Fun with Pony Pedigrees
Analyzing Pedigrees of Fell Ponies to Maximize Diversity

by Jenifer and Tom Morrissey

When we first purchased our Fell Pony mare Sleddale Rose Beauty (Beauty), we were interested in breeding her. When we began considering the available stallions in North America, we were surprised to find that she was related to every stallion somewhere in the first three generations of her pedigree. We knew that the Fell Pony breed was somewhat rare. From our interest in rare breeds of livestock we knew that rare breeds often have limited populations and limited genetic pools in their populations. Our research regarding breeding Beauty indicated that indeed the Fell Pony suffers from this problem.

Our curiosity about Beauty’s relatedness to the stallions in North America led us to wonder how related she is to other Fell Ponies generally. We decided to continue our research by analyzing Beauty’s relatedness to the rest of the stallions in the world. The 1995 Stallion and Young Stock Guide from the Fell Pony Society (FPS) gave us a list of stallions (we also used the addendum that lists stallions licensed from 1995 to 1998.) Then, using the FPS stud books, we began researching pedigree overlaps between Beauty and all the licensed stallions. (We are indebted to Victoria Tollman for assisting us in this project.) To our surprise we learned that of the 153 stallions analyzed, Beauty is related in the first three generations to 75% of the stallions. Our mare is very related to the rest of the Fell Pony population. If she is at all representative of the genetic pool of Fell Ponies, then the Fell Pony breed is very inter-related in our opinion.

In the book Ponies: Their Origin and Development in Britain by Daphne Machin Goodall, the Fell Pony is described as "dangerously near to extinction." The book was published in 1963. It states, "About thirty ponies are registered every year and there are probably between 300-400 Fell ponies left." Obviously the Fell Pony is much more numerous today, but such a small population in the recent past, in combination with a closed stud book, is an indication of a limited genetic pool.

A standardized breed of any animal, including the Fell Pony, by definition has a limited genetic pool. After all, consistency in appearance is how one breed is distinguished from another, and that consistency is achieved by careful selection that favors certain genetic combinations over others. Within each breed, though, there is also genetic variation. One way this variety manifests in the Fell Pony is in the different colors: black, bay, brown, and gray. Because a breed is limited in genetic resources by definition, the internal variety that does exist is important to conserve. Genetic variety can provide the tools necessary for a breed to adapt to new circumstances.

As we have learned about Beauty’s relatedness to the rest of the Fell Pony population, we have become increasingly interested in maximizing the diversity of the Fell Pony population in North America. We began to wonder which ponies were related to each other, and which breedings of mares and stallions would help increase the diversity of our small Fell Pony population.

Our background in the computer software industry came in handy. Tom developed a computer program that could analyze a pony’s pedigree and compare it to another. The program can also analyze potential matings between a given mare and stallion. Now we know which stallions we can breed Beauty to in order to maximize genetic diversity. The program’s analyses can also guide potential import decisions to increase the diversity of the Fell Pony population in North America.

We are willing to share this analysis capability with other interested Fell Pony enthusiasts in North America. If you are interested in learning more about this pedigree analysis service, please contact us with your questions. This service is offered free of charge.

The stud books from the Fell Pony Society are an integral part of any pedigree analysis and are the definitive word on the breed. The pedigree analysis program is intended to be used in conjunction with the stud books. If you are interested in pedigree analysis and don’t have a set of stud books, you should make arrangements to obtain them before contacting us.

We look forward to contributing to a diverse North American Fell Pony population in the future and to working with other Fell Pony enthusiasts with similar interests.