In the mid 80’s as Mac was getting older, I decided I wanted another horse to keep him company, a horse that would also let me get involved with horse showing. I had always loved pictures of Morgan horses and at work I met a couple that showed Morgans. They helped me search for just the right horse. Through tragic circumstances, I acquired my first Morgan mare, Cricket. Cricket and her Dam had survived a tornado that had killed her owner. I bought her from the estate as a yearling. I don’t know if surviving a tornado gave her a different perspective, but from the get go Cricket has been totally unflappable. With her, I got my introduction to the show ring, starting off with western pleasure and obstacle trail class. I went all the way the Morgan Grand Nationals in Trail winning the Gamblers Choice class in 1990.

In the mid 90’s the Indiana Morgan Horse Club asked if Cricket and I would be the breed representative for a statewide versatility contest. That one request started me down an equestrian path I never would have dreamed of. The competition required some ring classes, plus trail, jumping and pole bending. Cricket won the trail & pole-bending classes and was 6th in jumping even though neither one of us had any business going over fences back then (no guts, no glory?). Cricket is a small mare – 14-2 on a good day with shoes, but she has competed well against the bigger breeds. Cricket and I have gone on to do quite well in dressage, eventing, and competitive and endurance trail riding.

Cricket, who is 20 now, had 3 babies along the way. The first is Shadow (14 this year) who has been my primary mount the past few years. I competed Shadow and Cricket both in the American Morgan Horse Association Open Competition program. They are 2 of only 8 Morgans total to have earned their Morgan Sport Horse titles by earning bronze medallions in dressage, eventing, the show ring, and competitive and endurance trail riding. Cricket has a middle son, Tonka, who I sold to a good friend in Carmel, In 2001 she had Casey, the bay filly I hope will carry on Cricket’s lineage.

My current plans are to convert Shadow from an event horse to combined driving. We have already done one carriage show last fall and he handled it like a pro. Casey is to become my next event mount and I hope to take her to her first combined test April 16th.

In addition to the Morgans I have a 6-year-old miniature I named Gizmo. I bought him primarily as a pasture buddy after losing Mac. However I plan to break him to drive and you may see him in some of the RHPC parades. He might as well earn his keep.

In the meantime I’m in a quandary as to who to bring to the clinics and parades. Cricket would be my first choice, but last April she was diagnosed with a salivary gland adenocarcinoma; a very rare, aggressive and fatal tumor in horses. She’s doing pretty well and may be fine for parades but nothing more strenuous. I’m just going month by month with her. Shadow has seen and done everything and so would be a fine parade horse. Only problem is he may be going off to driving school in March/April with another friend of mine so he may not be available. That leaves Ms. Casey who was only broke to ride this past summer. She will be in training in March for her April show. I may be cheerleading ya’ll for awhile!

P.S. No husband, no kids! Still looking for Mr. Right. I also have 2 dogs I compete in agility (an aging Sheltie & a young Golden) and 2 barn cats.

Sandy White