For the Love of a Mare
From time to time, I am asked how I became involved with American Saddlebreds, being from an area deep with horses- but where they are the exception, not the rule. Well, ultimately, it was “For the Love of a Mare”…
For the horse crazy young girls growing up on Philadelphia’s Main Line, the Devon Horse Show is an annual event of immense importance. The Country Fair flavor, and the finest horseflesh in the country on display in the largest outdoor horse show in the United States, blend into an unforgettable annual event. In the Chester County area where I grew up, hunters and jumpers ruled, and working American Saddlebred farms were almost unheard of. Even so, my passion was the beautiful fine harness horses, and the magnificent three and five gaited horses.
From the time I was nine years old, and could wander around the show grounds, I would gravitate to what was called “Barn #1” in those days, where Jim B. Robertson’s stalls were, every year. I know I stopped in the hunter jumper barns, and stood on my tippy toes to see those horses, as well, but there was nothing to compare with having the likes of Gold Treat, Special Entertainer, Forest Song, Reflections, Precious, Tashi Ling, and Commander’s Countess, reach their exquisite faces over the doors, and allow a child to gently touch them. That, and the thrill of being allowed to visit these wonders in their stalls, through the southern hospitality that was extended by the staff of one of the top trainers in the country to a small child. I was hooked!
I had begged and pleaded, as is the custom with horse crazy daughters on a mission, until my father gave in, and I took some hunt seat lessons at a local farm for two years. Finally, we located a farm that offered Saddle Seat lessons, and I was allowed to take riding lessons at a farm about an hour from our home- Symbol Acre Farm- and stayed at the farm as soon as school let out, and immersed myself in the day to day adventures at a real American Saddlebred training facility. By July, my father had been convinced to purchase me a horse, and up came Summer’s Vision from Kentucky. A two year old, by the royally bred Vanity’s Vision, out of a daughter of World’s Grand Champion, King Coe, Vision was a green two year old with a maturity and wisdom that was to carry us into, and out of, adventures for over two decades.
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By the Fall of 1972, I had convinced by father that my life would not be worth living without having a cocky blaze faced gelding that had come into the barn from the Fall Tattersalls sale in Kentucky- Chicago had been well placed at the Lexington Junior League show, and at Louisville, as a fine harness horse. He was actually fairly obstreperous, but I adored him, and spent a lot of time sitting on his tail boards, sharing my soda and licorice with him. We trimmed him, and he became my Juvenile three gaited mount. We won at our very first show together, the following Spring of 1973, and I had found the very best teacher I could have. He didn’t tolerate mistakes, and rewarded a correct ride with brilliance.
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The following Summer, on the way out to the farm, we passed a gorgeous American Saddlebred pulling an Amish wagon. My Kingstown was a huge chestnut gelding with four white legs, a star and a snip, and hooked ears. He had been purchased by Jonas Fisher at Tattersalls, and had been on the road for a couple of months. We followed the farm wagon, and managed to signal to the driver that we wanted to talk, and ended up meeting him at his farm, where I rode King in an open field by the highway, with his driving bridle, as we had a saddle along, but, alas, no bridle. He became our next purchase, and the first time of many, that I would buy a horse “off of the road” in the decades that followed. I was blissfully unaware at that time, but have realized so many times since, how incredibly kind the horse was. It is part of the fabric of these horses- their willingness, and desire to please- under almost any circumstances.
In 1975, our circumstances changed, and our trainer left Pennsylvania. It was time to bring Vision closer to home, and begin a new adventure- fitting in with my school friends who owned hunters and jumpers, and taking care of a barn myself. Vision, as always, was up to the challenge. She took to my efforts to “teach” her dressage and jumping with her customarily attitude- “just show me what you want, and I’ll take care of the rest.” Regardless of the size or ridiculousness of the obstacle- she’d try to jump it. Picnic tables, in line fencing, snow fence- it didn’t matter. If I could find it, or build it, she’d give it a try. Ultimately, she also became my mother’s trail horse, and this led to her being part of a brigade that led the wagon trains into Valley Forge Park, in 1976. Carrying my mother, dressed in full “dragoon” regalia, and the American Flag, it was somehow fitting that she should represent her breed- the officer’s mount of choice in the Civil War- and lead the teams into the Park.
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As time went on, I found that I could pay some of the bills riding other peoples horses, and teaching. As this evolved, it became a full time business, and Vision was a fixture as I went along. In 1978, a client came in, and wanted to purchase a young horse to show in the hunters. We found “Stolen Thunder”, a four year old American Saddlebred gelding, and brought him along, eventually showing him in the Young Hunter class at Devon, getting a call back (out of 75 horses). His breeder then sent me her stallion to show and breed, and Destiny’s Decision and Vision had some wonderful foals. Vision produced foals who went on to be students horses, she carried my mother around trail riding and, later, doing dressage. And she was a constant in my life- through thick and thin, and changes of all kinds.
