Globetrotter Moth

2022 Imported Fell Pony stallion
Sire: Greenholme Jasper
Dam: Murthwaite Happy Feet

I am grateful to Libby Robinson, a longtime colleague, for letting Moth come to South Dakota as a stallion prospect. He was born on Roundthwaite Common, a fell in Cumbria, the homeland of Fell Ponies, where I first met him in 2022. He arrived in April 2023 and will be licensed for breedingis serving his first mares in 2024.

Kinniside Asi (via AI)

2016 Licensed Imported Fell Pony Stallion
Sire:  Burnhead Black Bobby
Dam:  Bowthorne Marie

I am grateful to Dorothy, George, and Sarah Bradley for letting this colt come to Willowtrail Farm from Cumbria.  I have been watching this line for a long time,  having met all of Asi's grandparents in 2006.  I am thrilled to have him here, and his foals are all I hoped for.  

Here are some videos of Asi (click on the title):

Bowthorne Matty

Bowthorne Matty.JPG
160508 Matty Emma.jpg

2006 imported mare
Sire: Heltondale Ted
Dam: Wansfell Amanda
brown with black points

Matty is fell-bred with Sleddale ponies on her dam’s side, and Heltondale ponies on her sire’s side, including four time Supreme Champion Heltondale Black Prince III. Matty possesses the hardiness, bone and substance of the old type that I prefer and has a fun-loving temperament that makes her a joy to have around.  At the moment she is our favorite mare.  We have retained her daughter Willowtrail Mountain Honey for breeding.

Videos featuring Matty:

Willowtrail Wild Rose

151118 Willowtrail Wild Rose.jpg

2007 homebred mare
Sire:  Guards Apollo
Dam:  Sleddale Rose Beauty
Black with white star

Rose’s birth was all I needed to justify importing Apollo. I had finally found a stallion that could help me replicate my beloved Beauty. At last I had the bone and substance and depth through the heart that I was after. Rose is an improvement on her mother in many ways and I therefore consider her a success in my breeding program. I ride Rose, work her in harness, and pack her.  Driving training is underway.  I hope Rose will be my first four-way versatile Fell Pony.  Her first foal is due in 2017.

Videos showing Rose:

  • Willowtrail Homebred Mares Trotting (2017). Click here.

  • Homebred Mares Morning Session (2017). Click here.

  • Homebred Mares During Tree Felling (2017). Click here

Willowtrail Mountain Honey

Willowtrail Lettie

2021 homebred filly
Sire: Kinniside Asi
Dam: Willowtrail Wild Rose
Lettie is from my first Fell Pony mare line. She is a granddaughter of Sleddale Rose Beauty and daughter of my heart pony, Beauty’s daughter Rose. She inherited some mass from her father but has the same intelligent and curious temperament of her female ancestors. I am enjoying watching her grow up!

Bracklinn Phoebe

2022 imported grey filly
Sire: Carrock I’m Yer Man
Dam: Drybarrows Authentic

Phoebe caught my eye with her temperament and her movement, and I was fortunate to be the winning bidder for her in the Hill Bred Gems Online Sale in September 2023. The temperament and movement that attracted me in photos and videos, and that I saw in person in 2022 in her full sister when visting the Bracklinn Stud in Scotland, have continued to delight. A friend suggested that watching a grey pony change color from dark to white would also be fun, so I’m looking forward to that, too!

RIP:  Sleddale Rose Beauty

mare
1987 - 2015
Sire:  Lunesdale Lucky Jim
Dam:  Sleddale Rosemary
jet black with white star

Beauty came from the longstanding Sleddale stud in Cumbria where Fell ponies have been bred for generations. In 1991, her dam Sleddale Rosemary was judged to embody “the best qualities” and to be “true to type” by the judge who placed her first. Beauty was selected for export to the United States by Sarge Noble of the renowned Heltondale stud and then-Secretary of the Fell Pony Society Rachel Bell with help from Libby Robinson of the Globetrotter Stud. According to LIbby, Sarge and Rachel both felt Beauty was “a fine example of a Fell pony to show to another country.” Beauty was tough, hardy, and had lots of bone and substance. She did her best to guide me in the stewardship of the breed. She produced five foals in her nine years with me and three for her previous owner.  Her offspring by Guards Apollo are a thrill as they are very much of the old type.

Videos featuring Beauty: