Stable Sheet - October 2023

Get the most out of this newsletter -

For those viewing this newsletter for the first time, it is published in two or more sections. At the bottom of each section you will be prompted to click a link to go to the next section. Be sure to "click here" where indicated to continue reading. Links to websites or documents for more information are shown in blue and underlined throughout this newsletter. So are email address links if you choose to use them.

From Your Board Of Directors

Ballots will be coming out shortly via email for our 2024 Board Of Directors. Please vote on line before November 11th. Meantime if you have some nice foal pictures you would like to share, we would welcome them. None have been received for our Foal Photo Contest yet. We need them no later than October 31st. The winning photo will be the cover shot for the 2024 MHAO Breeders' Cup Futurity Booklet. And we will be back in touch with information on our See's Candy Fundraiser - just in time for the holidays!

Our goal is to support Morgan horse enthusiasts from all the corners of our State as well as all the wonderful disciplines our Morgan horses participate in, "just pleasure riding" included. You can help us by sending your news and pictures to Karen Weiderman at dazzby1@gmail.com, by coming to our Award Banquet and sharing your ideas with your Board, or by contacting a Board member to talk about what you would like to see in your area. We want to know how we can support you better.

I hope you will come to the banquet. MHAO is providing the food. No charge to you! All you need to bring is yourself, family and horse friends, and a dessert for our Silent Auction.

SEE YOU SOON!!

If you prefer to vote by mail, you can. You can download a ballot off the email you receive or by clicking here. You can also vote at the Award Banquet. The address to send the ballot to is shown on the ballot.

For questions, contact Doana Anderson, MorganHorseOregon@outlook.com, (503) 250-2500.

Join The Fun & Promote Your Breeding Program!

2023 Foals Nominated by Dec. 31st - $40

Annual Renewal Fee by March 31st - $25

Late nomination or renewal fees - $100 each

Class entry fees by June 1st - $25

Post Entry fees - $50

Click here to download the Futurity Rules

Click here to download a 2023 Futurity Foal Nomination Form

Questions: Contact Gay Adams

(503) 936-4276, sunstonemorgans@comcast.net

NOTE: The foal does not need to be born this year, nor be entered in our Futurity. Photos are accepted from MHAO members and non-members.

Prize money is offered:

1st place - $100

2nd place - $75

3rd place - $50

Fun to do, and a great way to promote your breeding program.

All photos will appear on our Futurity website and Stallion Service Auction Facebook page, and be published in the 2024 MHAO Breeders' Cup Futurity booklet. The 1st place photo will become the cover for the 2024 MHAO Breeders' Cup Futurity booklet distributed at the three largest shows in the Western Region and at Nationals.

Click here for the application to be sent in for each foal submitted. You can submit up to 4-photos.

No time like the present! Get your foal pictures in NOW!

(No pictures received yet)

Questions, contact: Gay Adams, (503) 936-4276

sunstonemorgans@comcast.net

SPECIAL SPONSORSHIP REQUEST

Can You Help?

We have been offered an opportunity to distribute our Futurity Booklet at the Morgan Superior Sale in November in Shipshewanna, IN. We are seeking sponsors to help us cover the cost for printing additional copies for his event. ANY MONETARY AMOUNT ACCEPTED AND APPRECIATED!

We think taking advantage of this offer could really help the results of next year's Stallion Service Auction. Your support will be acknowledged on our website.

If you can help, please contact Gay Adams,

(503)936-4276, sunstonemorgans@comcast.net

We need you! Have you renewed your membership for this year?

Check the link below to see. We need your support as a member to continue our programs. We need your voice as a member to help us do all we can to promote our wonderful breed. Please renew or join today!

Click here to see the membership list as of 9/10/2023.

Do you know someone who owns a Morgan horse who is not a member of MHAO?

If you know someone who owns a Morgan horse but is not a member of MHAO, we hope you will encourage them to join. Members from any address are welcome. We are an active club with programs for all those who are part of the Morgan community. We support all types of activities. Those who do not own a Morgan but want to support the breed are also welcome.

Did you just purchase your first Morgan horse from a member of MHAO?

If so, you are eligible for a free membership for the year of purchase in MHAO. We hope we will earn your continued support, and after this year you will renew with us. To get started, just complete a membership form, and where it asks for payment, say you just purchased your first Morgan horse and who you purchased the horse from.

Welcome to MHAO!

Click here to download a membership form

Anyone renewing now is renewing for 2024!

Once the form is completed, please email to:

wylieriley@aol.com

or mail to:

Karen Breckenridge

MHAO Treasurer

4715 Eola Drive NW

​Salem, OR 97304

2024 Membership Fees:

$35 for Family (includes two votes)

$30 for Individual (includes one votes)

If you haven't already, please complete our membership survey form

and send it in with your membership form.

