Littletree Matador, registered Fell pony (now off to a new home for new adventures in Virginia)

Older dogs, new tricks. Matador, our beloved gelding, came all the way from Wisconsin in 2021 at the age of fifteen. On arrival, he had some refresher training in Medford, Oregon with Kim Ewalt and came back home to Springfield, Oregon to commence on some wonderful new adventures on trail a few months later.

Before this, he was a much beloved family pony, was ridden by teens, had some brief training in dressage, some drive training prior but for the most part, was an arena-only pony. He was imported from the Littletree Stud as a colt (hyperlink: small feature on the Wooleys from 2003). There are several Littletree ponies that have since been imported to the US.

Matador was deemed the “puppy” horse by his prior midwestern owner, and he embodies that title with his quiet, gentle disposition. He wins the hearts of all he meets with his jet black coat and quiet, handsome demeanor. We were told he has “presence,” and we wholeheartedly agree. It was a bit of a gamble buying a pony sight-unseen from afar, so we had a thorough pre-purchase exam and trainer evaluation done, and even the vet tech wanted to swoop on him. We knew it was a good gamble and we are so delighted he will reside for us for the rest of his golden days. We have confidence he has many magnificent miles left on his radar.

Matador took to the foothills of Oregon like it’d been his home all along and he lives happily with our herd and is currently the herd leader with a gentle soul. He is our tallest Fell at 13.3hh.

Matador made his debut last year at the Oregon Horse Center, first practicing in open arena days at Mountain Trail in the fall of 2021 with his mentor pony, JKL Istas. He did clinics in 2021 and 2022 with Brent Graef and with Moutain Trail clinicians such as Julie Fisher in 2022.

Matador competed in the Oregon Horse Center’s "Summer Round Up Show” for Mountain Trail and Ranch Riding and won his first ribbons. My dear friend, Tara O’Brien, has schooled him assertively and showed him for us. While we have put trail miles in with him competing in the Fell Pony Society’s “100 Mile Challenge” to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the Society. He has a ways to go, but he’s very brave being introduced to new disciplines later in life.

Matador excels with cattle, quite a surprise. We were delighted to see him approach the loose herd at Mildred Kanipe when horse camping in the summer of 2022. This experience translated well to Ranch Riding in the Summer Round Up show with loose cattle abound! He has horse-camped also in 2023 and 2024 serving as a wonderful ambassador to the breed.

Matador also made us super proud excelling at being a Fell pony ambassador in the Washington State Fair Horse displays and demos in September of 2022.

He was also shown in-hand in 2024 in the FPSNA Virtual Show judged by a FPS approved judge and earned nice ribbon.

Last, but not least, Matador welcomed out first imported hill-bred pony, Greenholme Peggy. They hit it off right away, and he was (and still is) an excellent mentor and fuzzy, warm, welcome committee when she first arrived.

Matador’s lines include: Heltondale, Guards, and Lunesdale.

Matador has done his sire, Guards Jester, proud. Some of Guards Jester’s accomplishments are as follows:

2015- Supreme CH, Senior M&M In-Hand, Olympia Show, UK

2008- 1st, Ridden Stallions 4 Yrs & Over, FPS Stallion & Colt Show

2007- 1st, M&M Open Large Breeds In-Hand, Champion Open M&M Ridden, NPS Area 4 Winter Show

2006- 1st, M&M Open Large Breeds In-Hand, 1st M&M Novice In-Hand, NPS Area 5 Winter Show

2006- Champion, NCPA Registered M&M Ridden Pony, Reserve Champion NCPA Registered In-Hand Pony, NCPA Open Summer Show

2006- 1st, M&M In-Hand Stallions, Otley Show

2006- NCPA Registered In-Hand M&M Pony Of The Year, NCPA Pony of The Year Show

2006- Champion, BSPS Ridden M&M Pony, Westmorland County

2006- 1st, Open Keston Royal Occasion In-Hand, 1st Confined Novice Keston Royal Occasion In-Hand , Ponies (UK) Winter Championships Qualifying Show

Show Records cited: Credit to Dreamhayven Farm

Guards Jester can be found on Instagram, aka barn name “Pookie!” An informal photo from his page with Queen Elizabeth is included in the photo collage below (photographer unknown). Photo credit of a young Matador to Melissa Kreuzer also below (sales photo).