Fell Pony Podcast

Jenifer Morrissey, owner of the  Willowtrail Fell ponies, author, small holder and Rare Breeds enthusiast.

This podcast was recorded in October 2021

We’re travelling across the pond to South Dakota, talking about the practicalities of establishing a herd of ponies in another country, genetic diversity how data from stud books can help establish a breeding program and a whole host of subjects that my guest has written about in her 8 books so far 

You can find Jenifer’s latest book Fell Pony Observation Volume 2 on Amazon

Editors note: In the podcast Jennifer said the North American population is 2/3s domestically born and 1/3 imports, Jennifer ran the numbers again after the recording and it's more like 80% domestically bred.

Bert Morland is a judge and breeder of the Lunesdale Fell ponies who have won shows at the highest levels. On todays show we’re going to go into the finer points of breeding with Bert who’s credentials in the show ring tell you that anything he doesn’t know about breeding Fell ponies isn’t worth knowing.

Bert talks about his early days working with General Purpose ponies, Joe Baxter the stallion walker, Storm Boy and Master John, his mentor Ted Benson and Pit ponies in the 1950’s

Bert remembers Heltondale Sonny Boy, Lunesdale Rebecca

and talks about line breeding, the finer points of breeding, conformation, Stallions. round bone, semi-feral herd, and harness racing.

We finish up talking about Dales ponies and his trip to Olympia.

Libby Robinsons journey has weaved its way through 3 countries but has always kept coming back to working ponies. A couple of years ago she managed to move her herd from France to re-establish them as a semi-feral herd on a Cumbrian Fell and now her journey has turned into a quest to to establish a Fell Pony Heritage Centre in the Lake District to protect the Fell Pony breed characteristics and preserve the working practices for future generations.

In this show Libby talks about her first encounters with working ponies that shaped her future and living on working museums with horses.

Competition driving, The Heritage of the Fells exhibition, The Fell Pony Heritage Centre and the importance as ponies in farming systems as part of the ecosystem.

Bill Potter breeds the Greenholme ponies on Birkbeck Common.

Having been bred and reared in the harsh conditions of Shap, they are tremendously hardy and will do well in any situation. Some of the mares have never been handled and

Fell Pony Podcast

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As well as being current Chairman of the Fell Pony Society, As well as being current Chairman of the Fell Pony Society, Peter Boustead is a Fell Pony and Mixed Mountain & Moorland Judge and Breeder of the Summerhouse Fell Ponies.

In this show we’re going to talk about all things Fell Pony Society -Judging, the breed standard and a few stories about some of the old guard of the Fell Pony Society.

In this show Vyv talks about her adventures from Land End to John O’ Groats. from the Isle of Skye to Smithfield market in London, and her journey to visit the white chalk horses throughout the British Isles.

The Drovers roads and Horseland trekking to the ancient white chalk horses of the British Isles

Vyv talks about the kit she needs and the challenges one faces while ravelling on horseback.

Sue Millard is an author, editor of Fell Pony Society magazine, webmaster of the Society website and for the last 15 years has been a member of the Fell Pony Society Council. In 2002 Sue created the online Fell Pony Museum. As well as her non-fiction, Sue is about to publish her 6th novel and somewhere in her life finds time to drive her Fell pony mare Coppyhill Suzanne.

In todays show we dig down deep into the history of the breed, it’s origins and hear a few pearls of wisdom from the many stories author Sue Millard has gathered over the years for her many books..

Fell pony breeder Andrew Thorpe established the Wellbrow Stud in 1995 and has risen to be one of the most successful and prolific breeders of the last 25 years.

Andrew talks about running a herd of semi-feral ponies on common land and how he chose the right bloodlines managed to get started by buying the right mares at the Heltondale dispersal sale.