently being undertaken)
• During Roman occupation breed may have evolved due to interbreeding with Roman stock from Iberian Peninsula.
• Vikings used ponies for sledges, packing, ploughing, riding.
• Carried foods, clothes, raw wool and metals from 11 /12 centuries.
• Shepherding and hunting pony.
• From 13th century used to export and import goods (pack pony trains).
• The Galloway pony, from south-west Scotland, was the Scottish counterpart of the Fell pony (pre 1700 AD) and which became extinct in the middle of the 19 century
• Used in trotting races within Cumberland.
• Used in coal mines well into 20 century.
• With arrival of trains and canals, used as postal pack ponies in rural Britain.
• Fell ponies were first registered in 1898 and the Fell Pony Society was formed in 1922.
• Used in agriculture throughout 19 and early 20 centuries.
• From1950’s used as riding, trekking, driving and jumping pony.
• Today carry out light farming and shepherding work.
• Cumbria’s and Northumberland’s only native breed pony.
• Imporant cultural heritage and part of historic environment.

Today, needed for conservation grazing because of unique genetic and grazing characteristics.