If renewing for 2024, either mail your check with your membership form or if emailing the form, call Karen at (503) 580-4716 with your credit card information.

Do You Give Lessons? Are you a trainer?

Are you willing to have people come see your Morgan horses?

Let us help you get the word out!

We would like to have a resource available to refer people to for lessons or to see Morgan horses. Please let Gay know if we can give out your name for these purposes. We can share this information along with any of our promotional material, at promotional events, or MHAO events. We would also like to post it to our website.

Please notify Gay Adams how you would like to be listed.

Gay Adams, (503) 936-4276, sunstonemorgans@comcast.net

Click here to download a submission form for reimbursement

ATTENTION: For 2023 the maximum reimbursement for the year is $100 as shown on the attached flyer. Starting November 1st, the maximum will be $25 per event to a maximum of $50 for the year per membership.

Click here for more information, or go to the MHAO Website.

www.morganhorseoregon.com

Click here to download an enrollment form

Click here to download a tracking sheet for your hours

For questions contact Sandi Humphfres

firemed13@yahoo.com

Qualifications:

1.Member of MHAO at time of service, or a member of the Morgan community.

2.Nominated by member or non-member

3.Submission of at least one brief written description of the nominee’s exceptional community service and impact.

4.Nominations and essay submissions will be reviewed and nominees contacted before acceptance.

Nomination Cutoff is May 15th Each Year for

Awardee to be announced at the Oregon Morgan Classic

Award Created & Sponsored by Patricia Carlson

Send to Patricia Carlson, patricia@dressagemorgans.com

Questions, call Patricia - (503) 851-1950

MHAO Award Banquet

Lunch Provided By MHAO

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Park in front of the Jason Lee house and take the walk way on the right back to the Dye House.

Map Sections - An Interesting Place To Visit

1 Jason Lee House: Served as headquarters for Methodist Mission operations in the Oregon Country; it also hosted meetings of the early provisional government and served as an early post office. The Lee House was moved here from its original location north of downtown Salem in 1965.

2 Boon House: The oldest single family house still standing in Salem. John Boon and his family came over the Oregon Trail in 1845. After a brief stint homesteading, the family relocated to Salem where John D. Boon became very involved in business and politics. He co-founded the first woolen mill in Oregon and served as the last Territorial and the first State Treasurer in Oregon. The Boon House was moved from north of downtown to its current location in 1972.

3 Parsonage: The second frame structure built with lumber from the Mission’s sawmill. Originally designed as a duplex, it housed those missionaries who oversaw the Indian Manual Training School. This was the only building retained by the Methodist Church when the mission closed and it served as the parsonage for their minister and as a base for circuit riders, or itinerant preachers in the valley.

4 Pleasant Grove Church: Finished in April of 1858, this church represents a meetinghouse-style associated with early country churches. It is the oldest surviving Presbyterian Church in the Pacific Northwest. The building was moved from outside of Aumsville to the WHC grounds in 1984.

5 Dye House: During the Mill’s operation (1889-1962), dying was done in a series of interconnected sheds and buildings. Today’s Dye House is a reconstruction using an original wall on the south side.

6 Mill Building: This brick building was designed by Walter David Pugh in 1896, after a fire destroyed the original 1889 wooden structure. The construction bid was awarded to John Gray, who with masonry foreman Henry Luker and general grounds foreman J. Cordingly marshaled a crew of forty men to complete construction in a little less than six months. Over 250,000 bricks from the kilns at the Oregon State Penitentiary were used.* In 2006, major rehabilitation of the building’s exterior was completed with its designation by the National Park Service as an American Treasure.

7 Warehouse Building: Formerly housed the wool and rag warehouses with a drive-in loading dock in the middle. Today the warehouse serves and the hub for visitors services and includes the museum’s orientation center, retail stores and galleries (click here for more information), and offices.

8 Library & Archives: This mid-20th century stucco building was built to house the mill’s retail store and offices and replaced a two story house that once stood here. Today the building houses extensive unique historical collections, including records from the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill and the Marion County Historical Society. It is open to researchers Tuesday-Friday noon-4pm.

9 Mentzer Machine Shop: Named for the Mill’s faithful and popular millwright, Wayne Mentzer (millwright for 60 years from 1924-1984), the machine shop is where his valuable work took place. The moving machinery and tools on display are original to the Mill and were used for everything from making machine parts to repairing structures.

(Start here spot on map is for tours, not for us)

Just Married...

August 25, 2023

A little over three weeks ago Eduardo & I were so blessed to be married! Our story has been a journey of answered prayers and miraculous moments that could easily give any Disney story some competition Our wedding ceremony was perfect, wedding celebration dreamy, and we got to see so many faces of friends & family from those folks we care about so greatly because they have been so positively impactful to our lives.

