Fell ponies have been on the lakeland fells for probably hundreds of years. Most of the year herds of them run wild on the high fell although today the herds are smaller and mostly confined to either side of the M6 corridor through Shap. When I was young we would occasionally see a herd on the Kentmere fells. We always watched them for two reasons - firstly they would give an indication if a hunted fox passed by, raising their heads from grazing; secondly, giving notice of a change in the weather by moving into a ghyll before a storm arrived, for example. I recall on one occasion we saw this and got off the hill before the snow arrived.

The picture displayed below that I took of Wansfell Ruby and Ling, recently won the Fell Pony Society Calendar picture for 2009 and is the picture for January 2009.

Picture Copyright The Fell Pony Society

This photo of mine was recently awarded Highly Commended in the Riding for the Disabled (RDA) Photographic Competition. ©Ron Black

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