Fascinating facts about Fells

• Fell ponies can trace their beginnings in Britain back to the Romans and the Friesian horses they brought with them

• The Fell pony’s ancestors worked hard through the centuries, being employed variously for farming, pulling sledges for the Vikings and pack work, not least during the wool trade

• It is believed that Cistercian monks introduced the now increasingly popular grey version. White signalled monastic ownership

• Famous owners (beyond the obvious) are fairly few and far between, but former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond’s family has owned Fells

• At last year’s Fell Pony Society sale of registered animals, ponies of four and upwards sold for an average of 2,800gns; those of one to three years old sold for 1,900gns