We had our wonderful Deacon Jerry to officiate, with family participating in the readings, our corgi as a ring bearer, the cutest flower kids ever, and a gorgeous wedding party at both events! There was a VERY talented singer and pianist at our ceremony, mariachi band who performed Vincente tunes, and an awesome complimentary DJ at our sunset celebration, and we were gifted the most delicious and beautiful Fairy Tale cake display. The food at the celebration was out of this world, my new husband, family, and friends worked so hard to prepare and contribute to it all! 

This will not be the last of the 2K plus photos that we were also gifted and we promise to continue to sort through these wonderful memories and share as appropriate (will not tag or post on Facebook unless permitted) in addition to assembling the hundreds of thank you efforts and communications ahead of us to express our gratitude to EVERYONE who made this possible!

We are so incredibly grateful to all the absolutely lovely souls who came together to help make these moments some of the most special ones we could ever hope and pray in our lives.

The love we have in our hearts is more than words could ever express.

-Sarah & Eduardo Zavala

Where in the wide world can man find nobility without pride,

Friendship without envy,

Or beauty without vanity?

Here, where grace is served with muscle

And strength by gentleness confined

He served without servility; he has fought without enmity.

There is nothing so powerful, nothing less violent.

There is nothing so quick, nothing more patient.

-Ronald Duncan, "The Horse" 1954

Cherrydale Bellamore with her 2023 foal, WPM Elizabeth Racheal raf by Man In Black, owned by Barbara Thomson.

Allison is also competing in this year's Youth Of The Year Contest at Grand Nationals --

My name is Allison Hall, I am 21 years old, and this will be my fourth year competing in the Grand National Youth of the Year contest! I am currently a student at Green River College, where I am studying Criminal Justice and Forensic Technology. I have two Morgan horses; Manchester Once ‘N’ Again, more commonly known as Bailey and Home Free, also known as Freedom. Freedom and I show in Western Pleasure Amateur classes as well as Western Pleasure Youth and the AMHA Western Seat Medal. I am the proud leader of the Evergreen Morgans youth team, which combines multiple barns from Washington and Oregon. I am also actively involved in the AMHA Youth Council as Secretary as well as the Morgan Horse Club of Washington State as the Youth Liaison. With this, I would like to help get more youth involved in the AMHA programs. So far, I have been able to encourage a large group of people to join our local Youth of the Year contests. In 2022, I was honored to receive the Tristanne Weber Childress Memorial AMHA Youth of the Year Sportsmanship Award. This award was voted on by the contestants of last year’s Youth of the Year contest. I am in awe at the support this group of youth has for everyone in the contest. Even though we are all competing, we are willing to help each other, which shows how strong the sense of community is in the Morgan breed. One thing that sets me apart is my dedication to the promotion of the AMHA programs. The AMHA youth programs, such as the Youth Council, have changed my life for the better. I have gained confidence and a great group of friends that will be with me for the rest of my life. I love encouraging others to get involved in youth programs. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had and am excited to see where else the American Morgan Horse Association takes me. Good luck to all of the contestants. Have a great time and go do great things!

Allison Hall

ELBERTA HONSTEIN MEMORIAL GRANT

This grant has been retired effective this year.

HARRY SEBRING MEMORIAL GRANT

Application Deadline 11/1/2023 • Under 40 pursuing equestrian

education, skills, proficiencies

ELLEN DIBELLA WESTERN DRESSAGE SCHOLARSHIP

Application Deadline 11/30/2023 • Any Age wishing to further

proficiencies in Western Dressage utilizing Morgan horses

VAN SCHAIK CLASSICAL DRESSAGE SCHOLARSHIP

Application Deadline 11/30/2023 • Any age wishing to further

proficiencies in Classical Dressage utilizing Morgan horses

Attention Breeders! The September 2023 issue of The Morgan Horse magazine is a "flip" issue with our amazing magazine on one side and the 78 (YES 78!) magnificent stallions on the other. Bidding on the stallions' seasons opened October 7, 2023 at 9am Central Time, so you now have a couple of weeks to pick your favorite(s)!

EXCITING changes were made to this year's auction. Thanks to the generous stallion owners and successful bidders, this auction provides money for promotion of the breed and supports several AMHA programs that benefit our competitions and members. Get your bids in! If you are unable to bid online, contact Erica Eulau at (859) 298-3785 and she will place your bid for you.

Friendly reminder...your points are due by November 1^st at midnight (Eastern). All results MUST be submitted online using the horse’s Online Registry.  Instructions for entering points can be found in the Open Competition section under Programs on AMHA’s website or by clicking HERE.

Please remember, the deadline is firm! Any points entered after the above deadline will not be accepted. 

