The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Pets & Working Animals => Horses, ponies, donkeys & mules => Topic started by: Roxy on June 29, 2009, 04:19:41 pm

Title: Taking a nap
Post by: Roxy on June 29, 2009, 04:19:41 pm
Some of my ponies taking a nap, Molly, Folly, Oliver the Dales ponies, and Roxy the Fell.  One always stands guard over the herd, and Polly was doing this just out of camera shot

(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/dollylane/sleepingponypics3rdMay2009005.jpg)
Title: Re: Taking a nap
Post by: jameslindsay on June 29, 2009, 04:29:00 pm
Beautiful
Title: Re: Taking a nap
Post by: doganjo on June 29, 2009, 05:58:49 pm
They are lovely.  I woudl so still love to have a pony - never had money and time at teh same time and now too old.
Title: Re: Taking a nap
Post by: Rosemary on June 29, 2009, 07:48:33 pm
They're lovely. What's the difference between a Dales and a Fell?
Title: Re: Taking a nap
Post by: sabrina on June 29, 2009, 09:46:22 pm
Nice picture, the heat is getting to mine and all I can see are their heads looking out from the field shelter. :horse:
Title: Re: Taking a nap
Post by: Clairie on July 02, 2009, 12:03:33 pm
Wow!  What a handsome lot!

My youngsters were all flat out yesterday morning.  They didn't even lift their heads when I wandered past with a horse!
Title: Re: Taking a nap
Post by: The Chicken Lady on July 05, 2009, 06:40:40 pm
What a lovely photo. My daughter has seen them. She wants one! How big are they?
Title: Re: Taking a nap
Post by: Roxy on July 05, 2009, 11:52:28 pm
Difference between a Dales and a Fell?  Well, they are both a British Native pony, the Dales bred on the Eastern Pennines and the Fell on the Cumbrian side, but quite often breeders tend to have both breeds of ponies.

The Dales tends to be a bigger pony, standing at around 14hh (14.2hh maximum) being mainly black, but bay, brown and grey, and also the rarer blue roan being acceptable.  White is permissible in a star, and white on the back feet, but any more white and they will be downgraded to a section B.  They are good weight carriers and 17 stone is said to be their limit for a rider.  They were used in lead mines to carry the lead out, and also pulled cannons in the first world war, when numbers were greatly reduced.  They have slowly built up the numbers, although still a rare breed.  Although only 14hh they are mainly used by adults for riding and driving - they are very strong for their size!!

The Fell, is usually around 13.2hh but can go up to 14hh, and again can be the colours of Dales.  The main difference for me is the head, the Dales has a different head to a Fell, and is usually a bigger built pony, and when they trot there is a difference there too - the Fell rides differently to a Dales.  Again, many adults ride Fells, and I know they were used by shepherds to round their sheep up form the Fells.
Title: Re: Taking a nap
Post by: Tullywood Farm on July 11, 2009, 09:05:01 pm
Absolutely Beautiful

Should put that shot into a local photo competition - sure to win

My daughter Tara is in love with them all - you keep them in show condition, look at the gloss on their lovely manes - lovely ;D

Julie and Tara x
Title: Re: Taking a nap
Post by: Roxy on July 11, 2009, 11:27:55 pm
All the ponies live out, even in winter .....they grow thick coats to cope with the bad snow we are prone to round here.  Their field is well over 1200ft up above sea level, right under Kinder Scouts, one of the highest peaks in Derbyshire, so they are not mollycoddled and kept indoors like posh show ponies.  They only have grass, with hay in winter, and when its really bad weather, we give them chaff and fibre nuts.

The day before a show, they will be brought down, and bathed.  Their long manes and thick tails are a nightmare to brush the tangles out of, we have to use a special detangling spray on them.  You can guarantee they get back from the show or sometimes before they go ....and roll in a muddy spot to get rid of the smell of being clean!!

Two will be off to a local agricultural show next Saturday, so we will see how we get on there.
Title: Re: Taking a nap
Post by: Tullywood Farm on July 12, 2009, 09:48:32 am
Hi,
I have to agree with my Julie .
You keep beautiful ponies.
Kindest regards
Joe  :)  :)  :)
Title: Re: Taking a nap
Post by: Roxy on July 12, 2009, 11:05:44 pm
Aaah, thank you Joe!!