By 1979, I was riding hunters and jumpers, and teaching hunt seat full time- while also holding down a full time college schedule. A friend who managed the farms whose jumpers I rode offered me a wager that I couldn’t get her unpapered American Saddlebred ready for the “Combination Class” at Devon in the two months we had from the entry closing date, to the show. “Caine Mutiny” wasn’t pretty, but he was, predictably, all heart. We were third that year, and he was second the next year.
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When the breeder’s who sent me the American Saddlebred stallion’s business interest turned to raising Thoroughbreds, she looked me up again, and another new opportunity had me showing her young horses on the line. Several of them were fabulous, and did very well, including “Bring Wampum,” who led all Pennsylvania Breds, and Thoroughbred Yearlings in points, during his yearling year. The same breeder then sent an acquaintance to me who had a syndicated Thoroughbred stallion that they were looking for a farm to stand at stud. As I already had my American Saddlebred stallion, and a Thoroughbred stallion who we did dressage with, who was shown as “Nocturne”, it didn’t seem like too much of a leap to take on another. The experience of handling “Sir Z”, an evil tempered son of Nashua, out of a Round Table mare, was a great education, but also let me see the more difficult side of the horse business. Another lesson learned.
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1978 Yearling Futurity- this filly was third
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Finally, in 1986, I took on my greatest career challenge- running a large Equestrian Center. We opened the doors of Renaissance Equestrian Center, and focused on offering International level clinicians and instructors, and bringing talented horses and people together. The American Saddlebreds and crosses that I had at that time fit right in. I was riding, training and teaching on horses of all breeds- from Lipizzaners to Arabians, Oldenbergs to Hanoverians. It was a fabulous opportunity- the ability to learn from the best, work nice stock, and compete. Building on my experience with showing young hunters in hand, I began showing sport horses in hand. More of demonstration of athleticism, than a beauty contest, these classes showed me exactly what was needed to “build the perfect sport horse”, and I knew more than ever that American Saddlebreds were THE sport horse that America made. Riding a horse who WANTED to do the work made it a joy; riding a horse who required “pizza cutter” spurs, such as the half sister to the Olympic mount “Gifted” that a client bought for me to train and show, made me want to throw in the towel. After several years, however, I knew that I had done as much as I ever would running a day to day horse business. I realized it was time for a change. I left the business, and we bought a small farm. I had been working part time for a builder for several years, and I had learned a tremendous amount about the New Construction industry. So, in 1992, Vision and I, along with several other horses I had gathered along the way, moved to Bryn Dewines Farm, and I went to work full time in the New Home Industry.
After a short period of time away from the horse business, two things occurred to me; I still loved Dressage, and I had always loved American Saddlebreds. Armed with this knowledge, I sought out the fellow I had gotten Vision from in 1972, and bought another mare, by Callaway’s Blue Norther. This mare, unbeknownst to us, was in foal, and produced a grand filly, named Aurora Blue. The other concept that had stuck with me was the need for these horses to be seen in different venues, and the need to find quality prospects who could compete on level footing with the warmbloods. The Amish Country was always full of horses that could, and would, do these jobs brilliantly. Tattersalls proved to be a great spot to find more- and breeders began to contact me with horses that they felt were suited for sport horse disciplines. Now, with a foot firmly in both camps- the show horse world, and the sport horse world, I could try to educate each side about the other, and build a bridge between, for the horses to cross. I had shown American Saddlebred at the National level, in three different seats. Finding great prospects, and matching them up with wonderful owners, looking for the best possible partner, was something I had, without knowing, built up the resume to do, with the experiences built up over time.
In 2000, we made a commitment to sponsor an American Saddlebred Individual Breed Class for five years. That year, I showed two horses, and the class built itself from there. “Infuriating” went on to win the class for three consecutive years. As a two year old, in 2003, Borealis set the record for his breed, in front of Olympian, and Olympic level judge, Hilda Gurney, with a score of 78%. Each year, we found people waiting to meet the horses, and commenting on their beauty and temperaments, and often on their own personal experiences with the breed. That same year, I began the website that has evolved into what www.americansaddlebredsporthorse.net is today- a resource for people to learn more about our breed, and for those who already know the breed to share their passion.
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We lost Summer’s Vision early on Easter morning, 1996, just short of her 26th birthday, to colic. Her last colt, a bay named Radar, who was her “love child”, mourned her loss, as did we all. Vision was buried on the farm, under the Hickory tree, where she loved to stand in the shade. She is never far from me in my thoughts, and the mare who never said “no” to me, until the night she died, left a legacy. She proved to me that there is no better partner for any pursuit, than an American Saddlebred, and imbued into me the need to make sure that the world knows it, as well. And Radar? He is a star instructor, in our latest venture for the breed- the American Saddlebred Dressage Studio- where you can actually ride with an FEI level instructor, and have a lesson, on an American Saddlebred- he is showing new students what his mother showed me- the wonder of the American Saddlebred.
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Summer’s Vision, and her last foal, Radar