Mission

Feathered Foothill is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and breeding of quality Fell ponies, true to breed type as defined by the Fell Pony Society (UK). Our breeding program emphasizes traditional hill-bred bloodlines from Cumbria, maintaining the character, hardiness, and versatility that make this rare native breed exceptional.

Our mares and youngstock trace to notable lines such as Auckside, Bowthorne, Bybeck, Castle Hill, Carrock, Drybarrows, Greenholme, Heltondale, Lunesdale, Murthwaite, Restar, Stockleylane, Tebay, Townend, Wellbrow, and Wildhoeve.

Discipline-wise, we focus on Mountain Trail and Working Equitation (ease of handling and dressage), with a touch of ambassador work through public events, in-hand and ridden showing, and pleasure riding — all to showcase the Fell pony’s natural adaptability, intelligence, and steady temperament.

We welcome visitors by invitation, and are always happy to meet others at shows, clinics, and events who share an admiration for these remarkable ponies.

About Feathered Foothill

Feathered Foothill welcomes visitors by invitation and is always happy to connect at shows, clinics, or local trail events for a friendly introduction to the Fell pony.

Founded by Jane Snar, Feathered Foothill is a passion project more than a decade in the making. Alongside a full-time career in neurology and neurosurgery, Jane manages the farm with the help of riders, volunteers, and trusted trainers who bring refinement and variety to every pony’s education.

Her love of horses began early — inspired by her mother’s stories of riding on Belle Isle in Detroit and her sister’s encouragement on childhood trail rides. Years later, life carried Jane west to Oregon, where she built a smallholding nestled on twenty acres of rolling and steep, tree-covered foothills — a place that mirrors the quiet strength and beauty of the ponies she stewards.

A chance encounter in 2014 led to her first Fell pony, JKL Istas, a young mare whose partnership sparked a lasting devotion to the breed. Since then, Jane has studied with respected trainers, practiced evidence-based horsemanship, and continued to show, learn, and share her passion through positive, mindful training. Over the years, she has also owned, shown, and explored other Mountain and Moorland breeds, deepening her appreciation for the versatility and character of Britain’s native ponies.

Feathered Foothill continues to grow thoughtfully — grounded in education, experience, and an enduring love for the breed and the people who preserve it.

“There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they’ll take you.”
— Beatrix Potter, as voiced in the film Miss Potter

Ambassador, Council Work & Performance

Feathered Foothill ponies have proudly represented the breed in the Fell Pony Society of North America’s (FPSNA) Performance Premium & Awards (PPA) program every year since 2018.

Jane represents Zone 5 on behalf of FPSNA, which includes the U.S. West Coast and parts of Canada. This volunteer work serves to support members and members new to the breed.

JKL Istas, a 15-year-old mare and long-time cornerstone of the Feathered Foothill program, is a true all-rounder—earning multiple FPSNA Performance Awards and champion titles across in-hand, ridden, Mountain Trail, and Working Equitation disciplines. She was named Reserve Champion in the 2024 FPSNA PPA program and heads into her seventh Nationals at the Oregon Horse Center’s Mountain Trail show in 2025.
Istas has served as a breed ambassador at the Northwest Horse Expo, the Mother Earth Fair with The Livestock Conservancy, and the Washington State Fair alongside Littletree Matador. In 2024, she was featured in The Ark by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust for her versatility and spirit.

Bybeck Victoria, Jane’s second UK import, joined Istas as a breed ambassador at the 2025 Northwest Horse Expo. In August 2025, Feathered Foothill proudly welcomed a handsome black colt out of Victoria, sired by multi-champion Lunesdale Warlord—a promising performance prospect for the future.

Greenholme Peggy was shown in-hand at the 2023 National Mountain Trail event before joining the Kuchenrither family in Ohio, where she represented the breed at Equine Affaire 2025. Littletree Matador now resides in Virginia, enjoying trail adventures with a couple who share a love for the breed. Both have earned FPSNA PPA recognition.

Drybarrows Havana is in full-time training in Washington with the Olsons, where she just completed her first obstacle course clinic, marking her debut in both in-hand and ridden work off-farm. Feathered Foothill Faith—trained exclusively by Jane—will make her Mountain Trail debut at the Oregon Horse Center’s Greenie Mountain Trail event in October 2025, showing in-hand for the first time.

