Storyteller, announcer, supporter of family based agriculture and youth. I write from my inspirations and fill my blogs with my other love - photography.
It was a time to enjoy a slower pace, my annual trip to Vermont. The many iconic images of Vermont were revival for the senses, Granite, the Sugar Maple, the Morgan horse, Green Mountains and country stores. It is here on roads that wander between mountain and valley that I recharged my battery over a work weekend that felt just a bit like vacation.
How could I not feel recharged when announcing at the Lippitt Country Show an exhibition of Morgan Horses all carrying the bloodlines of Vermont's own Justin Morgan.
These classic Morgan horses showed off their versatility and style on the Tunbridge Fairgrounds to an appreciative audience. It was a little like watching history, the horses, carriages, drivers and riders hearkening back to a day when Vermont's roads were clogged by such images.The Morgan Horse is known as the "Pride and Product of America" this was a breed developed right here, to suit the needs of a fledgling America.
A whinny echoed back from the mountains and could have been the voice of the ancestors approval. Children were laughing and playing, some galloped by mounted on broomstick horses, others showed a skill beyond their years as they entered the ring on their beloved Lippitt Morgan horses. The older generations reminisced about long gone but not forgotten stallions, mares and breed aficionados. Families rallied to act as pit crew and keep competitors in the ring with all the correct accoutrement's of the discipline. It was as it should be, Morgan horses with families and friends in spirited competition and appreciation.
This is a place where old friends meet once more and new friends are made. Visitors to the show came from all over the Northeast, but hats off to those who travelled in for the show from California, Virginia and Washington state! Here Storybook Salute Vermont keeps an eye on the judge as she undergoes inspection in a mare class. I watched with rapt attention as this mare is one I delivered into the world from her mother's womb.
This is a place of timeless images and future dreams. Randallane Exclamation with driver Dave Godding of Woodbine Farm in Winchester, CT. trots along, is this 2012 or 1812, only the light poles and aluminum gate in the background can give away the era. Dreaming of creating this image for oneself and shopping the bloodlines for future foals Morgan horse lovers peruse the stallion class to find a match for a mare, invest in the dream and slip into a time warp as welcome as Vermont can make it.
Tonight I was watching the Saratoga Yearling Sales Streaming Live from www.fasigtipton.com I have, since childhood wanted to see the sales at Saratoga. Those days I wore a thin path through the commercial carpet in the school library to the shelves that held the collection of books by C.W.Anderson. Weekly I walked over to carefully select a favorite that would be my companion for the week.
C.W.Anderson wrote so you felt you were right there, including his writing about the yearling sales. His lessons embedded in the text are on grooming, handling, health issues, rearing colts and more, all were taught in a simple natural way. His equine art was exquisite and precise, yet warm and soft on the eye, I was in love!
It was the beginning of a new story that continues with a new chapter next weekend. If before I could read I liked horses, once the books were in my hands the love affair began in earnest. I read other authors as well I loved them all. Will James and so many more, if there was a horse or pony on the cover my nose would be buried in it. I read Justin Morgan Had A Horse and that was prophetic.
Christmas Day 1974 a black Morgan mare was in the back yard. She was decorated with icicles and happy eating her hay. I didn't feel the cold or snow and ice I just wanted to stand out there in disbelief that this was MY horse. Cindy was with me from that Christmas Day until 2002, what a gift! A new love affair began with Morgan Horses, which continues today.
I leased a look alike mare to my Cindy for breeding purposes, her name was Ryegate Bridget. She is a Lippitt Morgan ( the old blood lines preserved in this group of Morgans) I was hoping for another black mare and she was bred and the long wait ensued. Wait and wait and wait, she drew out the suspense into the 12th month. I was sleeping in the barn my eye easily checking her through a knot hole on the final night. The foal was coming. I ran and got my children we ran into the barn just in time to sit with her and watch the foal enter the world. I got my filly, but as she dried we realized she was bright pumpkin orange. Her color subdued as she shed the foal coat into a lovely chestnut. I gave her the name Storybook Salute Vermont. A homage to her lineage of Vermont Morgans and to C.W.Anderson and my favorite book Salute!
This spring Salute ( with new owner Dave Godding [CT] calling her Sally) delivered a beauty of a colt, Hail Vermont. The tradition continues.
The Lippitt Morgans will be strutting their stuff and showing their beauty and courage in the ring at the Lippitt Country Show Aug 20-21 in Tunbridge Vermont. I can't wait to get there and sit in the shadow of the Green Mountains watching these magnificent Morgans. www.lippittclub.net Just sitting here dreaming about next week I had to look back at my videos , join me:
Last Year at the show they introduced a new drill team this is the video I took of that performance - all Lippitt Morgans!
Pinch Me, I think I'm dreaming when I get to be the show announcer and see the beauty and majesty of the Morgan Horse on this historic show grounds where on the perfect day you can hear their ancestors thunder over the Green Mountains and on into greener pastures.
storyteller -announcer www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.com
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