After Margaret and I had such a fun time at the fall hunter pace, we opted to go again this spring! This time, while I rode Rejoice again, Margaret rode her horse Jester and had a friend ride Ladyhawke. All Kennebec Morgans!! Jester and Rejoice have the same dam and Jester and Lady share the same sire. Unfortunately instead of a lovely late spring day, we had one of the first intensely hot and humid days of the year. It was definitely a bummer, but the ride was mostly in the shade of the woods and we had a great time! most of the fences were 3' coops but we found a small log and this hay to jump haha Until we didn't. 😑 We brought along a third friend who rode Margaret's older mare, Ladyhawke. She's a good rider but hasn't known Ladyhawke for very long and didn't realize how much of a cranky boss mare she could be at times. She kicked Jester right in the front leg just about halfway through the ride, and while the cut itself ended up not being a big deal in the
Dreamy Starlet is the reason this blog started and why it was first entitled "Standardbred Excellence". She is a 1991 Standardbred mare, out of Dreamy Almahurst by On The Road Again. Dreamy is a black bay with a star, near front pastern, near hind pastern, and off hind pastern, and she stands at 15.1 hands.
Dreamy was foaled at Pine Hollow Breeding Farm inNew York . She raced briefly in 1993 and 1994 on the pace. She had only a handful of starts and was retired. She earned $1029 and her mark was Q 2:05.1 H. She had four registered foals and all made it to the races. She foaled Wil Dream Sandy in 1997, Will Star Gaze in 1998, Ap to Be Jack in 1999, and Amy Joe M in 2000.
I began to free lease Dreamy in May 2003 and her owner gave her to me for Christmas 2006! I am proudly listed on her papers as her legal owner! :-)
Dreamy has proven she is a terrific riding horse, winning many ribbons in competition since 2007. She won 90 year end awards in seven show seasons. Dreamy is now retired and enjoying the life of leisure, occasional trail rides, rolling in as much mud as possible, and embracing every opportunity to dismantle the pasture fence when the mood strikes her.
We showed throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. We competed at First Level and Training level dressage with scores up to 68.214% at USDF rated shows. We also competed in horse trials at the Beginner Novice level, winning many times on our dressage score. We have done "A" rated hunter shows through the Maine Horse Association, winning many championships, as well having fun at local schooling shows with the SPHO-Maine. We marshaled at three local racetracks many times. We also made the journey to the Horse Park of New Jersey for the National Championship Standardbred Horse Show in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Dreamy and I were very proud to represent the Standardbred breed by participating in four breed demonstrations at the World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park in October 2010.
Kennebec Elegance, known as Ellie, is a 2012 liver chestnut Morgan mare, out of Kennebec Rejoice and by Triple S Dark Eagle. She was born and lived on the Kennebec Morgan Farm until the day I purchased her on September 2, 2017. Ellie came into my life in a whirlwind, as I really wasn't looking for a new horse, but knowing I was going to have to put down my beloved mare Snappy (see below), my husband encouraged me to go to KMF to see what young stock was for sale. I didn't feel prepared to own a horse so soon after Snappy had to be put down, but I also knew that if I didn't buy Ellie, I would always regret it. Ellie is related to my first horse Sparky (see below) and I have always known that someday I would own another Morgan, specifically a Kennebec Morgan. Owning Ellie has been like coming home, reliving my childhood memories, and filling me with an odd sense of her being in my life for a reason.
Ellie was lightly started (though that may be a bit of an exaggeration... ;-) before I got her, and I am excited to see how our future pans out. I have big dreams with this girl!
Snap Dancer, nicknamed Snappy, was a 2000 bay Standardbred mare, out of Alberta's Ruffian and by Snap Hanover. I honestly wasn't looking for a horse when I met Snappy; instead she is the mare that I was able to get my Racing Under Saddle license with in 2012. I sat on her for the first time in July 2012 and we raced in September, winning our race and cinching my RUS license! I had no intentions of ever owning her, as her owning was still racing her and I was just extremely thankful he allowed me to get my license with her. As fate would have it, she ended up with a few disappointing starts that fall and by the beginning of winter her owner was ready to retire her. He called me one Saturday afternoon while I was Christmas shopping and I did not even hesitate to say I would take her. I don't know why, when I already had three horses and only three stalls, but I knew I had to make something work. She arrived at a Standardbred training barn down the road from where I lived at the time on December 11, 2012, where I was lucky to board her for six weeks before figuring out how to get her to my farm.