The Pacific Northwest is the birthplace of the discipline of Mountain Trail in 2001 at the Oregon Horse Center. Fell ponies excel at this sport, due to their sure footedness and sensible temperament. Mountain Trail showcases the calm disposition, athleticism, agility and curiosity of this wonderful breed and this work can be applied to the rugged wilderness of our region. It is acceptable and embraced to ride both English and Western and show in-hand in Mountain Trail. This discipline is a focus at Feathered Foothill.

Rounding out the team, Istas, Victoria, Havana, Illicit, and Faith were shown in-hand at the FPSNA Virtual Show in October 2025.

FPSNA Virtual Show – Fall 2025 Highlights

This Fall’s Virtual In-hand Show brought such thoughtful feedback for our ponies, and I’m incredibly proud of how each one represented our program.

Drybarrows Illicit led the way with an exceptional showing. After winning the two-year-old fillies class, she went on to earn Reserve Champion of the Show. The judge highlighted her correctness, depth, and expressive, straight movement—qualities that make her feel well beyond her age in presence and promise.

Our senior matriarch JKL Istas followed with a class win of her own, topping the 15+ mares with remarks praising her strong back, balanced quarters, and harmonious, rideable conformation. Even in her later years, she continues to embody the depth and substance that define the Fell breed.

Featheredfoothill Faith earned a solid second in the two-and-under division, noted for her strong limbs, good depth, and confident engagement behind. She’s maturing exactly as we hoped—athletic, thoughtful, and beautifully aligned with our program goals.

In the mares 6–14 class, Bybeck Victoria was recognized for her femininity and elegant outline, with a lovely compliment on her overall shape. The judge’s additional note that her foal is “absolutely enchanting” made the result especially meaningful.

Drybarrows Havana rounded out the team with a placing in the mare class, praised for her lovely pony type, depth, and quality of shoulder—a young mare with plenty of promise still unfolding.

Each of these girls brought something uniquely theirs to the ring, and together they reflect the type, temperament, and movement we value deeply at Feathered Foothill. I couldn’t be prouder of these Fall show results.

Our Story: Importing & Breeding

At Feathered Foothill, every pony carries a story — one of heritage, resilience, and gratitude. Each foal born and each pony imported has deepened our understanding of what it means to be a true steward of this remarkable breed.

Beginnings: Our First Foalings

In the spring of 2022, we witnessed our very first Fell foaling when Felllegend Betony, an experienced broodmare with a breadth of her lines already present in the United States through her foals, delivered a lovely filly, Featheredfoothill Fjola, marking the beginning of our breeding chapter. Fjola was shown in the 2023 and 2024 FPSNA Virtual Shows, her quiet confidence and classic type capturing what we strive to preserve.

While Betony exhibited a few minor flaws in conformation, she gifted us with an easy, uncomplicated foaling and a gentle introduction to breeding. She displayed remarkable patience and sweetness, graciously sharing her filly with us — keepers still new to the experience of a mare foaling. For that, we remain deeply grateful. Following her time with us, Betony was refreshed to saddle for a new chapter in life as a trail companion, doing clinics and even sorting cattle with a lovely mature rider in southern Oregon. Her filly, Fjola, found a new path to Colorado, where we wish her every success in her next chapter.

The Bybeck Line: Building on Tradition

At the end of 2022, we imported Bybeck Victoria, in foal to The Reggae King, along with her brown filly, Harrison Winter Skye. In 2023, Victoria foaled a bright and inquisitive seal brown filly, Featheredfoothill Faith, who remains with us to carry the line forward.

Harrison Winter Skye has matured into a promising young mare and now resides at Southmoore Fell Ponies in Mississippi, where she is a future broodmare prospect. In August 2025, just three days after returning home from a visit to Cumbria, Victoria delivered a handsome black colt-foal sired by multi-champion Lunesdale Warlord. She now enjoys a well-earned year off to show and ride before returning to the broodmare field in future seasons.

Hill-Bred Additions: The True Fell Type

In 2024, we imported a few hill-bred fillies—Drybarrows Havana (by Drybarrows Dynamic) and Drybarrows Illicit(by Bluecaps Gilbert)—directly from Cumbrian hill breeders through the Northwest Auctions “Hill Bred Gems” Sale. These ponies bring with them the true character and hardiness that define the Fell breed.

