Ponies and Kids - as it should be…
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We are a small family farm in upstate NY with a variety of horses and ponies used mostly for pleasure. I came across the Fell pony in 2003 while searching the internet. I thought I knew all the breeds, but this one was new to me. It didn't take long to find out this was a very old breed with a rich history and great versatility.
Fell Ponies are one of nine pony breeds native to Britain. They get their name from the Norse word for the "hills" they live on which are located in the region between Northern England and Scotland. Except for the Exmoor, the Fell Pony is considered the purest of all the Native British ponies.
Although the Fell only averages 13.2 hands in height, they take a hunter sized girth, have a hunter sized cannon bone measurement and are capable of carrying the same load as a much larger horse. The Fell pony is therefore well suited to carry the weight of a heavy adult. Modern day Fells are used for pleasure riding, jumping, driving, logging, packing and dressage.
However, as versatile as they are, the Fell pony is an endangered breed, listed by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and the Equus Survival Trust as Vulnerable. Global numbers estimate fewer than 6,000 Fell Ponies and perhaps only 500 of those are mares actively breeding. Of those global numbers, approximately 300 Fells are here in the United States and Canada with around 100 mares producing actively. While the numbers are not large, the good news is that foal registrations seem to be slowly increasing and Fells do not appear to be in any danger of extinction. They are instead only in need of conservation and promotion to get the good word out about how talented they are for today's markets.
They seemed the perfect fit for my small 10 acre farm. My girls, then 6, 8 and 11 could ride them, as could I. We could learn how to drive and maybe be able to raise a few more ponies to help conserve the breed. I searched incessantly, but finding a riding age mare here in the US was nearly impossible. Then I found June Bug! She was in Canada, not too far from our home, green broke with a great love for children. Perfect match!! So began our journey…
WindSwept Farms
Lisa Kyer
211 Gutbrodt Road
Melrose, NY 12121
518-753-9985
Fellpony@nycap.rr.com
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© 2008, Windswept Farms, ApplebyFair Fell Ponies and Naked
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This page last updated: 2008-09-29
