Bybeck Victoria, registered Fell pony mare

Bybeck Victoria is our second import from the UK from a breeder in Kent that acquired her not long ago. She joined the herd at Feathered Foothill in the late fall of 2022.

She gave birth to a lovely seal brown filly foal by The Reggae King in June of 2023.

Victoria has exceeded expectations as a friendly and doting mother, in 2024 (an off year for foaling) trained with Mary Ka of Philomath, Oregon using R+ methods for her start to saddle, first rides, obstacle and liberty work. She took it all in stride.

Currently, Victoria is in foal, but staying active. She participated with two other Fells in the Northwest Horse Expo in Albany, Oregon in March of 2025. She was an excellent breed ambassador at a breed educational booth, in the main indoor vendor’s area greeting the public and children whom learned more about the breed, and was shown in-hand dinning a pack saddle with panniers and bells. It was her first public event and she exhibited stellar temperament. Very proud of her.

A little history:

Victoria travelled to the USA with her other sweet filly foal, Harrison Winter Skye. They had a safe journey via jet and had a bit of an extended quarantine, but prevailed quite nicely.

Harrison Winter Skye was purchased by Kimberly Brink of Southmoore Farm in Mississippi to at the end of 2023. Skye joined their herd as a prospective broodmare, along with a some domestically bred Fells and a few Drybarrows ponies.

Victoria is from the Bybeck Stud, now a dispersed herd due to retirement. It was very exciting to visit this stud in 2019 with Melissa Kruezer of Dreamhayven in a “Ponies and Pints Tour” and subsequently, we have visited Cumbria two more times since, and will be revisiting all our favorite studs and some new ones in 2024.

Bybeck was and will forever will be, one of my favorite studs for pony type, and that final chance to visit will be cherished.

Victoria is related to Queen Elizabeth’s Bybeck mare, Bybeck Nightingale (she is her “aunt”). Often seen in the famous photo of Her Majesty centered between two grey mares from just a few years before she passed.

She’s a beautiful mare, very quiet and calm, not much bothers her. And she has more whoa than go. Fully expect her to be a steadfast horse on trail or as a driving prospect and could excel at packing. Her mane is luxuriously long and double (falls to both sides). She has a well set tail, a nice short back, laid back pasterns, lots of bone. For just under 13hh, she’s got the presence of a much larger equine.

It will be a delight to see her develop over time and see what other beautiful foals she can bring into the world. And experience what riding and packing adventures await once she raises her next foal.

Of note: Bybeck Victoria is out of Bybeck Friday Lass and by Wellbrow Lancashire Lad (now apparently residing in Australia).

Last three photos, credit to Colin Roberts (first two), Bybeck Friday Lass (posted publicly during the NWA dispersal sale) and the last photo is of Wellbrow Lancashire Lad, credit to Lancloudy Stud (click to see more).

Delighted to keep in touch with the owner of Bybeck Friday Lass and she’s doing very well. Was able to meet her in person while visiting Cumbria in 2024 along with her foal.

Love knowing these pony’s family tree, where their offspring go, what they do, as well as how sire and dam carry-on and develop. It’s reflective of what might be expected from the pony you have before you, not to mention bridging friendships across the pond is vital.