For questions regarding the Open Competition program, you may refer to the General Open Competition Guidelines. Specific information for Open Shows or the following disciplines: Competitive Trail Riding and Driving, Endurance, Dressage, Western Dressage, Working Western, Carriage and Combined Driving and Eventing may be found HERE.

If you need additional information or any assistance with the Open Competition program, please contact Nikki at (859) 448-5109 or nicole@morganhorse.com.

Click here for more informatiion.

The National Museum of the Morgan Horse (NMMH) is now on display at the beautiful Pineland Farms Equestrian Center, a state-of-the-art facility in New Gloucester, Maine (located at 15 Farm View Drive) that breeds, promotes and trains quality Morgan horses AND is home to Cabot Morgans. The NMMH is owned by the American Morgan Horse Association and is open to visitors. Please visit the Pineland Farms website for current hours of operation. For more information, call (207) 831-4989.

Pineland Farms has thousands of visitors each year including tour buses with as many as 200 people at a time. Located just a short drive from Portland, Maine (where many cruise ships dock for day excursions), the farm is open to the public year round. Visitors will be able to view the exhibit, see live horse demonstrations and pick up materials to assist them in locating all-things Morgan once they return to their home state.

NMMH will maintain and preserve the history of the Morgan breed while educating and sharing the history of the Morgan horse through the collection. The museum hosts exhibits, art and a library of the AMHA Registry volumes and the breed’s official publication The Morgan Horse. New exhibits and collections will be featured.

For the first time, the National Museum of the Morgan Horse shares a home with Morgan horses! Visitors can view the museum and a take a first-hand look at Morgan horses from the collection at Cabot Morgans. Open 8 a.m.-1 p.m. daily.

You can help support the museum by bidding on items donated to the 2023 Bucket Auction Challenge at the Morgan Nationals (click here for more information).

This year your support has helped the Museum to: 

• Create three new promotional videos for the museum.
• Package and transport the beautiful 8'x12' Morgan painting by Gwen Reardon to Maine for cleaning/restoration and future display at the Museum.
• Purchase a photo-quality scanner to begin archiving the many pictures and documents housed at the Museum.

If you prefer to support this Museum fundraiser through a monetary donation, send a check to the American Morgan Horse Educational Charitable Trust (AMHECT), 4037 Iron Works Pkwy Ste 130, Lexington, KY 40511-8508 or click on the button below.

Any questions, please contact Nikki at nicole@morganhorse.com or (859) 448-5109.

Thank you in advance for your support of our Morgan Museum!

Sutton Obsidian (Regal Masterpiece x Festival Fanfare), 3 year old mare, enjoying the sunshine at Blackburn in Oregon City. Owned & bred by Lou & Liz Goldmann.

Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue  

2-Day Awareness Courses

Saturday-Sunday, November 18-19, 2023 in Eugene, OR

~OR~

Saturday-Sunday, April 20-21, 2024 in Hood River, OR

Registration is open now and we are already getting people signing up!

This intense training will show you the proper ways to respond and prepare for large animal emergencies. The TLAER training courses introduces the latest concepts, techniques, procedures and equipment being used today – to learn to work together on a scene and build a great incident action plan, then extricate the animal safely for both the animal and responders. All who attend the whole course will receive a certificate of completion.

The TLAER courses produced by OHC qualify for 16 Oregon Vet Board CE Credits. You must attend all hours of both days of the course to receive credit and/or certificate. We will provide a light breakfast, lunch, and snacks both days.

Course fees are:

• $229 for non-Oregon Horse Council members
• $175 for Oregon Horse Council members (membership starts at $50 per year for a business, $35 for an individual!)
• $125 for high school or college students (must have current form of school ID)
• Group rates also available, contact us for more information

Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue courses are taught by world renowned expert, Dr. Rebecca Husted. These trainings are open to anyone, but are specifically geared towards fire department personnel, first responders, veterinarians, search & rescue members, animal rescue specialists, livestock breeders, horse trainers, and any large animal owner that wants to be more prepared.

Please share this with your local fire department, sheriff's office, vet, and friends!

www.tinyurl.com/TLAEROregon

FACEBOOK EVENT LINK - NOV 2023

FACEBOOK EVENT LINK - APR 2024 

Please feel free to contact us with any questions that you have!

Brandi@OregonHorseCouncil.com or 971-224-5879

The Oregon Horse Council is excited to launch a new event to provide an opportunity for horse lovers to shop their favorite vendors. This inaugural event will be held in conjunction with the High Desert Stampede PRCA Rodeo, a well-attended event that kicks off the rodeo season in the greater NW, and the Central Oregon Ag Show. Our new Country Market will be Friday, April 5: 1-7 pm and Saturday, April 6: 9 am-7 pm at the Deschutes County Expo Center in the High Desert Activity Center.

