Willowtrail Fell Ponies

Willowtrail Fell Ponies Fell Ponies, Fell Pony publication, and Australian Shepherds Willowtrail Farm is home to Fell Ponies and Australian Shepherds.

I've written numerous books about Fell Ponies include A Humbling Experience, My Name is Madie, and Fell Ponies: Observations on the Breed, the Breed Standard and Breeding.

"So that mare is headed my way, right?" asks Mr. Moth. Yep! Fell Pony stallion Globetrotter Moth about to do his breed...
06/18/2024

"So that mare is headed my way, right?" asks Mr. Moth. Yep! Fell Pony stallion Globetrotter Moth about to do his breeding job. Fingers crossed!

Fell Pony filly Bracklinn Phoebe greeting a visitor from afar, my friend Tina!
06/17/2024

Fell Pony filly Bracklinn Phoebe greeting a visitor from afar, my friend Tina!

The best thing about this peaceful scene from last night was that I took it whilst standing amongst ponies at the barn :...
06/16/2024

The best thing about this peaceful scene from last night was that I took it whilst standing amongst ponies at the barn :-) . Love my life with ponies!

The Grandma herd enjoying the evening :-)
06/15/2024

The Grandma herd enjoying the evening :-)

Two year old stallion Globetrotter Moth taking a moment away from his grazing paddock to say hello!
06/14/2024

Two year old stallion Globetrotter Moth taking a moment away from his grazing paddock to say hello!

Lots of people to thank for their help with this issue of my newsletter! Paula Guenther, Elyned Ashcroft, and the owner...
06/13/2024

Lots of people to thank for their help with this issue of my newsletter! Paula Guenther, Elyned Ashcroft, and the owners of Willowtrail Liberty, Emma, and Josie, to name a few! I am grateful to David Thompson, Alistair Smith, and John Cockbain for the inspiration they provided for the two stories about the paternal granddams of my recent imports. Then a book about Shetland Ponies was inspiration to ponder the relative use of pedigrees and type in making purchase decisions. And then news about ponies I've bred but now are in different hands than who I sold the ponies to also left me feeling grateful. I hope you enjoy this issue!
https://conta.cc/45ncNmm

The Three Sisters passing by my house late in the day on their way to water. ❤❤❤
06/12/2024

The Three Sisters passing by my house late in the day on their way to water. ❤❤❤

Another one of those late day moments with my Fell Ponies!
06/03/2024

Another one of those late day moments with my Fell Ponies!

I waxed a little nostalgic when I saw this scene. It's not much to look at, but this is Willowtrail Wild Rose, my 17 ye...
06/02/2024

I waxed a little nostalgic when I saw this scene. It's not much to look at, but this is Willowtrail Wild Rose, my 17 year old homebred mare, and the shed that she and her mother used after Rose's birth. I still miss Sleddale Rose Beauty with her quiet wisdom, and I continue to be grateful for the craftsmanship my late husband put into the pony sheds that allowed them to be moved from Colorado to South Dakota.❤

Caught in the act! My two new ponies mutual grooming! Drybarrows Imperial and Bracklinn Phoebe. Very thankful since P...
06/01/2024

Caught in the act! My two new ponies mutual grooming! Drybarrows Imperial and Bracklinn Phoebe. Very thankful since Phoebe has been pushing the younger and smaller Imperial around, so I'm glad they are becoming buddies!

When I took this picture, it didn't look like they were paying much attention to me, but by watching their behavior - an...
06/01/2024

When I took this picture, it didn't look like they were paying much attention to me, but by watching their behavior - and mine - I knew they had come to check on me as they transitioned from one grazing 'project' to another while I was transitioning between projects as well. Thank you girls!

Stallion Globetrotter Moth on his grazing paddock. And I just love how he comes in when I call!❤️
05/30/2024

Stallion Globetrotter Moth on his grazing paddock. And I just love how he comes in when I call!❤️

Willowtrail Mountain Honey in the sun and Willowtrail Spring Maiden in the shade, both enjoying spring greens!
05/29/2024

Willowtrail Mountain Honey in the sun and Willowtrail Spring Maiden in the shade, both enjoying spring greens!

