Drybarrows Brownie and Garrighyll Lucky Clover
© 2004 by Mary Ludington
Committed to breeding hardy, healthy versatile Fell ponies of the traditional Northern English type
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January: It has been a record breaking mild winter in the Upper Midwest. During late December and throughout January the average nighttime low temperature has been higher than the normal average daytime high temperature. The temperatures got above freezing on most days which is exceptionally unusual. This suits the Fell ponies very well and they are thriving in conditions that are very similar to conditions on the Cumbrian fells.
February: All our ponies are looking very fit but muddier than usual thanks to the warm weather. The mares are starting to bloom. It looks as if it will be probably be a good year for foals.
We visited Cumbria and the North East of England again in October 2005. I have been concerned for some time that the bloodlines in the USA are so limited and also that most of the ponies that I personally like seem to come from a relatively small group of ancestors. While I was in the UK, I went to talk to breeders and look at lots of ponies. I was looking for what has been described elsewhere as "the Holy Grail" - a stallion of compatible type but as unrelated as possible to my ponies. I saw some very nice Fell ponies of various ages. Most proved to be too closely related to my current ponies to represent an outcross.
I believe that we have come close to achieving our goal with our new stallion prospect Dene Darius. Darius is a black yearling colt by Dene Rebel out of Dene Damaris. The first Dene Fell ponies were registered in the Studbook in ???. His ancestry goes back on both sides through Dene tail mare lines to old Linnel ponies and includes unusual, Craggs and Dalemain lines. Kinship coefficient data on Dene Darius and the US Fell pony population suggest that Darius is not only a excellent outcross for my own Fell ponies but also for a substantial proportion of the US herd. He will be licensed for the 2007 breeding season. In a few years time we will know if he can hand on his virtues to the next generation.
Darius and a yearling filly, Storm Chaser arrived in Minnesota in December 2005 and are settling in nicely.
Hardendale Henry and Ludworth Misty Melody represented the Fell pony breed at the 2005 Minnesota Horse Expo in April. This is the first time that Fell ponies have appeared at this event. Both ponies took part in Breed Presentations and the Parade of Breeds. Henry excited a lot of interest at the Stallion presentations and was very happy to pose for photographs! It was gratifying to see so many artists taking photographs of the ponies and we look forward to seeing the results in the future. It was hard to attend any of the seminars and clinics or even see much of the trade show at this large exposition because so many people wanted to discuss the ponies and learn about the breed. Everyone was exhausted but very pleased by all the interest and encouragement that we received. We are all looking forward to the 2006 Expo.
We have 2 Fell pony foals this summer (see the Foals for details and more photos). We are particularly pleased to welcome “Garrighyll Duchess ” the first bay Fell pony filly foal born here.
June and July are busy months at Bellwood Farm. We finished putting up the first cut of hay in mid June. Henry is currently running with his mares and the breeding season is in full swing.
< to be announced >
© 2005, Bellwood Farm, Garrighyll Fell Pony Stud and Naked
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