Bybeck Fell Ponies

Bybeck Fell Ponies was founded in 2000 by Colin, Heather, Oliver and Toby Roberts.

Based in Tebay, Cumbria, it is one of the few remaining semi-feral herds, with mares and youngstock running on the open fell of the Howgills.

Queen Elizabeth II has posed with two of her ponies in a photo released to mark her 96th birthday on Thursday.

The image was commissioned by the Royal Windsor Horse Show and shows the monarch with her fell ponies, Bybeck Nightingale and Bybeck Katie.

A fell pony is a versatile, working breed of mountain and moorland pony originating in the north of England and used as a riding and driving pony.

The photo was taken at Windsor Castle.

The Queen has been keeping out of the public eye — after recovering from COVID-19 earlier this year, her public appearances were limited by unspecified “mobility issues”.

And she will mark her birthday privately at the Sandringham estate that has offered her and her late husband, Prince Philip, a refuge from the affairs of state.

The monarch is well-known for her passion for horses and ponies — and this year’s Royal Windsor Horse Show will celebrate her Platinum Jubilee.

More than 1,000 performers and 500 horses will enact key moments of royal history dating back to Tudor times.