My two purchases from the Hill Bred Gems Fell Pony Online auction in 2023: yearling Drybarrows Imperial on the left and...
05/27/2024

My two purchases from the Hill Bred Gems Fell Pony Online auction in 2023: yearling Drybarrows Imperial on the left and two-year-old Bracklinn Phoebe on the right. They made me smile posed like this when I got to the barn this morning ❤ I wanted them as outcrosses in my herd, but I didn't realize they would also add to the diversity of joy I feel in my pony herd!

Willowtrail Lettie, 3 year old Fell Pony filly, trying to will the hay tub within reach, while her mother and two aunts ...
05/26/2024

Willowtrail Lettie, 3 year old Fell Pony filly, trying to will the hay tub within reach, while her mother and two aunts are out on the hill. I rotate the ponies on and off pasture this time of year because our grass is so rich.

The Grandma herd enjoying the grass on the hill on a cool day. :-)
05/25/2024

The Grandma herd enjoying the grass on the hill on a cool day. :-)

Drybarrows Imperial ruining this photo by coming to say hello rather than continue grazing 🤣❤️🙏
05/23/2024

Drybarrows Imperial ruining this photo by coming to say hello rather than continue grazing 🤣❤️🙏

Cavorting in the rain! Three Sisters from left Willowtrail Mountain Honey, Willowtrail Spring Maiden, and Willowtrail Wi...
05/22/2024

Cavorting in the rain! Three Sisters from left Willowtrail Mountain Honey, Willowtrail Spring Maiden, and Willowtrail Wild Rose❤️❤️❤️

A quiet morning moment at the barn with Miss Matty and Miss Letty. ❤❤
05/21/2024

A quiet morning moment at the barn with Miss Matty and Miss Letty. ❤❤

Willowtrail Mountain Honey through the trees :-)
05/21/2024

Willowtrail Mountain Honey through the trees :-)

The grass is coming! Some good moisture followed by some warm days🙏
05/18/2024

The grass is coming! Some good moisture followed by some warm days🙏

Honey pony does it again. Much more interested in getting a treat than having it removed. Nonetheless I removed it!!
05/17/2024

Honey pony does it again. Much more interested in getting a treat than having it removed. Nonetheless I removed it!!

When I finally caught up to the Grandma herd, I had a pretty good view of the barn far below! This is Willowtrail Letti...
05/16/2024

When I finally caught up to the Grandma herd, I had a pretty good view of the barn far below! This is Willowtrail Lettie, Drybarrows Imperial, and Bracklinn Phoebe. Bowthorne Matty, Grandma, is standing just to my right awaiting our descent.

I obviously took the wrong first half mile! The Grandma herd is another half mile away, across a ravine and high on the...
05/16/2024

I obviously took the wrong first half mile! The Grandma herd is another half mile away, across a ravine and high on the hill!

Bracklinn Phoebe has a fan club!
05/13/2024

Bracklinn Phoebe has a fan club!

The Three Sisters on a beautiful spring evening.
05/13/2024

The Three Sisters on a beautiful spring evening.

At long last I found a few moments to finish up my April newsletter! Articles include one on stewarding Fell Pony lands...
05/11/2024

At long last I found a few moments to finish up my April newsletter! Articles include one on stewarding Fell Pony landscapes, another on the new Fell Pony Society challenge, and one on relatedness in worldwide foal crops across time. I hope you enjoy this issue!
https://conta.cc/3UWlMYn

A peaceful scene to start the day 🙂❤
05/10/2024

A peaceful scene to start the day 🙂❤

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Videos

The Grandma Herd Coming In
The Grandma Herd Coming In

On my way to the barn first thing in the morning, I had seen the Grandma herd napping in a sheltered spot in the sun. After I had gotten my other chores at the barn done and they still hadn't arrived, I headed out towards where I had last seen them. They met me half-way, as if knowing I wanted them to come in. First is 'Grandma' Bowthorne Matty, then Willowtrail Lettie, then Bracklinn Phoebe, then Willowtrail Marie bringing up the rear. 🙂❤

Willowtrail Fell Pony mares and foals coming in
Willowtrail Fell Pony mares and foals coming in

Willowtrail Spring Maiden and her filly Willowtrail Marie come in followed by Willowtrail Mountain Honey and her filly Willowtrail Amber. Such a thrill!

