My 2007 BMHSY Scholarship trip to America
by Amy Harris
(click the images to enlarge)
My trip started at the New England show, and what a way for me to get my first experience of the Morgan horse in America!
During the week I stayed with Jean Degutris. She was extremely nice to me and so was everyone else at her barn. Jean would frequently take me out in town to get some lunch and dinner, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
When I first arrived at the show I couldn’t believe the sheer size of it, it was huge! I think there was a total of 900 and more Morgan’s at the show, which is extremely large compared to the Morgan shows back in England.
During the next week between classes, I had numerous riding lessons, which I learned a tremendous lot from and am very grateful for.
I couldn’t wait to watch my first class, I was so excited and I definitely wasn’t let down. It was everything I expected and more. I just loved the atmosphere; everybody was so enthusiastic and extremely friendly, plus the horses were absolutely gorgeous! One of my favourite classes that I came to watch was the Roadster to bike, and the Park saddle classes. Every time I watched those classes I would get a shiver up my spine and a big beaming smile would form across my face.
When it came to the end of the week I was really sad to leave everyone at Janbark farm and to leave the show grounds. But, more experiences lay ahead for me at Cedar Spring farm and I couldn’t wait to meet everyone.
I arrived at Bonnie’s barn at the show grounds and eagerly waited to meet everyone. Bonnie, Wendy and I had previously met at the Easter clinic back in England earlier this year, so it was nice to see them again. Bonnie introduced me to everyone else who were busily tidying away equipment, and I was soon to join in and help them.
So for the next 11 days I stayed at Cedar Spring farm. I had an amazing time there. I had driving and riding lessons, which definitely helped me. I was excited to get driving lessons as I have not driven a lot before, so it was quite an experience. The first time driving in their indoor I was really nervous about crashing into the walls, but after I had some practice there was no stopping me! Also during my stay the grooms at their barn showed me how to perform the massage on the horses. I couldn’t wait to get started, as I am extremely interested in doing equine therapy as a future career.
I also got to visit UVM farm. I was really excited as I have wanted to visit the barn ever since I became involved with the Morgan’s because it’s got so much history. As I arrived at the barn and saw the statue of ‘Figure’ I couldn’t believe it. I’ve only ever seen the statue from pictures, so when it was there, right in front of me, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I really enjoyed my visit, Steve the trainer at the barn kindly let me drive one of his stallions, which I was never expecting! It was awesome! By the end of the week my hands were throbbing from practicing the massage technique so much. As you would have guessed, I didn’t want to leave as I had learned a lot of new tips and made many friends, but even more chances of learning lay ahead, so I was on my way to David Rand’s barn.
When I arrived at his barn I was amazed about how many Morgan’s he had, there must for been 30+. I met David very briefly at the New England show so I couldn’t wait to meet him again. During my 5 day stay I watched David and Crystal work many of the horses. Every day I had riding lessons on one of their old champions Hyland Acres Command. He was lovely to ride! I was extremely excited to meet two of his stallions, Lamborghini in Black and LPS the Boogie man. Wow, they are both so beautiful and were amazing when they worked. Both of them have such presence when they work and I couldn’t believe it when David told me that I was going to drive LPS the Boogie man!
I had never been so excited and nervous at the same time In my life. After David had driven him and it was my turn to drive, I was all giddy inside, I couldn’t stop smiling. I got in the buggy, took the reins…..then before I new it I was trotting around! I guess those driving lessons from Cedar Spring farm came in handy! Now that’s a moment that I would never forget! Before I knew it my visit was over and I was off to my last stop, the Mass Morgan show!
During the show I stayed with Mike and Dwayne from Broadmoor stables, they were both extremely nice and I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with them. During my stay I discovered that the Mass Morgan show is a ‘fun’ show that has a different theme each year. This year it was a ‘Western’ theme and everybody took part, it was fun to look around the different stables and find that they had dressed up their stalls, with cactuses, straw bails….you name it they had it. During the week I got a chance to meet up with everyone again and to see how they were doing in the show. I learned lots from Mike and Dwayne: from watching them work their horses and whenever they would answer my ongoing questions. Mike and Dwayne mostly brought younger horses, three of which had never been to a show before. So I was really excited to see how they would perform in the show. When it came their turn I was amazed how well behaved they were in the ring, acting as if they were old pro’s.
When it came to the end of the week and it was my time to leave, I didn’t want to go because I had learned so many new and wonderful things, made hundreds of new friends, met and seen hundreds more Morgan’s that I would ever get to see in a life time. It was truly and experience of a life time that I would never, ever, ever forget!
So I would like to thank everyone again, for making this trip truly unbelievable!! I would also like to thank Angela Conner for believing in me and Anne James, because without her help I would still be riding English lesson ponies. I can’t say how much I am grateful for you introducing me to this wonderful breed of horse!! THANKS AGAIN!!!!!