Applications are now available – we are looking for a variety of western/ranch home decor, clothing, jewelry, tack, farm/ranch products, feed, and more! Vendors will enjoy the smooth concrete floor, restrooms, and ease for set-up and tear-down with multiple large doorways around the hall. A 10’x10′ booth is only $125, with corner spaces being $50 more. Table spaces (which will allow 1 8’x30″ table with 2 chairs behind it) is only $50.

Click here for more information and to access a booth application.

See you soon! Last show this year in Nampa Idaho. October 29th

He won:

Maddoxly In Love (chestnut)

• World Champion Youth Ranch Rail
• Ranch Pleasure
• Ranch Mare Conformation
• Ranch Reining
• Ranch Riding
• Ranch Trail
• Ranch Rail 11& Under
• Ranch Trail 11 & under
• Ranch Pleasure WT 18& Under Unanimous
• World Champion Ranch Riding Open
• Sweepstakes $Champion Ranch Trail youth/Amateur Unanimous
• Sweepstakes $Champion Ranch Riding youth/Amateur
• 18 & Under Open Ranch Highpoint
• 11& Under Ranch Highpoint
• Reserve World Ranch Trail Open (20 Horses)
• Ranch Riding Senior Horse (tied for Reserve)
• Ranch Working Cow Horse Youth
• Ranch Rail Open

CDS Royal Peppy (bay) Entrusted to us by Lisa Hayes

• World Ranch Horse Association World Champion Youth Ranch cutting scoring 71
• World Champion Green Rider ranch Cutting
• World champion youth boxing scoring 74
• World Champion solid color boxing
• Reserve world champion senior horse boxing

Wow! Jaxon, you cleaned up! You must be on cloud 9! Again, CONGRATULATIONS!

Articles:

• Colic In Horses - Top 10 Management Tips
• Feeding Frenzie - An Equine Nutritional Revolution. The best way to fuel a horse may also be the most simple.
• Understanding Ulcers in Horses
• No Guts, No Glory
• Down To The Core - How To Build And Maintain An Optimal Core in Your Horse
• The Ultimate Topline - Conditioning and Nourishment
• On The Muscle - Managing Common Muscle Disorders

These articles all likely contain a sales pitch for Platinum Performance products. They are not included here as an endorsement of the product, but because of the quality information they contain.

This leggy bay colt with no white markings weighed 106lbs when he was born Monday evening, May 22. Named after a small town in northern Vermont, UVM Fletcher is sired by UVM Unchallenged (x MEM Bailamos) and out of the Intrepid Behold daughter, UVM Serendipity.

Raffle tickets are available in the gift shop or by calling 802-388-2011. We are open seven days/week, 9am-4pm. A book of ten tickets is $20 and a single ticket is $5, and all proceeds directly benefit the farm.

A winning ticket will be selected October 28, and the farm will begin vetting a new home which can take a week or more, depending on availability of references and the screening process.

Click here for allbreedpedigree

4. Like humans, horses have a left hemisphere and a right hemisphere in the brain, each with specialized functions. The left hemisphere is responsible for the processing of logical and analytical information, while the right hemisphere is more involved in emotional processing and creative thinking.

5. Horses have a great memory and can remember specific people, places and experiences for many years.

6. Horses can learn by observation, and often they can acquire new behaviors and skills simply by observing other horses or humans.

7. Horses have a very sensitive sense of touch and can detect even the slightest pressure or movement on their skin. This helps them respond to subtle cues from your rider or guide.

8. Horses can process visual information very quickly and accurately, allowing them to avoid potential hazards and navigate their environment with ease.

9. Horses are social animals and rely on nonverbal communication to interact with other horses in their herd. This communication is facilitated by the horse’s brain, which can interpret subtle changes in body language, facial expressions and vocalizations.

10. Ultimately, like all animals, horses have a unique personality and individual traits that are shaped by their experiences, genetics and environment—all of which is reflected in their brain function and behavior.

11. Horses have a very strong sense of smell and their odor bulb, which processes smells, is relatively large compared to other parts of their brain.

12. The brain, which is responsible for coordinating movement and balance, is also relatively large in horses. This is because horses must be able to move quickly and efficiently to escape predators or navigate through difficult terrain.

13. Horses have a very high pain threshold, which is believed to be related to how their brains process pain signals. While this can be beneficial in some situations, it can also mean that horses may not show obvious signs of pain, making it harder for their caregivers to detect and treat underlying health issues.

14. The hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in learning and memory, is particularly well developed in horses.. This allows them to remember not only specific experiences, but also general concepts and patterns that they can apply to new situations.

15. Finally, studies have shown that horses, like other animals, are capable of experiencing emotions such as fear, happiness, and anger. These emotions are believed to be mediated by the limbic system, a group of interconnected brain structures that play a key role in regulating mood and behavior.

