the young Defender
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the young Defender
I have had a nostalgic trip down memory lane, searching for pictures for this site. I find myself expecting long-gone horses to be out in the barn when I go to feed. A few of my favorite photos are interspersed here. The last was taken in Juneau, Alaska.
The plan was to find a morgan horse for showing western and to purchase two good broodmares, breed them as well as we could afford, and send the youngsters off into the world with a good start. This is a small operation, with never enough money to really do it right, but I have enjoyed the owning and breeding of morgan horses. There have been setbacks, some heartbreaks, some happy successes and a few real joys.
The "foundation" gelding, Brady's Defender, should not have been a starter stallion/gelding. He is 24 now and I have told him often that he could have done worse. He has his own modicum of fame in the local area. His one illegitimate son, Brady's Black Label, is a stallion here in Wisconsin. He is a black breeding horse, and amazingly, my gelding has more than one hundred grand-get! That's far more morgan offspring than our whole breeding program.
The foundation mare was Cedar Creek Elegance. A Promise daughter out of the now well-known brood mare, Serenity Anna Rose, she had more size than other Promise offspring and lots of trot. Her two year show career at Rick Davis' stable was a great experience in every way.
The first mare purchased, LA Shuana turned out to be the dam of some, exceptional, big-striding sport horses. Equinox Victoria was purchased before she was even weaned at Equinox Farm. Watching her full sister, Equinox Damsel, win at Oklahoma had predisposed me to want this horse. She was not a trusting baby and she was quick. The people who trailered her here were never able to put a hand on her. Teaching her things was a long, careful process, but rewarding in the end. She taught me a lot about raising youngsters. They all, each one, taught me something.
And she had that great, floating trot that I like so much. Her four BGF offspring have inherited her way of going. A breeding program should be judged on whether you produce better than what you have, or at least pass on the good traits. Tory did that and she is missed around here.
I value/ want a handsome, up-headed foal. Max, Eve and others were so beautiful. I want a morgan horse that can move off both ends. It can be as much fun to have a good moving , talented hunt horse as a saddle seat horse (and I could ride the hunt horse). Some of the young horses have met my standards more than others, but we always get to know what each one wants to be. It is important to me to see that they get a good start. I really want each one to go as far as it can to develop its talents. Often the young horses stay here long after they should be sold, but at least I know we are giving them a good, solid start.
There have been several that have been great fun to ride, personally. Central Park and the Grinch come to mind. And more that have been great fun to watch performing. I always loved to see Ellie show.
One of my biggest thrills came when Eve was chosen the Breeders Sweepstakes Reserve Champion. That a filly from a little farm in Wisconsin could do so well was a real surprise and encouraging for lots of people. Max was a Reserve World Champion. Top Quark has a huge, dynamic way of going and lots of wins. I loved the way Winston (London fog ) could float. Seeing Winston for the first time at New England, in his 4 year old hunt debut, (which he won) was so exciting. Sadly, in recent years, the good horses that go for training are so far away that I do not get to enjoy them.
It is a pleasure to place a young horse where it should be. And it is a joy to hear how they are doing, whether it is in a barn up the road, or on the show circuit. My mares, Ellie, Rocky, and Shuana are aging. Tory has died. Despite the fact that I love the foals, we are about done breeding. But ... if times change, there are still two granddaughters, Katie Bar the Door and Leavin ona JetPlane, that I could get excited about breeding. If not, I will have to get my enjoyment from watching their successes from afar, tending the geriatric set, and teaching some dressage to the big thunk who will be my last horse, Gable's Like A Rock (Shamu.)
Following are several of my favorite pictures. If you enjoy the babies, be sure to go the BGF foals page.