Our first import, Greenholme Peggy, arrived in 2021 through the Fell Pony Society’s Annual Northwest Auction. Peggy now thrives with the Archers (Kuchenrither prefix) of Ohio, a young family beginning their own Fell breeding journey. We’re proud to see her continuing the work we started, in caring and capable hands.

Lessons in Importing & Stewardship

To date, six ponies have been imported through Feathered Foothill, each with its own challenges, rewards, and lessons.

“Importing a few does not make one an expert.”

It’s a process that requires patience, planning, and perspective — and one that continues to teach us humility. We value quality over quantity, choosing every pony with care, intention, and deep respect for the breed’s history and future.

Importing is also an education — one that calls for listening to those who have come before us, especially the breeders and farmers of Cumbria who have lived alongside these ponies for generations.

Bybeck Victoria, raised wild on the fell, was not as accustomed to human handling when she arrived. It took months of calm, consistent work to earn her trust and help her adapt to her new life here. Today, she embodies the Fell pony’s intelligence, resilience, and grace.

Learning Before Breeding

If there is one truth we’ve learned, it’s that you don’t need to import to find a remarkable Fell pony. Many exceptional ponies already stand on North American soil.

“Spend time getting to know them — visit them in person, study their movement and nature, and educate yourself through the wealth of resources available, from books and films to podcasts.”

Learn from the wisdom of experienced breeders and owners. Talk to people who have lived these experiences; listen to their stories and insights.

At the same time, importing remains vital to preserving diversity of bloodlines in North America, ensuring the breed retains the genetic strength and variety that have kept it true for centuries.

And while passion runs deep, not everyone needs to be a breeder. Sometimes, the most meaningful contribution is to support those who have spent decades studying the breed—learning from its native land, its people, and its traditions. Buying from such dedicated stewards keeps experience, integrity, and authenticity alive.

Preserving the Hill Legacy

So why import at all? Because hill-bred Fell ponies—and the farms that raise them—face growing challenges.

“Only a few dozen traditional hill farms remain in Cumbria, as rewilding efforts and changing grazing rights reshape ancient ways of life.”

Without these lines, and the farmers who maintain them, the hardy, true-to-type Fell pony could vanish from the hills within a few generations.

We cannot recreate the Cumbrian fells, but we can honor them. By preserving their bloodlines, promoting hardiness, and giving our ponies as natural and purposeful a life as possible, we play a small part in the breed’s story.

“Epigenetics reminds us that a pony’s environment and experiences shape not only its character, but also the traits passed down to future generations.”

Those traits — the instincts, temperament, and adaptability — define the Fell pony’s enduring spirit.

The Heart of Evaluation

And still, what stands before you matters most — as many hill breeders often restate and underscore. Assessment should be done blindly, without the bias of pedigree or outside influence. Once you have narrowed your choice by type, then — and only then — should you consider lines, as they are indeed important to preserving depth and heritage — but never at the expense of the pony’s overall quality, soundness, or character. Other factors to consider: progeny (if the pony considered is an adult and has produced), parental influence (in ponies with shared relations).

“You should also truly like what you are buying — for this is a deep commitment, emotionally, physically, and financially.”

Cumbrian Fell Pony breeders often emphasize this as well: if you are genuinely passionate about your choice, you will naturally put more care, attention, and effort into the goals that lie within that stock. Passion fuels stewardship, and stewardship is what sustains the breed.

This approach, long practiced by the hill breeders of Cumbria, keeps honesty at the heart of selection and preserves what the eye and instinct alone can truly discern. Rarity does not always mean quality — and there is often a reason some lines remain rare. Pedigrees can be imperfect (because of a margin of error on behalf of human documentation), and perhaps one day deeper DNA studies will illuminate what our eyes and hearts already know: that the Fell pony’s greatness lies not in prestige, but in the authenticity and care of those who protect it.

Continuing the Journey

At Feathered Foothill, we remain committed to that purpose — preserving, learning, and honoring the ponies who have carried the spirit of the fells across generations, one thoughtful step at a time.

Links to Learn More about the Breed:

The Fell Pony’s Enduring Stewards

Fading Hoofprints

The Fell Pony

Fell Pony Heritage Trust

Mentorship, Ongoing Education & Travel

In pursuit of understanding the Fell pony’s true origin, purpose, and preservation, travel to Cumbria has been essential. To truly know this breed is to walk the same ground that shaped it — to see the rugged hills, hear the wind across the fells, and meet the people who have devoted their lives to keeping its traditions alive.