Interesting information off Facebook.

I truly identify with this. I treasure all our years & wonderful memories under the tutelage of Jean Sauer, Keith Nelson, and now Mike & Erin Silver as well as all the friendships made along the way. It has been a very special time with family and with those who love Morgan horses just as much as we do.

Gay Adams

Understanding what horses truly need...

It was dark, water gushed down the metal clad roof like a waterfall starting and stopping as the sprinkler posted on the rooftop made it's round. I was using a flashlight to gather up my most important belongings - a hard copy of my book, my computer with my book on it, and my saddle that fit my mare.

"Hello, anyone here?"

"Hello, I'm here, coming." I responded as I hurridly made my way through the dark hallway to the front door.

"We're here to pick up your horses." a young vibrant woman blurted out from underneath her ball cap.

Gulp. Shallow breath. Sigh.

"Oh excellent!" I said pausing. I had already loaded some of my horses into our trailer in the pitch black, in a hurry, there wasn't much time. And there wasn't room for everyone.

"Are you ready to leave your home?" I didn't answer.

I looked around at my safety and security, what I had known for the last 20 years to be home. Smoke infiltrated through the open door and the roar of the approaching wildfire could be heard in the distance. It wasn't windy anymore, just dripping water, roaring and a ghost-like figure of a volunteer standing in my doorway.

"I'm ready!" I said, clutching what was most important to me.

Three trailers moved our horses out of my farm. We didn't know where we were going. We were running from a massive wildfire that threatened our beautiful valley in the mountains.

Off we went leaving behind my husband to protect the farm.

The crying didn't start until three days later when I entered the emergency assistance building for evacuees. Tables offering support lined the entrance way; essentials like toothbrushes, diapers, facewash followed by trauma counselling. Tears ran down my face. One woman at her table saw me motioned a silent sigh and lowered her eyes as I walked by. She had seen this before. It was then that I realized what words like comfort, safety really meant.

As we live our gooshy lives, generally everything convenient to us we can say with ease, "horses want comfort". No they don't. They want so much more than comfort.

While an evacuee I was fearful like I have never been before. I feared losing my life, my husband's life, my farm, our whole life. I was so consumed by the the fear that I couldn't even get myself something to eat. I'd lay awake at night wondering, "What would I do if I heard the fire front line was coming even closer to our home, to envelope everything?" I know. I'd drive home, break through the police manned roadblocks and stay with my husband to help. Nothing would have been able to stop me.

Again I realized what horses must be experiencing at times when they are fearful of losing their life, their herd, their safety and security, a frequent reality for them. There is simply no capability to think. You will do anything to preserve life and that is your only focus.

As I was hand-guided around the corner to the main waiting area I was faced with more people just like me. A young mother with her baby, a family with three children huddled together, an elderly man sat clutching his dog. Some had completely lost everything. Tears still poured. "What's the matter with you?", I told myself, "You haven't lost anything, yet."

A temporary table was set up at the base of a long stairwell. Three volunteers sat at the table with boxes of paper files on each side of them.

"I don't know why I'm crying," I apologetically explained to the man who leaned over the small pad of paper ready to take notes.

A couple sat beside me, speaking with another man taking notes.

"Our room only has one chair. We need an upgrade." the husband said. The man explained to the couple that there were many people without homes right now and the priority was to make sure everyone was safe and looked after first, then they would see what they could do to find another chair.

"Do you want to see a counsellor?" "No, I'm fine." I automatically said because I'm always fine, right?! He asked me a few more questions, most of which I couldn't remember the answer to. Every moment of our conversation I felt he understood.

On my way out was a table from the SPCA. My dog was with me, without a collar or lead. I'd been in such a hurry, I made sure my dog was with me, but didn't grab the bag at the door that always lived there waiting for the rare occasion when I took my dog off the farm. It had a collar, lead and water bowl.

Still crying I left the building not realizing I had promptly left the dog supplies on the table. One of the volunteers called to me holding up what i had left behind.

"Oh, I've lost my ability to think" I said, still tears flooding down my face.

"I think we've all lost our ability to think these days", he replied smiling.

We've all been taught our horses want comfort. What they actually want is to be understood and to know you are there to help them. Just like me. When I walked through that door and realized the people in the evacuee center could understand the trauma, the fear, how trauma affects the brain, I stopped stuffing it and broke into uncontollable weeping. I knew they really wanted to help me and could help me.

These were the simple yet profound questions they asked me, "Are you safe?", "What do you need?" as they greeted me. What if we, as horse people, thought of these questions around our horses, "What do you need right now?" And what if we asked them if they were safe? How would that change our approach?

