Spotlight on New York Morgan Youth
If you've news, notes or photos that you'd like to share regarding our young club members - please send them along to vlow@rochester.rr.com. We're happy to share what's going on!
August, 2010 - As Colonel Alois Podhajsky said, "Hrdaoif;aemfmdlao;iefma;weija;in."
Interpreted in English: "The Morgan Horse is the most like the
Lippazzaner in the way of dressage." Most dressage riders usually think
of warmbloods when they hear the word "dressage", and most Morgan people
think of park seat and hunt seat when they hear the word "Morgan". But
at our Morgan Horse Club headquarters (the barn) we have Mary Ellen
Mulligan, the Morgan horse breeder, shower, and trainer, and Annie
(Stoneleigh's Jazz Time), her Morgan horse. Mary Ellen, instead of doing
her favorite kind of riding (park seat) lets the horse decide what style
it wants to do. Annie chose dressage as her favorite style. I believe
that Annie chose dressage because it has many patterns, and Annie likes
to be in the spotlight. Also, Annie's mother Midge (Stoneleigh's On Her
Guard) is the bounciest, hottest horse around and most likely passed
that on to Annie. Today Annie has achieved zero gravity.
Annie and Mary Ellen have been doing great.
Mary Ellen puts letters up to help riders in lessons. She also teaches
her students how to extend the trot, go sideways, bend the horse, and
collect -- which are all dressage moves. Our member Bree has just tried
out a second-level dressage horse, and I think we're all pretty excited!
Meanwhile, we learning about horse nutrition, and adding ribbons to our
walls. Me and Tigger (Topic of Royalty) showed at our first Morgan show,
the Western Regional. Sophia and Bree came to help with our bake sale.
Tigger helped win two blues, a red, and a yellow ribbon. Zipper
(Stoneleigh's Double Thyme) and her new owner Abbie, whose mother
learned to ride from Mary Ellen, won a blue and a red, too!
Anna Gallegos
NYSMHS Youth News....Kelly Donovan, NYSMHS junior member, is progressing nicely at Trinity Farm. She is really happy working with Emily Mattie and hopes to do well at the Eastern District Morgan/Open Show in August. She and Prince had a good lesson this week (see photo above) and hope to continue for the weeks following until the show. Submitted by Kelly's grandmother, Sally Conkling
2/24/2010
- The “Morgan Chatter” by Emily DeArmitt
“Do your best even if its not a test,” Shannon Walsh says as she nears a
jump. Shannon Walsh, now 12, lives in Long Island, NY . She started
riding when she was 10, and jumping the same year. She said the first
time she jumped it was very scary, but she did it and at that point knew
she had accomplished something.
Shannon experienced falling off a horse when she first started riding
and says; “I almost broke my neck”. It happened
when she was riding a Belgian and it threw her off. She landed on her
head, but she was just fine. Shannon says it was a scary ride and a ride
she will never forget.
Shannon got started riding horses through relatives. They guided her to
the Morgan horse. Shannon has her own beautiful black Morgan mare named
Miss Moneypenny who is now two.
Shannon rides twice a week out of a stable in Long Island called
Countryside. She said there is only one Morgan barn where she lives.
Shannon would love to show Miss Moneypenny at a Morgan horse show some
day.
Her goals are to become a better rider which I think she will accomplish
because as Shannon says, “When there’s doubt leave it out!”
Can-do Attitude Helps Big Flats Teen Win Scholarship!
Hillary Whipple, a 16 year old from Big Flats, is the kind of person her peers should try to emulate. She’s an avid equestrian with a can-do attitude. That attitude made her the 2009 recipient of the Dave Fors Memorial Scholarship, wrote Erika Stapleton, president of Reins of Hope, which administers the scholarship.
Dave Fors was a huge supporter of Reins of Hope.
He was an avid horseman who raised Morgan horsed in partnership with Pat Ross at Foxwin Farm in Chemung. Erika wrote he was always willing to work as horse leader and his expert skills were valued by the instructors and riders alike. Hillary, who attends Greater Southern Tier BOCES, was nominated by her instructors as a shining example of the scholarship criteria. A rider that always demonstrates good horsemanship and sportsmanship as well as showing significant improvement in riding skills.