Sunbathers after a snowy night!
Sunbathers after a snowy night!

Six or more inches of snow overnight but none on their backs means they've been sunbathing this morning!

Snow this morning, and I was lucky enough to see the ponies descending the hill. So thankful for the moisture. The dust was nearing life-threatening stage for some of the calves on the ranch.

Rory awakens from his nap
Rory awakens from his nap

This is the video I tried to load in a comment about what happened after Rory woke up from his nap the other day. So here it is finally!

Only caught a few seconds but this is Willowtrail Lettie interacting with a Lincoln Red heifer through a fence. Lincoln Reds are known to be mellow. A little while after this interaction, Lettie was doing similar things with a second heifer. So interesting!

It's been awhile since I've filmed Asi's and my liberty work, so I thought I'd see if I have the technology down and then see what we look like. We were both a bit rusty, and the footing was less than ideal, but he's willing, which makes it fun!

The ponies were high on the hill at sundown. After I greeted them all and turned to go down the hill, the wind came up. I looked back up at Willowtrail Aimee, and she didn't seem to notice. It did still seem just as peaceful.

A bitter east wind was blowing, making the paddocks at the barn uncomfortable, so the herd was waiting out in the shelter of some trees before coming in to the hay I spread. Lucky that they cooperated timing-wise so I could video their approach!

Matty made my morning coming to me on the hill!

Foals at play!

A video of Willowtrail Storm King was requested. :-) Here he is at a week old, clearly king of his landscape.

My youngsters stayed hidden for more than an hour. They finally revealed themselves to me high above on a hill, then came my direction when I went around the hill to meet them.

Willowtrail Fell Pony mares descending the hill
Willowtrail Fell Pony mares descending the hill

I am leading the head mare; the others only caught up with us after we were all the way down. They beat us to the barn, though! This video goes with a blog post.

Madie reuniting herself with the herd
Madie reuniting herself with the herd

Willowtrail Spring Maiden got separated from the other mares and then found her way back. :-)

My mares finding me on a frigid day
My mares finding me on a frigid day

I make a habit of checking my Fell Pony girls right before dark. The weather has been frigid, so I was thrilled when they found me when they heard my voice instead of me having to find them!

Reunited mares coming in
Reunited mares coming in

Just as I was headed that direction to find them, here they came at full speed. Rose then Matty then Honey then little Aimee then Madie. This is their first day all together since before summer and obviously they were enjoying each other's company!

Kinniside Asi calls to his mares!
Kinniside Asi calls to his mares!

Soon, Asi, soon! Breeding season is coming!

They Make Slopes Look Easy!
They Make Slopes Look Easy!

Willowtrail Fell Ponies traverse a ravine on their way to see me. Had to fend off the first three to continue filming the second three!

Before the storm...
Before the storm...

There must have been something in the air as our snowstorm approached because two pairs of ponies were mutual-grooming. Here it's mother and daughter Bowthorne Matty and Willowtrail Mountain Honey. The other pair whom I wasn't fast enough with my camera for were Kinniside Asi and Willowtrail Spring Maiden

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Our Story

Willowtrail Farm is home to Fell Ponies and Australian Shepherds. I’ve been stewarding and breeding Fell Ponies since 2000. My books about Fell Ponies include A Humbling Experience, My Name is Madie, Fell Ponies: Observations on the Breed, the Breed Standard and Breeding, and What an Honor. Another of my books, The Partnered Pony: What’s Possible, Practical, and Powerful with Small Equines, contains many stories about Fell Ponies.

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