Horses don't just want comfort like the couple who only had one chair in their hotel room. Horses what to know you understand and they want to trust that you are there to help.

Click here to go to her Facebook page.

This excerpt is something for us to think about for those of us who had/have to evacuate to get away from a fire or for some other emergency reason - both for the people and the horses. I pray for those who lost their homes in this fire season or even just had to leave to be safe. This excerpt also includes some good things for us to think about when we bring a new horse into our barn.

Thank you so much to all our fire fighters, first responders, care assistants, and helpful volunteers during times of emergencies! Do you know someone who should be nominated for our Humanitarian Award this year? See more information about that in the "From The Board" section above.

Time: that annoying measure of life that’s worth its weight in gold!

In these weekly articles, I often describe brain-based training techniques that proceed slowly. Most people, especially those who pay monthly training bills, want the process to speed up.

We forget that the young horse is like a befuddled child plopped down in a foreign country. He doesn’t speak the language, doesn’t know the currency or the culture, hasn’t met the people, has strange sights, sounds, and smells popping out at him from all directions, doesn’t know where the bathrooms are or how to order food, and doesn’t know where to turn for help. As a prey animal, it’s only natural for him to be scared.

Fear impairs learning in both horses and humans. The equine brain can be overwhelmed very easily by excess neural activity in the area that mediates fear. In fact, one of the many differences between equine and human brains is that the equine prey brain is hard-wired to flee immediately from environmental risk.

In other words, a horse has a brain that dictates flight—it does not allow the animal to stand still and investigate unless he is taught to do so.

Human brains, on the other hand, are hard-wired with two different connections between the perception of an event and the feeling of fear. We have the option of running away immediately OR waiting to see if flight is necessary. Untrained human brains offer a choice; untrained equine brains do not.

A horse’s fear of the “foreign country” cannot be overcome quickly. It takes daily interaction and consistent positive lessons for the young horse to learn the ropes and figure out who he can trust. Time spent in kind, knowledgeable, daily experience builds bonds of deep trust between a horse and handler. One important feature of brain-based training is that we must teach appropriate behavior rather than expecting a horse to figure it out by magic.

Extra time spent in the early phase of your interaction with a given horse saves time later. So, go slowly during the first few months. Let the horse get to know you, get used to your habits and actions. As time passes and he learns your expectations, he will be able to proceed more quickly.

Horses who get this slow careful tutoring from the start experience fewer setbacks later. They tend to learn steadily rather than in fits and starts. Many horses learn like gangbusters for the first three months—but a year or two later, somebody has to go back and fix a bunch of underlying mistakes that weren’t apparent in the beginning.

It’s true that not everyone has unlimited time to teach horses how to behave. Even professional trainers have to keep an eye on the clock if they are to maintain a living income by buying green or unstarted horses and selling them at a level of early-phase performance.

Try to compromise, though. Give your horse—especially your young horse—extra time in the beginning. It’s bound to pay off in the long run, and you’ll learn so much from the horse that you would have missed otherwise.

Other Articles From Horse Network:

• 3 Exercises to Target Your Core - fitness for the rider

Save The Date!

November 18, 2023

Award Banquet & General Membership Meeting @ 1PM

At the Lake Forest Park Civic Club on beautiful Lake Washington.

More information and RSVP cards will be sent out by November 1st.

Questions, contact Julianne,

julesanderson1988@gmail.com

(206) 390-0634

Click here to say you are attending!

Dear Key Classic & C-Fair Exhibitor and Trainer,

Thank you so much for showing and supporting our 2023 Horse Shows. 

We appreciate your support via horses’ shown, sponsorships, silent auction and helping out in general. Without your participation there would be no shows and no donations for the EQUEST programs. To help us in our planning for the 2024 Horse Shows, we would be grateful if you would fill out this questionnaire and e-mail comments (positive and negative).

Sign in to Google to save your progress.

Click here to go to the survey without signing into Google

Click here to download the prize list

Click here to go to MGN LIVE

You can access all four rings live for $30/day or $170 for the entire show

8 fabulous days celebrating the Morgan Horse!

Click here for the latest news.

Click here to track results on Gaitkeeper

So proud of all those representing the Northwest and Western Region!

They are doing so well!



October 7 - 14, 2023

Oklahoma Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, OK

Please join us for the final USEF/AMHA Rules Forum for 2023 at the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show®

in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

• Date: October 11, 2023 (Wednesday)
• Time: Following the last class of the Coliseum's morning session
• NEW Location: Barn 3 Sales Arena

Review pending rule changes and chat about all things AMHA, including the transition from STAR Shows to USEF Comp Lite competitions. Come participate in your membership organization.

Please note: Awards will be available for pick up at the AMHA booth at Grand National the day following the classes which are designated in the show program. . 

