Welcome Members.

Recently our branch certificate has been placed on suspension by FPS. FPSNA acknowledges events leading to this decision and has agreed to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting on April 30, 2026. The purpose is to re elect all council positions including Zones 1-5 and the Promotions Director position.

We appreciate your interest and encourage you to read the biographies and vote if you see fit. Additional nominees may come forward in the next week and will be added to this page so check back frequently leading up to the EGM.

Currently we have one nominee for each zone and two for the Promotions Director.

Zone 1 Nominees

Wm David Mikko

Wm. David Mikko is a dedicated Fell Pony breeder and long‑time advocate for the breed, with nearly a decade of practical, hands‑on experience. His journey with Fell Ponies began in 2016, when he acquired a colt from Felllegend Farm in Northern California, an experience that launched his continuing commitment to the preservation, versatility, and responsible breeding of the Fell Pony.

Since that time, David has raised close to twenty Fell Ponies through his Drycreek breeding program. Today, the Drycreek herd consists of six brood mares and one stallion, with periods where two stallions have been maintained. His breeding program emphasizes sound conformation, strong temperaments, and usefulness true to the breed’s traditional purpose. Progeny from Drycreek can be found across the United States, reflecting the program’s national reach and reputation.

In the summer of 2022, David relocated his Fell Pony herd from the west coast of California to Upstate New York. He greatly values raising Fell Ponies in this region, where mares and foals experience all four seasons, including a long and often harsh winter. He believes these conditions contribute positively to durability, hardiness, and overall development—qualities that have defined the Fell Pony for centuries.

David particularly appreciates the breed’s versatility. His ponies are trained to pull and drive, as well as work confidently under saddle, demonstrating the Fell Pony’s adaptability for both traditional and modern uses. Through breeding, training, and mentorship, he actively promotes a well‑rounded and functional vision for the breed.

As a candidate for FPSNA Council, Zone 1 (Northeast Coast & Eastern Canada), David brings a perspective shaped by geographic diversity, practical breeding experience, and a sincere commitment to collaboration within the Fell Pony community. He is dedicated to supporting responsible breeders, encouraging education, and helping to ensure a strong and sustainable future for the Fell Pony throughout the region.

Zone 2 Nominees

Jill Rabenstein

Zone 3 Nominees

Cherie Hansen

Cherie Hansen is a relative newcomer to the Fell Pony community. Her first pony was purchased from a friend in Florida, and was a grey stallion by the name of Llancloudy Magic Diamond. Cherie's whole family was struck by how gentle, loving and truly versatile Diamond was and quickly began collecting a Fell family. Her next purchase was a 3 year old seal brown gelding by the name of DreamHayven Perfect Storm. Phil as he is affectionately called is now a 9 year old pony who is trained to ride and drive. DreamHayven Selene joined the family about 5 years ago also and was bred to Diamond to produce Desiderata Donato - also known as Dunkin. All ponies live together at their farm in East Tennessee. Diamond, Selene, Dunkin and Uncle Phil provide endless hours of pleasure for Cherie and her husband John. Cherie's primary goal as a council member is to enjoy her ponies and the community of Fell pony enthusiasts in North America and assist in any way to help return FPSNA to a strong branch of FPS England.

Cherie has served on the FPSNA Council for the past three years as the Promotions Director, during which time she developed the inaugural FPSNA Virtual Breed Show Series. If elected, she plans to assist with the continuation of this program. Additionally, she aims to develop stronger relationships with members in her zone to ensure their concerns, questions, and ideas are effectively communicated to the council. Her primary focus will be to help align FPSNA with the goals set forth by FPS England to regain our branch certification.

Zone 4 Nominees

Jenifer Morrissey

I am humbled to have been nominated by my colleagues to stand for election to FPSNA Council. I have been stewarding Fell Ponies since 2000 when there were just 30 ponies on the continent. Personally, I've contributed to the increase in population since then by both breeding and importing. My numerous trips to Cumbria have often been shopping trips but also getting to know the long-time stewards of our breed. I was pleased to share about those enduring stewards in the book I helped FPSNA produce in 2024. Having served once before on FPSNA Council, I hope to help out again with the roles of Treasurer and Overseas Branch Liaison if the membership and council agree. I also hope to bring back to the organization a focus on breed conservation and member education, sharing from my own research and study about our breed and from my experiences mentoring others. Over the years, I've found that there's always more to learn and discover about Fell Ponies! With gratitude, Jenifer Morrissey

Zone 5 Nominees

Elise Miller

Elise Miller was first introduced to Fell Ponies in 2004, when she purchased her first mare from the late Wendy Ihlang of Mustahevonen Farm. Since then, she has remained deeply committed to the breed as a small, dedicated breeder in the United States, producing a number of high-quality foals with careful planning and thoughtful selection.

