Mission

Feathered Foothill is dedicated to the preservation, promotion and breeding of quality Fell ponies, first and foremost, true to breed type as set forth by the Fell Pony Society, from imported, hill-bred stock in Cumbria, UK. Our broodmare and emerging prospect’s lines include (going back three generations on pedigree): Auckside, Bowthorne, Bybeck, Castle Hill, Carrock, Drybarrows, Greenholme, Heltondale, Lunesdale, Murthwaite, Restar, Stockleylane, Tebay, Townend, Wellbrow and Wildhoeve. Discipline-wise, focus is on Mountain Trail and Working Equitation (ease of handling & dressage), with a dash of regular ambassador work at public events, showing in-hand/ridden and for pleasure as with trail riding to showcase the versatility of the breed.

About Feathered Foothill

We are welcome to visitors on an invitation only basis, please feel free to reach out! Always happy to meet up with folks at shows, events and clinics to chat face-to-face for a meet and greet of a Fell pony in person, time permitting. Or join us on a hike on one of our glorious local trails.

To introduce myself, I am Jane Snar, owner of Feathered Foothill, and I have a full-time career in the field of neurology / neurosurgery. I am, but one person, but I do hire riders, assistants, recruit volunteers and actively seek our professional trainers to keep my skills sharp and expand my tools, as well as help out at events and keep ponies working. Professionals are also sought to do the more higher level finessing along the journey of training of ponies.

This is a hobby endeavor and passion project come to fruition and a decade plus in the making.

My sister took me on my first trail ride when 12 years old. My mother also had a passion for horses with many lovely stories of trail riding horses on Belle Isle in Detroit as a teenager in the 1950s, as well as about an unruly pony her family once owned on Harsen’s Island on her parent’s land.

Being raised in the suburbs, opportunities to ride were far and few, but an early college courses in English riding with a steadfast jumping horse in Michigan, along with fits and spurts of trail riding over the years, sewed an early seed to bloom later in life after moving about the United States, coast to coast, and perusing different career paths.

A little manifest destiny happened before I owned her own ponies, moving out west to the beautiful state of Oregon to do a graduate degree at University of Oregon from the midwest and setting up a smallholding on twenty acres on a steep foothill backdropped with gorgeous views, plenty of forage and lustrous canopies of the beautiful trees of the Northwest.

I met her first Fell pony by happenstance while jogging at Mt. Pisgah, in Springfield, Oregon in 2014. Mary Ka, a trainer I had been in contact with, had recommended a few beginner-friendly breeds, the Fell pony was one of them.

From breed recommendation, to a Google search, and then the discovery of a lovely 4-year-old mare for sale, twenty minutes from home. JKL Istas was born at Kathy Haines’ farm, of the JKL prefix, and on the coast of Oregon. Istas was acquired by Kathy while in utero to her dam, MustaHevonen Rhegeds Inkeri, after a herd dispersal sale, following the untimely and tragic death of the beloved breeder, Wendy Ihlang, of Musta Hevonen farm. Wendy served as the Chair for the Fell Pony Society of North America in its early years.

Unsure of whether the match would be suitable and just coming off a bit of a fall without injury with another horse that had to be walked away from for safety, Jane spent a month with Istas on the ground at eye level, learning to trust again, then purchased her in the late fall of 2014. A green pony for a green rider returning to horses late in life; not the wisest decision at face value at the time, but the surest winning bet, as the last decade with Istas has been grand.

I have been working with Fell ponies and a few other British natives (Dales, Shetland, Highland, Gypsy) close to a decade now, completed an apprenticeship in Natural Horsemanship locally, has attended many horsemanship, dressage, Mountain Trail, Working Equitation and ranch riding clinics over the last seven years. Many lessons learned from trainers such as Kimberlee Barker, Kim Ewalt, Brent Graeff, Julie Fisher, Mary Ka, John Saint Ryan, JR Robles, Clay Wright, and several Mountain Trail judges and trainers, in addition to attending seminars in equine neuroscience and behavior lead by Stephen Peters, the co-author (with Martin Black) of “Evidence Based Horsemanship.”

I currently practice positive reinforcement training, participate in clinics, work at liberty and continue to show in several disciplines. Feathered Foothill’s second imported Fell pony, Bybeck Victoria, was started to saddle by Equine Harmony Training (Mary Ka) in 2024. It’s been a full circle to that special trainer, Mary Ka, that recommended the Fell years ago. We showcased three Fells at the Northwest Horse Expo in 2025, JKL Istas, Bybeck Victoria, and Laurelhighland Lady Grey. All trained by Mary at some point in their journey growing up.

As the saying goes, teamwork makes the dream work. Corny saying, but true. Be true to yourself and those positive supports along the way.

Ambassador, Council work and Performance:

Fell Pony Society of North America & Mile Challenges:

Ponies residing at Feathered Foothill have also participated in the Fell Pony Society of North America’s (FPSNA) Performance Premium & Awards (PPA) program every year since 2018.