Click here to see previous winners and view the complete listing of eligible classes.

Youth Council Homecoming Dance Away from Home -

Thursday, October 12, 2024

Dance under the stars at the AMHA Youth Council's Homecoming Dance, Thursday night, October 12, from 7 - 10 p.m. (Local/Central time) in the Barn 3 Sales Arena. Dress up or come as you are. All youth are welcome to attend, FREE admission. Donations to support the Youth Council will be accepted. Come and enjoy dancing, friendship, and some light snacks with fellow Morgan lovers. See you there! 

AMHA Youth of the Year Meet & Greet and AMHA Medal Mixer - Wednesday, October 11

The AMHA Youth invite you to celebrate! All youth attending the show are welcome to attend a mixer saluting the achievements of those participating in the Youth of the Year contest, the Junior Invitational, Individual Judging, and Gold Medal Equitation Finals. (Youth of the Year and Junior Invitational participants are required to attend.) Medal qualifiers pick up your SWAG BAG! Join us  Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the Barn 3 Sales Arena for an ice cream sundae bar, raffles and FUN. Meet new friends and get to learn more about these amazing programs!

Good luck to all attending the

Morgan Grand Nationals!

Safe Journey, and have a wonderful time!

The Scandinavian was a horse with a higher purpose, he won many fans over his time with his people.  He was born to us via semen transport and went on to be a wonderful show horse. He was a shy horse but always gentle and quiet. We had five foals by him early on. Many who went on to be successful versatile family show horses: Scandias Dark Crystal, Scandias Miss Buff, Scandias King Olaf, Scandias Danner, and Scandias Swede. 

He won at the Canadian Nationals in Regina when Jean Sauer trained him.  He also was trained initially by Jennifer Chowning, who named him Guy. It stuck for his entire life.

Guy was leased to Erin Silver to show and for breeding for two years. She produced some nice early foals by him, one being the Carlson’s gelding, NF Nickolas, who won World Champion Trail with Emily Carlson.. Then he was sold to Barb Fink of Dream Catcher Morgan’s. He truly became her heart horse and from then on there was no turning back. The rest is history.

Barb showed him and his get in Morgan Shows and local shows in Northern California. She made him a favorite of all that came in her path.  He won a lot of fans through open competition. She passed away saying goodbye to her “Guy”.

He was gelded when Barb died but he was not finished. He went to the rescue group in Texas, and Colleen SaintLoup found a little girl named McKenzie Mattox. He was shown extensively by McKenzie at Grand Nationals.

Kathy DeFazio, Scandia Morgan Horse Farm

The Scandinavian was the famous Morgan stallion whose video and photos went viral across Facebook when he visited his dying owner's bedside. A year later a plea for him to find a home went out. This "east coast girl" knew nothing of this "west coast boy's" history or status. All we knew was he needed a safe spot to land. A few phone calls later and he was headed our way.

Guy longed to be with other horses and as a stallion it was limited. After some testing he was found to be sterile so we proceeded to move forward with gelding. We knew this would open more doors for him but little did we know how much!

Guy enjoyed giving lessons to our younger riders and took care of every mount, regardless of their experience or inexperience. But when he met McKenzie... well you know... the horse that chooses you... it was this 10 fold. He chose McKenzie and he would do anything for his person!

2016 was Guy's first Nationals. It was also McKenzie's...she didn't like the idea of being led around but she was with her Guy!

Fast forward a few years and she always had Guy and showed him in other divisions and other seats. In 2020 with so many uncertainties, so many ups and downs, twists and turns ...she wanted something solid in her life. She was loosing a bit of her spark. She returned to riding Guy quite often and a few months before Nationals we had a conversation. I told her that Guy gives you life as much as you give him. He won't be as competitive as everyone else and you may not win, but you will both look like you belong there. And if you want to show him there I would support you. Her response was immediately, "I don't care about the ribbon as long as I can ride him and show him there."

This love connection is what it's all about! I am so very proud of both of them! I'm thankful for the opportunity that brought us all together. They made a great team and completed each other. I supported them. And I know Barb was their biggest cheerleader from the greatest seat in the house. I know she watched over both of them! They walked away with a 2nd in Showmanship and Most Senior Horse. Not too shabby!

Colleen SaintLoop

Raised by Scandia Morgans, Vince & Kathy DeFazio. Owned and loved by Barb Fink, & then by McKenzie Mattox. He lived a good and long life, always giving his all to his people.

Watch for a tribute next month to the fabulous Festival Calypso.

Our condolences to Tom & Stephanie Connor and all who loved him.

1995 - 2023

Included in the next Section:

Section 2:

Member News

Section 3:

Classified Ads

Advertising Thru MHAO

How to become an MHAO Member

Oregon Horse Council News

USEF News

AMHA News