The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Pets & Working Animals => Horses, ponies, donkeys & mules => Topic started by: Brijjy on November 08, 2013, 07:58:10 pm

Title: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: Brijjy on November 08, 2013, 07:58:10 pm
So much so, that I'm off to Burnley in the morning to go and look at buying an 18 month old grey Fell filly! She will hopefully be my endurance project for the future  :excited: :excited: :excited: There's not many folks in the endurance world looking at Fells as a prospect!
Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: Daisys Mum on November 08, 2013, 08:02:56 pm
Lucky you, love Fells  :love:
Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on November 08, 2013, 08:22:58 pm
We need a lot of photos :thumbsup: :trophy:
Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: ellied on November 09, 2013, 07:24:51 am
Fells are good prospects for endurance up to mid level at least, like the other large natives they are often underrated but they were bred to go steady all day and Fells temperaments are generally quite feisty so they won't give up or whinge, love the challenge and the 1-1 time and getting out and about. 

Actually I think large numbers of our native breeds get problems (weight/lami/behavioural) because they don't do enough steady work any more and get bored doing the same old schooling circles or lungeing circles or a single hack route every day.. and either switch off and sour or else start messing the rider.

Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: SallyintNorth on November 09, 2013, 07:26:56 am
My neighbour does endurance on Dales ponies and loves them for the job :)

Agree everything ellied says.  Fells love to work, wish I could do more with mine.
Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: lord flynn on November 09, 2013, 07:07:14 pm
not been involved in endurance in the last 3 years but there were plenty of Natives (Highlands, Fells and Exmoors) doing endurance in Scotland-with adult riders :) so full report please :)
Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: funkyfish on November 09, 2013, 08:51:18 pm
I love Fells. Really miss my old girl.
Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: Brijjy on November 19, 2013, 06:31:22 pm
Well I went to Burnley and I bought my new endurance prospect. She's a feisty little thing! Lots of character already for a young 'un. I'll try and get some photos on here.
Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on November 19, 2013, 07:50:38 pm
We're sticking our fingers in our ears and singing lalalala until we get to see the gorgeousness  :thumbsup: :wave:



Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: Brijjy on November 19, 2013, 08:16:48 pm
http://i1049.photobucket.com/albums/s383/brijjy/IMAG1857_zpsf1dfdd0b.jpg (http://i1049.photobucket.com/albums/s383/brijjy/IMAG1857_zpsf1dfdd0b.jpg)
 http://i1049.photobucket.com/albums/s383/brijjy/IMAG1858_zps98597a87.jpg (http://i1049.photobucket.com/albums/s383/brijjy/IMAG1858_zps98597a87.jpg)
Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: Brijjy on November 19, 2013, 08:18:10 pm
Her name is Brooksan Celestial Haze aka Cilla!
Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on November 19, 2013, 10:39:28 pm
Am feeling the love for Cilla, she looks gorgeous!! :horse: :love:


Lovely soft kind eye.  :thumbsup:


You lucky chap! :trophy:
Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: Alistair on November 19, 2013, 10:47:27 pm
Luvin' that!
Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: SallyintNorth on November 20, 2013, 09:55:12 am
What a sweetie!  She looks rather Dales-y at the moment, with that long thin face, Roman nose and large ears - but perhaps that'll change to a broader, flatter, shorter-eared, more Fell-ish head as she grows?
Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: Brijjy on November 20, 2013, 01:49:24 pm
She's definitely in the awkward teenage phase at the moment. Very bum high, needs to grow into her ears as she looks a bit like Eeyore! She's pulled a lot of her mane out by sticking her head through the fence at her previous home. She will look more Fell like in six months or so. I've turned her away til the spring so she can be a baby, have some head space and learn off the big girls. We did exactly the same with Jim and he hasn't turned out too bad! To be honest, I'm not interested in showing her. I might take her to a couple next summer but only to get her used to the trailer and to socialise her. So I'm not bothered really what she looks like. Although her dad is a very lovely looking Fell and her mum is a good stamp of a big mare. I'm looking forward to seeing how she grows up.
Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on November 20, 2013, 03:57:54 pm
They always say to only judge equine youngsters at 3 days, 3 months and 3 years as everything in between can be downright misleading or even fugly!


Thankfully even at a fugly age she looks lovely! so she should be an absolute stunner at 3! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: SallyintNorth on November 20, 2013, 10:27:48 pm
It'd be great to see pics as she develops  :eyelashes:

And yes, we know ponies who've wowed judges as foals and at 1, then petered out to be very ordinary as adults.  And vice versa happens too, no doubt.

We've a Dales looks very like a Fell - a very experienced Dales man has mistaken her for a Fell! - but to me the flat broad face and short ears of a Fell is very distinct and Daleses look long-nosed and -eared to me.  No doubt Fells look thick-skulled and practically earless to Dales fans!

It is complicated by the fact that a great many top Fell breeders also breed Daleses, and vice versa...  :innocent:
Title: Re: Feeling big love for Fell ponies
Post by: Copeson on November 26, 2013, 08:11:09 pm
Love the fells also have a grey filly Bluemountain Sapphire   has the sweetest nature think the greys will be very popular next year with Murthwaite  Windrush winning HOYS  :)