Jane serves as a Zone 5 representative for the FPSNA which includes portions of Canada the the West coast. And as Co-Chair for the FPSNA in 2024.

JKL Istas, 15yo mare: Several All-Rounder Awards (competing ridden, in-hand, doing ambassador work) in the Performance Premium Awards for FPSNA, as well ribbons earned for ridden, Western and English, competing six years running. Istas has earned several reserve champion and champion titles for in-hand showing and ridden in Mountain Trail and will be going into her seventh year showing at Nationals in Mountain Trail in 2025. Istas has been in clinics at the Northwest Horse Expo for Working Equitation and participated in a breed demo in 2025 at the same Expo. She trails rides and has been an ambassador at the Mother Earth Fair several years, representing the breed and working with the Livestock Conservancy. She began her career in Working Equitation a few years ago, at schooling and introductory level, and has exceeded expectations. Istas was featured for an article on Fells and Versatility in 2024 in The Ark, the printed publication by the Rare Breed Survival Trust.

Up and coming: Bybeck Victoria, my second import, just participated in her first expo with Istas as above in 2025 as an ambassador for the breed. She is in-foal for a 2025 performance prospect by well known, multi-champion, Lunesdale Warlord.

Other past ponies in residence at Feathered Foothill: Greenholme Peggy, shown in-hand at the National Mountain Trail event in Eugene, Oregon in 2023, whom went on to a new home in Ohio. Very proud of this young family (Kuchenrither prefix) getting their start with a lovely group of Fells. They brought Peggy to be an ambassador for the breed at the Equine Affaire in 2025. And Littletree Matador, has shown Mountain Trail summer shows at the Oregon Horse Center. Both have participated in the PPA program for FPSNA as well.

Drybarrows Havana, Drybarrows Illicit & Feathered Foothill Faith are thriving on our foothill and in training doing obstacles, and liberty work, learning basics and experience first saddles for spring 2025. They will be shown in the in-hand Virtual Shows for FPSNA this year, along with a few chosen clinics. Fall plans are underway for some professional work and exposure away from home.

Mountain Trail:

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.

Importing and Breeding:

In the spring of 2022, Feathered Foothill experienced and supported its first Fell foaling out of Felllegend Betony. Feathered Foothill Fjola was shown in 2023 and 2024 in the FPSNA Virtual Show. Felllegend Betony has been sold to a rider in Southern Oregon, originally a broodmare, restarted to saddle by Kim Ewalt after weaning her foal, and they enjoy trail and all types of clinics including Mountain Trial and cattle sorting in southern Oregon. Betony’s foal, Fjola, now resides in Colorado to an unknown party. To be continued, wishing her the best.

Feathered Foothill imported Bybeck Victoria in foal to The Reggae King, with her lovely brown filly, Harrison Winter Skye, in 2022. We congratulate Victoria on her foaling of a lovely, friendly, seal brown filly in June, 2023, Featheredfoothill Faith (retained). Bybeck Victoria is in foal currently to Lunesdale Warlord (holding multiple championship titles in the UK). See the 2025 foals page for more info as this foal will be available at weaning to a select home.

Drybarrows Havana (by Drybarrows Dynamic) and Drybarrows Illicit (by Bluecaps Gilbert), bay and grey fillies, joined us in 2024, imported from Cumbrian hill breeders, acquired through the Northwest Auction’s “Hill Gem” Sale. Greenholme Peggy was Feathered Foothill’s first imported filly in 2021, from the Annual Fell Pony Society hosted by Northwest Auctions. Greenholme Peggy now resides with the Archers (Kuchenrither prefix) of Ohio, up and coming Fell pony breeders/showers, with a Bybeck stud, they will have two lovely ponies to start to saddle this spring and we congratulate and support them in their future with the breed.

So to date, six ponies have been imported via Feathered Foothill.

Would like to emphasize that importing a few over a handful of years, does NOT make one an expert and anyone purporting this, or selling consultation services, is misrepresenting themselves, at best.

Each one of my ponies came her with a different experience. Some of this was experience unfolded with ease with no complications, some was experienced with serious consequences and expense. Happy to report we are all alive and well to tell the tale.

No one should enter into this process lightly and if there is anything I can share - it’s hard lesson’s learned. There is a lot of chance involved, no matter how good the professionals are on your team. There are unknowns to be aware of. And your pockets need to be deep in prep.

If you are interested in the hardy type ponies that come from hill bred stock, I can refer you to many resources in the United States and abroad and I will have these types available this year and in the future. You need not import to get a nice riding pony. Sometimes, this point is lost on some. You can pay now or later. There is far more risk involved with importing. My adult mare came to be untouched as she was raised on the fell. She lead. End of story. I had to teach her humans meant no harm by doing farrier care, grooming, all the way to a 7 month intense investment in her start to saddle. Good things come to those that wait, but it’s been 3 years to get to where we are now with Victoria. I would not change it for the world, but your problems in finding a pony won’t be solved by importing. I always suggest trying before buying and hiring professionals to assess any prospect in the states, via a trainer, and a thorough PPE done by a DVM.