Between 2019 and 2025, Jane joined the “Ponies and Pints” tour group, hosted by Melissa Kreuzer of Dreamhayven Fells. This small circle of like-minded travelers shared a common goal: to learn directly from the source about Fell ponies — from the breeders, herds, and landscapes of northern England.

Their journeys included visits to the annual Fell Pony Society Breed Show, the Fell Pony Museum, the Appleby Agricultural Fair, the Cartmel Show, and various other local native breed events. Each visit offered a glimpse into the close connection between land, people, and pony, deepening respect for how geography and culture have molded the Fell’s nature. From walking ancient pack pony bridges and exploring the Lake District’s historic sites to visiting village farmer markets and touring centuries-old castles, every experience stitched another layer of appreciation into the tapestry of understanding this breed.

“To understand the Fell pony, one must see not only the ponies — but also the hills, the people, and the rhythm of life that sustains them.”

Visits to studs such as Ashbeck, Bracklinn, Bybeck, Brackenbank, Carrock, Drybarrows, Dalewin, Globetrotter, Greenholme, Hades Hill, Hardendale, Lownthwaite, Lammerside, Peepings, Runsedales, Ralfland, and Waverhead have provided invaluable opportunities to meet ponies, observe behavior, and listen to the stories told by breeders — often families spanning several generations, some tending inherited herds with deep ancestral ties to the fells.

By contrast and comparison, time was also spent learning from the broader native pony community. During 2023 and 2024, Jane attended the Dales Pony Society Summer Breed Show and observed Dales ponies competing at local fairs, including the Cartmel Show and ponies from the Roandale, Griseburn, Carrock, Malhamdale and Westwick prefixes — and rode a few Dales with the owner of Malhamdale stud, a reminder that the survival of all native breeds is intertwined within the same cultural and ecological landscape.

During the 2022 Fell Pony Society Centenary Celebration — marking 100 years of the Fell Pony Society — there were daily lectures and educational sessions through open farm days at the Shap Courthouse across Cumbria. These included visits hosted by Lownthwaite, Greenholme, Brackenbank, and Carrock, offering insights into herd management, breeding philosophy, and the art of maintaining type across generations.

The Ponies and Pints travel group also became the first to hike with Fell Pony Adventures in 2019, an experience they returned to in 2022 and again in 2024 — this time including riding and packing excursions, blending history with modern connection.

Venturing north into Scotland in both 2023 and 2024, the group was warmly welcomed at Bracklinn Stud, home to beautiful ponies and generous hosts, Alistair and family. A highlight of that visit was meeting the legendary stallion Carrock I’m Yer Man, a moment that left a lasting impression and embodied the strength and grace of the breed.

“Every visit — every story shared — builds a living bridge between past and future, ensuring the Fell pony’s legacy continues across oceans and generations.”

Training Philosophy

Jane’s horsemanship is rooted in curiosity, empathy, and evidence. Her approach is a blend of learned truths, practiced skill, and quiet observation, shaped through time with mentors, countless hours with her own ponies, and a devotion to studying equine behavior and physiology. She follows the principles of Evidence-Based Horsemanship, valuing thoughtful methods guided by science, experience, and the individuality of each equine partner.

She believes the path to knowledge is lifelong — one built through patience, awareness, and attunement to the horse’s own rhythm and readiness.

Jane’s life partner, Robert — affectionately known as the in-house Renaissance Man, Lead Trail Excavator, and Lord of Land Management — has been part of the journey from the beginning. A practicing neurologist who wears many hats, he brings both intellect and heart to the partnership. The ponies, of course, repay him in the best way possible — with unconditional love and gentle humor.

“Horsemanship is not a destination, but a quiet conversation that never ends.”

Looking Ahead: The Future

The future at Feathered Foothill shines bright with promise. As the young stock continues to mature, the vision for a thoughtful, active breeding program comes closer to reality.

There are more shows, trail rides, miles challenges, and clinics planned for the coming seasons — continuing the farm’s commitment to promoting the Fell pony through versatility via performance, education, and fellowship.

“Every foal, every mile, every lesson learned — all become part of the living story of the Fell pony.”

Thank you for visiting and sharing an interest in these remarkable ponies. If you’d like to learn more about sales referrals, travel to Cumbria, Fell pony training, registration assistance, or anything else related to this wonderful breed, we warmly invite you to reach out.