She was selected among several other nominations by the family and
friends of Dave.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the Dave Fors Memorial Scholarship may
do so by contacting Reins of Hope at (607) 562-8000. Submitted by: Mary
Meixell
Trinity Trotters Youth News:
Our Trinity Trotters Morgan Horse Group started meeting monthly in September with 23 kids showing up for our kick-off meeting! We discussed what we would like to do as a group and made plans for future meetings. In October, we had a Halloween Party for all the kids and their families. We played lots of games and even had a Costume Class for the horses! In November, the kids learned about grooming horses and all of the tools needed, we learned how to measure our horses and then we played our favorite game - Capture the Leadrope! In December, our meeting covered the history of the Morgan and then we learned about all the parts of English tack. We also made Christmas decorations from horseshoes to bring home to our families.
1/7/2009 - The “Morgan Chatter” by Emily DeArmitt
“Practice makes perfect,” Cayla Coots says as she has had the
pleasure to get 4 years of High Point Champion in a row. Cayla started
riding when she was 7 and showing when she was 8 under the direction of
Angela Gerrity owner of Havens Stocking Creek Morgans in Bath, NY. Cayla
calls Angie’s farm her “second home”.
Cayla received Manchester Fifth Avenue “Saks” when
she was 8 years old. It is a great story she will always remember. She
said her parents surprised her Christmas morning when they told her they
were going to Havens Stocking Creek Morgans for breakfast. It was then
that Cayla was surprised with a beautiful bay Morgan horse named
Manchester Fifth Avenue. Cayla has had many great adventures riding
“Saks” which may be one of the reasons her nickname at the barn is Yard
Dart. Cayla earned this name because every time she has fallen off
“Saks” she looks like a yard dart flying in the air. Cayla has shown to
be a great rider and very brave to hop back on “Saks” and keep riding.
Cayla will be moving up to the walk, trot, canter for the 2010 show
season and has expressed that she is excited and nervous on the new
challenges that face her.
Cayla said, “It will take lots of practice and
sweat to move up to walk trot canter”. Cayla’s goals are to go to
Oklahoma Grand Nationals and to own her own barn someday.
We wish you lots of luck Cayla!
12/8/2009 - Find out all about Megan Scritchfield our 2009 Junior Horseperson Of The Year...
Introducing our Trader Youth Reporter Emilly DeArmitt
My
name is Emily DeArmitt and I am excited to let you know that I will be
writing the youth column for The Morgan Trader. I have been riding since
I was 4 and showing since the age of 7 at Havens Stock Creek Morgans
in Bath, NY. I am a member of the Morgan Masters Youth Club and other
horse organizations. I have a black Morgan mare named HSCM Little Miss
Trinity that I am currently getting ready for the 2010 show season. I
would
love to take her to the Oklahoma Grand Nationals one day.
I know like me there are other youth members that have many exciting horse stories and achievements to share. I am hoping this article will provide all of us young riders the opportunity to tell about our horse events.
As a writer of the youth column my plans are to introduce readers to other youth members and write on horse interests and activities. If you have any great barn stories, riding or showing experiences you would like to share please contact me. My email is youthonthehoof@aol.com I look forward to interviewing and telling the youth side of riding the Morgan horse.
The Berkshire Morgan Youth Club December - 2009
Finishing up the last few months of 2009 was
fun for the Berkshire Morgan Youth Club. We even tried out our cooking
skills at one meeting!
In the month of October, we had an official
meeting and then a few other small group meetings to finish the project.
At these meetings we made chocolate lollipops that were in the shape of
horses. We melted three different kinds of chocolate, poured it in
the molds, and then refrigerated the molds for 20 minutes. Later,
once the chocolate was cooled and hardened into the shape of horses, we
wrapped them. “Making the lollipops was a fun way to get together as a
group” said club member Ashley Sweet. These lollipops were sold at
the Equine Affaire the next month. Altogether the Berkshire Morgan
Youth Club made about 1000 lollipops.
In November, the Club’s meeting was at Equine
Affaire. At “Morgan Row”, we organized many activities for all
ages to promote the Morgan breed. During the day on Saturday
November 14th, Ashley and Cierra Sweet conducted a Morgan
Horse themed scavenger hunt that Miller Fina put together Also on
Saturday, all of the club members that were present put on a
Tram-Pole-Line demonstration and some of our club member helped out at
the Morgan Horse retail booth where the lollipops we made were sold to
raise funds for our club activities.
The Berkshire Morgan Youth Club had a meeting
scheduled at Harmony Hill on Jumping Basics, but the presenter fell ill
with the flu, so we were not able to have a December meeting.
Overall the Berkshire Morgan Youth Club had
fun, productive meetings to wrap op the year 2009!
Submitted by Emma Kate Flanagan