May 31
Here is my gelding we have for sale. Here is a short video of him under saddle and the rider is a new rider and just learining about 2 reins and draw reins so bare with her. He goes very well and much quieter with a more confident rider. He is offered for 5000 and is located in Northern Michigan. He is current on coggins, vet and farrier. Email me if you are interested. melissarainey@charter.net Thanks, Missy
Link to Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfkMAgsKvGA
May 12
Even though my first love is the Morgan, I also show saddlebreds, and sometimes help my trainer with the academy kids. I have to tell this story because not only is it funny, but i think we can learn something from it. I’m not sure how its done in the Morgan world, but in the saddlebred world, all the little leadliners get first place blue ribbon and a big bucket of toys. Well I was at a schooling show that the barn was hosting, and I was helping out the kids. Well the leadline class just got out and this little girl was crying really hard. I asked her, “Honey, whats wrong, you got a blue ribbon, thats really good…” Well what she said next almost knocked me off my feet. She said, and I quote “But I didn’t want the blue ribbon, I wanted the PINK ribbon!!!!” She said this while huge crocodile tears are running down her face. I couldn’t help but laugh and told her I would get her a pink ribbon. I took the blue ribbon and went to my trainer and said that I needed to trade the blue one for the pink one. She gave me a wierd look and when i told her that the little girl wanted a pink one, she just laughed. I went back to the little girl with the biggest pink ribbon we had, and I have never seen a happier girl in my life. If we learn anything from that little girl, it’s that there is more to showing and life than the color of the ribbon you get.
Feb 15
I just grew out of a Carl Meyer Navy Blue day suit for boys/men. It’s still in great condition. I’m around 5′10″. $750. This includes a vest and two hats. Just comment for contact info.
Jan 22
Daily Double, 5th in classic driving at nationals this year in 13 and Under. Daughter has new horse so he needs sold. Nice horse. Asking 7000 but open to ALL offers.
His video is on YouTube or he is listed on Morganshowcase.
Jul 2
Hello, I am currently attending Virginia Tech and majoring in Animal Science with an Equine Business emphasis. I have been riding since the age of 6 and have experience with Hunt Seat and Western. I was involved in 4H for 8 years and showed at small shows around my home in hunt seat and western. I have also competed on the Virginia Tech Western team. In 6th and 7th grade I got the opportunity to ride and show two Morgans that my instructor at the time owned. I fell in love with the breed and decided that I one day want to breed and train Morgans. I am currently looking for a Morgan stable in the Central NY region for summer and time home from school, or one around Blacksburg, VA for during the school year. I am looking for any type of working student position. I am willing to do any type of work in exchange for experience in riding Morgans in any discipline. I currently have hunt seat and western experience but I would love to get the chance to learn saddle seat, driving, dressage or any other discipline. Additionally, I have about a month off for winter break and am willing to travel anywhere for experience that month. If you are currently in need of someone to be a working student for you PLEASE contact me (dwroble@vt.edu). If you are not looking for a working student but have a barn in one of these areas and give lessons also please contact me as I have not had much success in finding anyone with Morgans around where I am. Thank you so much for your time.
May 19
As I have written before, I think that riding instructors are on a fast track to Sainthood (see “Ode to the Riding Instructor). Yesterday morning, my daughter’s instructor made a huge leap forward in her journey. Originally, I was going to name this post “I Just About Puked!”, and while not the prettiest title, it would have been a very appropriate one; a title other moms out there could probably relate to.
My daughter has been riding in the local Academy shows for a few years now and during the winter tournaments graduated to the Walk/Trot/Canter classes. Because of her late birthday she competed in the 10 and under classes and, unfortunately (or fortunately depending how you look at it…) she was always the only kid in her class. She liked getting those blue ribbons, but really would have liked to have at least one other horse with her…so she thought.
Apr 8
The Northeast Ohio Academy Riders’ Association held its 1st annual awards luncheon and fundraiser on March 30, 2008 in Medina, Ohio. Lesson programs from 7 Northeast Ohio area stables participated in a Winter Tournament series held at Lily Valley Farm, owned and operated by Christine Spoonster. The Academy riders, both kids and adults, rode in several different divisions including both the saddle seat and hunt seat disciplines. To reward their efforts, the 67 participating riders were awarded points for their show placings and received acknowledgements through ribbons, framed certificates and picture frames at the Awards Luncheon.
Feb 26
Have you ever watched a walk/trot class and have been on the edge of your seat, hoping and praying that an unruly horse doesn’t do something crazy to injure its rider or one of the other kids in the ring? Unfortunately it seems like there is always at least one of these horses in every class, sometimes more. Maybe it is because I am a mom, or maybe I am just over protective, but I often catch myself thinking “What are these parents thinking? Is a ribbon that important?”. However, I do know from experience that a horse can act perfectly suitable at home but then turn into the “devil-incarnate” once it enters a show ring.
Feb 16
The Morgan horse show season begins in two and a half weeks with the Tampa Charity Horse Show in Tampa, FL. The show runs from March 4-8, 2008 and includes not only Morgan Horses but also Saddlebreds, Harness Ponies, and Roadster Ponies. The show will be held in Lykes Arena at the Tampa Yacht and Country Club, a premium facility which offers permanent stalls, covered arena and warm up area, box seating, stadium bleachers and RV hookups Florida Expo Park at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL. Judging of the Morgan Horse classes with be performed by Dwayne Knowles of Kutztown, PA.
From the description on the Tampa Horse Show website, this show is steeped with tradition and ambiance:
The Tampa Charity Horse Show has been one of the Tampa area’s most prestigious and unique events since its beginning in 1933. Sponsored by the Tampa Horse Show Association, Inc. and held annually under the magnificent oaks at the Tampa Yacht and Country Club Stables, it has attracted exhibitors from as far west as Texas and Oklahoma and as far north as New York and New Hampshire. There have been numerous National and World Champion horses presented here, some by third-generation horsemen.
For more information about this and other shows in the Tampa area visit the Tampa Horse Show website. Good Luck to all the exhibitors!
(updated: I was informed that the information taken from the Tampa Horse Show website was incorrect- BEB)
Feb 13
The First Annual Signature Sale will be held at the Champions Center in Springfield, OH on April 4-5, 2008. Jim and Jenny Taylor of Memory Lane Farm in Medina, OH are hosting this registered Morgan consignment auction. Their research into the need for a Spring Morgan auction led to the inception of this new sale, and the existence of the state of the art equine facility near their farm, Champions Center, made Springfield, OH the obvious choice.
The Champion Center is also home to the Gold Cup Regional Morgan Horse show and boasts a spacious indoor ring with ample seating, large stalls and support services all under one roof. The city of Springfield is an easy drive from Dayton, OH and Columbus, OH International Airports, and offers many hotels and restaurants in the immediate vicinity.
I had the opportunity to discuss the auction with the Jim and Jenny Taylor. They are very excited with the response to their new sale. There are 132 horses consigned, several of which hold World Titles. These show horses, however, are not the only ones consigned. According to Jenny Taylor there will be “something for everybody at this auction.” In addition to
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