At first, I had no idea what to do with Snappy. I just enjoyed riding her and knew I would figure something out. She learned a lot about dressage and a little jumping during the summers of 2013 and 2014. Then we took a year off in order for me to have a baby! I restarted her in the spring of 2016, and we had a fairy tale first show season, attending dressage shows, combined tests, and her first ever full three phase event! We won all five three phase events we entered in 2017 and placed sixth at the Area I Schooling Horse Trials Championships. Snappy won six year end awards in just her short two years of showing.
Sadly, Snappy had to be put down on August 25, 2017. It was far too soon for her to leave me, but sometimes life doesn't work out the way we plan. Snappy's obituary is here.
Joydale Sparklerslas was the best first horse a girl could ask for. Affectionately known as “Sparky”, she came into my life in January 1993, when I was thirteen years old and she was ten. She was a 1982 Morgan mare, out of Kennebec Spark and by Kennebec Chief. Sparky was a bright chestnut with a connected star, strip, and snip, and she stood at 14.3 hands. Sparky and I competed in open shows, breed shows, dressage, three-phase eventing, and most recently combined driving.
Sparky was the one constant in my life through all life’s changes, from the tumultuous teenage years, romantic heartbreaks, two college degrees, marriage, and motherhood. She was the one whose red mane I cried into when my parents divorced; she was the one I shared gumdrops with one Saturday night when I felt like the biggest loser in 11th grade.
Sparky’s life had been a tumultuous one, as I was her eleventh owner in her ten years. While she started life well and was sold as a six month old weanling from the Joydale farm, her life took many turns from there. She ended up at a notorious horse dealer’s barn here in Maine at least twice that I know about. She was denied food for being sensitive to train, and was subjected to being thrown to the ground with the use of a “running W” device as she allegedly was a “rearer.” She was ridden in harsh bits with heavy hands. She was denied trust from those she should have been able to trust: humans.
But with patient training, I never saw any of those "problems" as described by her previous owners. My little red headed Morgan was the best horse for me. Yes, she was sensitive and opinionated, but we get along because so am I! I did everything with her. I promised her a forever home the day I unclipped the chain to lead her out of that straight stall (she had chicken poop all over her) and she lived with me until the day she passed and is buried right here on my farm. She was my spunky mare who would do cartwheels if I asked her to. Sparky is the horse who has left deep hoof prints on my heart.
Sparky passed away on July 2, 2014. She was the best mare and I hope I did the right thing by her in the end. You can read about that Very Sad Day here.
Dreamy was foaled at Pine Hollow Breeding Farm in
I began to free lease Dreamy in May 2003 and her owner gave her to me for Christmas 2006! I am proudly listed on her papers as her legal owner! :-)
Dreamy has proven she is a terrific riding horse, winning many ribbons in competition since 2007. She won 90 year end awards in seven show seasons. Dreamy is now retired and enjoying the life of leisure, occasional trail rides, rolling in as much mud as possible, and embracing every opportunity to dismantle the pasture fence when the mood strikes her.
We showed throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. We competed at First Level and Training level dressage with scores up to 68.214% at USDF rated shows. We also competed in horse trials at the Beginner Novice level, winning many times on our dressage score. We have done "A" rated hunter shows through the Maine Horse Association, winning many championships, as well having fun at local schooling shows with the SPHO-Maine. We marshaled at three local racetracks many times. We also made the journey to the Horse Park of New Jersey for the National Championship Standardbred Horse Show in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Dreamy and I were very proud to represent the Standardbred breed by participating in four breed demonstrations at the World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park in October 2010.
Kennebec Elegance, known as Ellie, is a 2012 liver chestnut Morgan mare, out of Kennebec Rejoice and by Triple S Dark Eagle. She was born and lived on the Kennebec Morgan Farm until the day I purchased her on September 2, 2017. Ellie came into my life in a whirlwind, as I really wasn't looking for a new horse, but knowing I was going to have to put down my beloved mare Snappy (see below), my husband encouraged me to go to KMF to see what young stock was for sale. I didn't feel prepared to own a horse so soon after Snappy had to be put down, but I also knew that if I didn't buy Ellie, I would always regret it. Ellie is related to my first horse Sparky (see below) and I have always known that someday I would own another Morgan, specifically a Kennebec Morgan. Owning Ellie has been like coming home, reliving my childhood memories, and filling me with an odd sense of her being in my life for a reason.
Ellie was lightly started (though that may be a bit of an exaggeration... ;-) before I got her, and I am excited to see how our future pans out. I have big dreams with this girl!
