The future of fell ponies in the Lake District is under threat, according to an organisation working to preserve the heritage of the animals.
The Fell Pony Heritage Trust (FPHT) raised concerns about working ponies being lost from the Lake District fells as breeder numbers continue to fall and tenanted farms are taken back in hand by land-owners.
According to the FPHT, there are just 14 genuine hill breeders of traditional fell ponies left in existence with only 270 registered fell ponies from hill herds remaining - and just 88 pure-bred foals born from hill-breeding herds in 2024.
The FPHT said: “The genuine high going fell pony is dying out fast. It is because the people (mostly farmers) who breed them are dying out too. It is a fact that those people and organisations that place value on “nature” above all else would rather the fells and dales of Cumbria were de-stocked of sheep, fell ponies and farmers.
“The industrial history and heritage of the fell pony is steeped in the legend and lore of the Lake District. Like the hill farmers who bred them, the ponies are an integral and invaluable.
“Destroy the hill sheep, the Fell pony or both, and the damage to food production, the grazed upland environment, the local economy and rural communities will be devastating.”
Fell ponies have traditionally been used by farmers for tasks from gathering bracken for winter cattle bedding to towing farm carts to market.
Founder of the FPHT Libby Robinson said: “Our vision is to protect the heritage of the hill-bred fell pony, to preserve those traditional working practices for future generations, and above all, support the real stewards of the breed, our Cumbrian hill farmers.”
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Farmers Sam and Claire Beaumont of Gowbarrow Hall Farm on Ullswater are new to fell pony breeding and say they are concerned about the loss of the animals from the Lake District.
“We believe it’s important that all livestock is bred in the landscape they are genetically adapted to, in order to maintain their unique qualities," they said.
“Breeders have spent lifetimes ensuring we have Fell Ponies perfectly adapted and acclimatised to Lake District fells. It would be such a shame for the breed to lose its hardiness if future generations are to be bred on rich, lowland farms.”
