HORSES 



193 



coats of hair. Some attention has of recent years been made to main- 

 tain the type, and the Polo and Riding Pony Society have given them 

 a section in their stud-book under the heading of Fell Pony Section. 

 The characteristics of the Fell pony, writes W. W. Wingate-Saul in 1S99 

 are " a very powerful and compact cobby build, the majority having a 

 strong middle piece with deep chest and strong loin — characteristics, 

 combined with deep, sloping shoulders and fine withers, make them 

 essentially weight-carrying ponies. The prevailing — indeed the only — 

 colours are black, brown, bay and quite occasionally grey. I do not 

 remember having seen a chestnut, and if I found one I should think 

 it due to the introduction of other blood. The four colours named 

 prevail in the order named, the best animals often being jet black 

 and usually without white markings, unless it be a small white star. 

 The head is pony-like and intelligent, with large bright eyes and well- 

 placed ears, the neck in the best examples being long enough to 

 give a good rein to the rider. The hind quarters are square and strong 

 with a well set-on tail. The legs have more bone than those of any 

 of our indigenous breeds, ponies under 14 hands often measuring 8^ 

 inches below the knee. Their muscularity of arm, thigh and second 

 thigh is marvellous. Their habitat (having been bred for centuries 

 on the cold, inhospitable fells, where they are still to be found), has 

 caused a wonderful growth of hair, the winter coat being heavy and 

 the legs growing a good deal of fine hair, all of which, e.xcepting some 

 at the point of the heel, being cast in summer. Constitutionally, 

 they are hard as iron, with good all-round action, and are very fast 

 and enduring." The height limit is 14 hands, though at most of the 

 local agricultural shows the height limit for mares is 13.2. 



Since 1905 the Polo and Riding Pony Society have offered prizes 

 at the local shows for the best Fell pony mare under 14 hands, the 

 centres being selected by a local committee, for whom Dr. R. W. 

 Gibson, of Orton, acted as first convener. They were given at Shap, 

 Kirkby Stephen, Penrith, Appleby, Brough, and Keswick — usually 

 three or four shows were selected each year. In 1911 the Board 

 of Agriculture, out of the Development Fund, gave £30 for Fell pony 

 stallions at Kirkby Stephen, Brough, Keswick, and Shap, the winners 

 to be registered or accepted for registration in the Fell section of the 

 Stud-book. The prizes were £5 and £2 los. respectively at each of 



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