So why import? Hill bred ponies are under threat themselves, as are the hill farms and farmers, from one list at least, were about 22 remaining. They are at threat, in part from rewilding schemes and limitations on access and numbers on fell as well.

So appreciate the gem that they are and know that without these sources, the Fell pony type we know and love, could go extinct in just a few generations if they aren’t raised and kept in a certain way, or coming from this type of stock.

No one can “re-create” the fell of Cumbria (and anyone claiming this, again, is a shill), but we can do our best to preserve type and lines. And simulate a natural life in another region and climate to promote and preserve hardiness. See: epigenetics.

Another note: lines don’t always make the pony, so what’s rare sometimes remains so, for a reason. You must support the the idea that the pony before you is what counts, not a pedigree alone. Pedigrees can also be incorrect, know that going in. It is a big hope that one day, someone delves into the study of DNA for a more comprehensive analysis. It can’t be assessed in just looking at a few years worth of ponies with the exclusion of the masses.

To learn more:

The Fell Pony’s Enduring Stewards

Fading Hoofprints

The Fell Pony

Fell Pony Heritage Trust

Jenifer Morrissey of Willowtrail - Fell Pony Blog

Mentorship, Ongoing Education and Travel:

In pursuit of knowledge and true discovery and exploration of the Fell’s origin, travel to Cumbria has been essential to understand the breed and its future.

In 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024, Jane joined a tour group, “Ponies and Pints,” hosted/organized by Melissa Kreuzer, of Dreamhayven Fells. A small collection of like-minded travelers embarked on a journey learning about the Fells through in-person experiences with the herds, hill breeders (and others) and shows.

This has included attending the annual FPS Breed Show, visiting the the Fell Pony Museum and enjoying the Appleby Agricultural Fair and other local fairs hosting native breed shows. It’s been fascinating learning about the geography, people and culture tied to Fell ponies through castle tours, walking old pack pony bridges, exploring the Lake District, and other historical landmarks of note.

Ashbeck, Bracklinn, Bybeck, Brackenbank, Carrock, Drybarrows, Dalewin, Globetrotter, Greenholme, Hades Hill, Hardendale, Lownthwaite, Lammerside, Peepings, Runsedales, Ralfland, and Waverhead stud visits have provided rich learning opportunities to meet ponies, observe behavior, and listen to stories told by the breeders themselves including extended family, sometimes spanning several generations with some inherited herds. Contrast and comparison, in 2023 and 2024, attended a Dales pony breed show and observed some Dales showing the local fairs, including ponies from the Roandale, Griseburn, Carrock, and Westwick prefixes. Much to be gleaned from the larger native pony culture and climate.

During the 2022 Centenary Celebration (100 year anniversary of the Fell Pony Society) there were daily activities for learning and lectures on history and conformation at the Court House in Shap. Lownthwaite and Carrock hosted educational farm visits in the centenary year. Our tour group was the first to go hiking with Fell Pony Adventures in 2019 and again, we joined them in 2022. Riding and packing with Fell Pony Adventures were had in 2024.

Venturing to Scotland in 2023 and 2024, we visited Bracklinn Stud. This was an incredible trip and we were so welcomed by these beautiful ponies, Alistar and family. A bonus to that visit: meeting the legendary stallion, Carrock I’m Yer Man.

Training Philosophy:

Jane's horsemanship is a blend of learned truths, strategies, and wisdom gleaned from spending time practicing with mentors, exploring on her own with her ponies, and utilizing what strategy works for the equine on the equine’s time clock, as well as reading as much as she can about equine behavior and physiology. A firm believer in “Evidenced Based Horsemanship” type philosophies.

She believes the path to knowledge is achieved via a life-long journey with these ponies, and there is an infinite learning curve.

Jane's life partner, Robert, a.k.a. in-house Renaissance Man, Lead Trail Excavator and Lord of Land Management, has been along for this crazy ride from the get-go and is a practicing neurologist along with the other hats he proudly wears and has been a tireless and at times, tired, supporter. The ponies show him the most unconditional love without a doubt.

The Future:

In summary: we look forward to a more active breeding program when all these lovely youngsters grow up. Plans are in the works for a 2025 foal from Bybeck Victoria. And showing in Mountain Trail and Working Equitation. Ambassador work and a breed demo was done at the Northwest Horse Expo this spring. Horsecamping and trail riding and doing miles’ challenges will happen too. As well as showing in Working Equitation and Mountain Trail. Check the ‘Events’ page for more info and ongoing updates.

Thank you for visiting this site and being interested in Fell ponies!

Feel free to reach out anytime for more info on sales referrals, travel to Cumbria, Fell pony training, help with registering stock, and anything else Fell pony.