Elise is passionate about preserving the integrity and versatility of the Fell Pony. She continues to study the breed extensively and has traveled to England to experience and learn from the Hill Breeders, and to see the Fell Ponies in their native environment. Her approach to breeding emphasizes quality, temperament, and adherence to traditional standards.

In addition to her work as a breeder, Elise is committed to promoting and educating others about Fell Ponies across the United States. She is especially interested in strengthening the community around the breed and ensuring that members feel supported and heard.

As a candidate for council, Elise hopes to listen to fellow members and gather input on how the Fell Pony Society of North America can better serve both its members and the future of the breed.

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Promotions Director Nominees

Ashton Kirkeide

Ashton Kirkeide is a marketing strategist, project manager, and lifelong equestrian with over 25 years of experience in the horse world. She brings a strong mix of professional marketing expertise and hands-on understanding of the equestrian community to her candidacy for Promotional Director of the Fell Pony Association.

Professionally, Ashton has led marketing and communications initiatives across corporate, agency, and entrepreneurial environments. Her work includes managing cross-functional projects, building data-driven content strategies, and growing digital audiences through clear, consistent messaging. She has executed campaigns across web, email, social media, and press, delivering measurable audience growth and leading large-scale initiatives and events. As the founder of Black Horse Marketing, she partners with businesses and nonprofits to improve visibility, engagement, and brand clarity.

At home, she is developing her two-year-old Fell Pony filly, which keeps her grounded in the day-to-day realities of ownership and reinforces her commitment to the breed.

Taylor Bie

Taylor Bie is a fourth-generation horsewoman running her farm less than half a mile from where her grandparents had their farm in Florida. Taylor has spent the last 20 plus years showing hunter/ jumper all across the state and runs a small lesson program with students that also show. Taylor's first experience with the wonderful fell pony breed was over 8 years ago when she was at the local horse park and saw Nichole Jansen riding "Littletree Limited Edition" also known as Vern and interest in the breed sparked from there. From there Taylor and Nichole's friendship blossomed which led to being introduced to many wonderful ponies including "Dreamhayven Stardust," "Laurelhighland Godiva," "Moonlit Truffles," "Dreamhayven King Arthur," "Drybarrows Ambassador," "Dreamhayven Valhalla," "Dreamhayven Vicount," "Dreamhayven Daisy May," "Stennerskeugh Frances II," . Nichole and Vern were also who introduced Taylor into the world of carriage driving and mounted shooting.

A few years later Taylor had the opportunity to show the incredible "Lammerside Ayla" owned by Melissa Kreuzer and fell further in love with the breed from there. After riding and showing Ayla Taylor knew that it was time to get a fell pony of her own, which led to reaching out to Mrs. Gilly Chippendale of Lammerside Fell Ponies to see what she had available. Taylor and her family ended up purchasing "Lammerside Guinevere", a beautiful, confident grey filly which also led to the purchase of "Clifford Silver Slipper" , a 10-year-old broodmare who was in foal at the time. Sybil foaled out a few short months after arriving in the US, giving us "Urbanacres Gideon" and continuing on the grey fell pony trend. Taylor has spent the last few years advocating for the breed whether at home breaking ponies, in the show ring, in the field fox hunting, teaching lessons, on a trail, or in a carriage show showing off how versatile these ponies can be. Taylor and Urban Acres continue to participate in the PPA Program every year hoping to continue to spread word about how awesome this breed truly is.

As a candidate for FPSNA Council Promotions Director, Taylor brings a new and fresh outlook on getting our ponies out there and showing whether in person or through the virtual shows. Having a small breeding program herself, Taylor stands for the proper and ethical breeding of strong and correct ponies.