Snap Dancer, nicknamed Snappy, was a 2000 bay Standardbred mare, out of Alberta's Ruffian and by Snap Hanover. I honestly wasn't looking for a horse when I met Snappy; instead she is the mare that I was able to get my Racing Under Saddle license with in 2012. I sat on her for the first time in July 2012 and we raced in September, winning our race and cinching my RUS license! I had no intentions of ever owning her, as her owning was still racing her and I was just extremely thankful he allowed me to get my license with her. As fate would have it, she ended up with a few disappointing starts that fall and by the beginning of winter her owner was ready to retire her. He called me one Saturday afternoon while I was Christmas shopping and I did not even hesitate to say I would take her. I don't know why, when I already had three horses and only three stalls, but I knew I had to make something work. She arrived at a Standardbred training barn down the road from where I lived at the time on December 11, 2012, where I was lucky to board her for six weeks before figuring out how to get her to my farm.
At first, I had no idea what to do with Snappy. I just enjoyed riding her and knew I would figure something out. She learned a lot about dressage and a little jumping during the summers of 2013 and 2014. Then we took a year off in order for me to have a baby! I restarted her in the spring of 2016, and we had a fairy tale first show season, attending dressage shows, combined tests, and her first ever full three phase event! We won all five three phase events we entered in 2017 and placed sixth at the Area I Schooling Horse Trials Championships. Snappy won six year end awards in just her short two years of showing.
Sadly, Snappy had to be put down on August 25, 2017. It was far too soon for her to leave me, but sometimes life doesn't work out the way we plan. Snappy's obituary is here.
Joydale Sparklerslas was the best first horse a girl could ask for. Affectionately known as “Sparky”, she came into my life in January 1993, when I was thirteen years old and she was ten. She was a 1982 Morgan mare, out of Kennebec Spark and by Kennebec Chief. Sparky was a bright chestnut with a connected star, strip, and snip, and she stood at 14.3 hands. Sparky and I competed in open shows, breed shows, dressage, three-phase eventing, and most recently combined driving.
Sparky was the one constant in my life through all life’s changes, from the tumultuous teenage years, romantic heartbreaks, two college degrees, marriage, and motherhood. She was the one whose red mane I cried into when my parents divorced; she was the one I shared gumdrops with one Saturday night when I felt like the biggest loser in 11th grade.
Sparky’s life had been a tumultuous one, as I was her eleventh owner in her ten years. While she started life well and was sold as a six month old weanling from the Joydale farm, her life took many turns from there. She ended up at a notorious horse dealer’s barn here in Maine at least twice that I know about. She was denied food for being sensitive to train, and was subjected to being thrown to the ground with the use of a “running W” device as she allegedly was a “rearer.” She was ridden in harsh bits with heavy hands. She was denied trust from those she should have been able to trust: humans.
But with patient training, I never saw any of those "problems" as described by her previous owners. My little red headed Morgan was the best horse for me. Yes, she was sensitive and opinionated, but we get along because so am I! I did everything with her. I promised her a forever home the day I unclipped the chain to lead her out of that straight stall (she had chicken poop all over her) and she lived with me until the day she passed and is buried right here on my farm. She was my spunky mare who would do cartwheels if I asked her to. Sparky is the horse who has left deep hoof prints on my heart.
Sparky passed away on July 2, 2014. She was the best mare and I hope I did the right thing by her in the end. You can read about that Very Sad Day here.
Revenue Stream, nicknamed Reva, is my sensible and mischievous filly I owned from 2009 to 2013. Reva now lives with a wonderful family here in Maine, enjoying Pony Club lessons and trail riding. She is a 2006 Standardbred mare, out of Irish Caviar and by Revenue. Reva is a bright bay with just a tiny bit of coronet on her left hind heel, and she stands at 16.3 hands...and growing!
Reva came to my farm from New Jersey on July 5, 2009. She was officially given to me (my name is on her papers too) a few months later. She fit in easily and without much issue. She was MUCH bigger than I expected her to be...when I asked her owner how tall she was, he told me 15 hands. I have now become wise to the fact that Standardbred horsemen say that ALL Standardbreds are 15 hands. LOL!
Having been born in Pennsylvania at Pin Oak Lane Farm, Reva was sold as a high priced yearling to Peninsula Farm in Kentucky. She is from the first crop of foals from the Swedish stallion Revenue. Unfortunately she never trained down past 2:20, which meant she was not considered NY Sire Stakes material. But that was OK, since it gave me a chance to own her!
Reva was easygoing and sensible from the beginning. We began her show career in 2011 and showed dressage, hunt seat, saddleseat, and even tried western! She proved to be a fun and successful show horse, with multiple blue ribbon wins, championships, and 21 year end awards in just two show seasons!