Fell Ponies 63 



moors as a stallion with Mr. Knight's ponies. Some capital hunters 

 have been bred, the second cross from Exmoor ponies. 



As well as Mr. and Sir Frederick Knight, the names of Earl 

 Fortescue and Sir Thomas Acland are prominent as breeders of 

 Exmoor ponies, Earl Fortescue getting Sir Frederick Knight's herd 

 when he purchased the Simonsbath estate. 



Exmoor ponies, it is needless to say, make capital children's 

 ponies, for, as a rule, they are both sagacious and quiet; but it must 

 always be remembered that they keep their flesh and their high 

 spirits on remarkably small quantities of food. If too highly fed 

 they are apt to get very fat. They are seen in perfection at Exford, 

 Lynton, and South Molton shows, where many small breeders take 

 their ponies, in the hope of finding a customer amongst the many 

 visitors to the west for the stag-hunting, and, judging from appear- 

 ances, they seem to have a very good trade. Bampton Fair is, 

 however, the great market for them. A stallion has been sold for 

 £2$, and mares for as much as ;^20 each. Two-year-olds of 

 exceptional quality have been known to make from ;^io to ^12 

 each. The average price at Bampton, however, runs from 16s. 6d. tc 

 £$, lOJ. for suckers; from £4, iSs. to ;^8, 5^. 6d. for two-year-olds, 

 and from ^3, los. to £6, 12s. 6d. for mares and foals. 



[The writer is indebted to Mr. A. C. Mardon's article on Exmoor ponies foi 

 some of the facts given in the above article.] 



Fell Ponies 



{Plate, facing/). I2Q] 



There was no more useful breed of ponies than the Fell ponies. 

 I say " was " advisedly, for the only place where I have seen a real 

 Fell pony for many years is the Durham County Show. I have 

 seen one occasionally in Cumberland and Westmorland, but not 

 frequently, nor for many years. I have, however, heard old men 

 tell of what they could do, and of their hardihood and endurance; 

 and from what I have heard and seen of them, I should consider 

 them ideal ponies for a hill farm ; for they can draw a big load for 

 their size and weight, they are easily kept, they carry good condi- 

 tion with comparatively little food, and they can carry their master, 

 or run him and his goodwife to the nearest station. Always cheery 

 and lighthearted, if at all decently used, they are ready for any job 

 that turns up, and anything they are put to, within reasonable 

 bounds, they do well. 



The origin of the Fell pony, or perhaps I snould say his history, 

 is, unfortunately, enveloped in obscurity, and, so far as I can make 



