Merriewold Morgan Horses For Sale and News

2008 started off with Jackie Brittain and her horse, WNC Rocket Man receiving the USEF award for…2007 HORSE OF THE YEAR, REGION 7 CHAMPION, MORGAN DRESSAGE FIRST LEVEL!
  Congratulations Jackie and Rocket!

In the spring we had three beautiful Morgan foals: Merriewold Kona, Kirin and Kasey… all from the cross RG Stuarts Monarch x Caduceus Marika.  Both the sire and dam are considered “foundation” stock by the ”Foundation Morgan Horse Society “.

On May 10th we had our first Merriewold ‘OPEN BARN’ party.  More that 80-90 guests toured the property, met our wonderful Morgans, had lunch and listened to music.  A great time was had by all.

We bred two mares in 2008 to foal in 2009:  Caduceus Marika x Gulfwind Sir William  and Willowist Promise to Keep x Rosevale Leggo.  We are very excited about their arrival.

In the summer we had our forth foal Merriewold Kandie….Rosevale Leggo x Majesty My Fair Lady, a very fancy bay filly with lots of attitude and according to Sally at Saralin Morgan Horse Farm,  beautiful naturally athletic gaits.

2008 was a very active year for training at MWM.  Merriewold Harmony continued with Luman Wadhams in Vermont where she is trying out saddle seat and driving.  Merriewold Galaxie continued with Sally Anderson in Montana.  Sally took Gal to two open rated dressage shows and they earned high 60’s in her training level classes.  After nationals Merriewold Hanah went to Jennifer McFall at Dragonfire Farm to begin her under saddle training.
     

Jackie Brittain was very busy throughout the year training at Merriewold.  Early in the year Merriewold Hanah and Merriewold Hero were getting the  ground training that is needed prior to starting under saddle.  Hero was then started by Jaime Hernandez of Varian Arabians and soon after continued his work with Jackie.  Jackie says Hero is really fun to ride.  Flower of Georgia continued her training with Jackie and has gained muscle and suppling and is moving in a forward and athletic way.  Jackie also started Merriewold Gaysha and has been working with her throughout the year.  She is a joy to ride and Jackie is very happy with her progress.

Finally, three of our horses found new homes in 2008.
Nancy and Bruce Nething of Thirsty Creek Ranch purchased Ringbrook Renaissance, “Crystal” who was in foal to MEMC Tequila Cuervo.  They had a beautiful dark palomino filly!
Stacy McLain purchased Merriewold Fabien and plans to take him on long trail rides.
Marian Meier purchased WNC Rocket Man from Jackie and is now going to her first Dressage shows.

THANKS TO ALL FOR A WONDERFUL 2008…AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

In early July, Merriewold Galaxie and her trainer Sally Anderson went to the Yakima Dressage Summer Classic show in Montana. This was Gal’s first show. It was an open, USEF and USDF rated show.  Gal’s sire, Iron Forge Starman also went to the show.  He and Sally are working on their gold medal.
Here are a few comments from Sally.  Gal did fabulous.  I rode her in all the arenas on Friday…we spent extra time walking relaxing and smelling the fake flowers.  Saturday we rode Training 1 and she was very relaxed and steady.  She received a 66%  (which turned out to be the red ribbon-second place).  I was pleased with her whole weekend.
For additional information and photos of Merriewold Galaxie go to her Feature Page and Album
Galaxie is available for purchase…see our FOR SALE page.

This is the first photo of Harmony (Beethoven x UVM Rarity) in training with Luman Wadhams.  She is just beginning her training and we are so excited about her progress.

Thanks to Luman Wadhams for this photo.

  WNC Rocket Man was just named USEF “Horse of the Year”, region 7 champion: Morgan Dressage First Level! 
Jackie and Rocket have been practicing for second level as well and are looking forward to competing at that level.

GOOD LUCK and CONGRATULATIONS!

The AMHA regional horse show in Santa Barbara was lots of fun.  We saw friends, beautiful horses and had a chance to compete our Merriewold Morgans.

  
Jackie and WNC Rocket Man did very well in their First level test 4 class.  Especially considering that Rocket started to experience a sore foot.  They were disappointed that they could not complete the Second level class that they have been working so hard on.

    
Mark Luis and Merriewold Fabien competed in the Open Reining class and Fabien made us all proud!  He has only been with Mark for six months and he went through the paces like a pro.  He executed spins and flying changes and the beginings of a sliding stop.  In his debut show, he was second in a class of three.

I had a chance to see Caduceus Marika’s foal (x Hillock Showson)  Cafe Chocolate.  ”Woody” is 15.2 hands, has Marika’s lovely eyes and is doing extremely well in the Hunter division.

Jackie and Diana went to the “Light Hands Horsemanship” Clinic at Art Perry’s gorgeous Intrepid Morgan Farm in Santa Ynez, CA.   Sunday, May 6th was a beautiful day on California’s central coast. 

 In the morning Lester Buckley demonstrated several aspects of warming up the horse before a training session and also extolled the benefits of cross training for horses.  Lester is involved not only with training cutting horses but also rides upper level dressage. 

In the afternoon Eitan Beth-Halachmy of  “Cowboy Dressage”  fame rode the stunning BEF Ivan and demonstrated some of the finer points of training for the advanced horse. 

All in all a fun and informative day!   Many thanks to Art Perry the gracious host and Debbie Beth-Halachmy the organizer!

Visit our new Media center where you can enjoy our Photo Gallery of Ranch, Equine and Personal Favorite photographs.  We will also have horse related articles and videos.

Click here to go to the MWM Media Center!

Jackie and WNC Rocketman are going to an open dressage show on March 24th at Twin Rivers Ranch in Paso Robles, CA.  It’s the first show of the year and we are going in First Level Test 2.  It will be good to get out to show as it is very stimulating to the learning process!  Diana and Equinox Jazzman will be showing April 29th and it will be their 2007 debut!

2006 was a very active year at Merriewold!  We had our share of ups and downs, but all in all it was terrific.

We moved from Atascadero to Arroyo Grande to a wonderful ranch called Rancho Arroyo Grande and in May we purchased our new property in an area called ‘Ranchitas’.  We are still in the process of developing the land for our horses putting in a new barn, round pen, pastures and arena.

Diplomat, Flaire Lady, Ellie and Cody found new homes with very happy owners.  The purchase of Caduceus Marika was a great addition to the broodmare band. And our first California born foal was Merriewold Ima Lucky Star, or ‘Lucky’.  Merriewold Hero arrived from Kentucky (Hanah arrived in ‘05) and he is fabulous.  We are keeping him a stallion for now as he has a wonderful disposition and beautiful conformation.

On the more challenging side, our senior mare UVM Rarity lost her foal and almost died.  She is now happily retired in Kentucky at Saralin.  Promise lost her foal in the tenth month of pregnancy.  We were all so disappointed.  She is now rebred to Gulfwind Sir William and all is going well.  Our lovely Gaysha had a tragic accident this summer.  It is a long story that I will share in detail in a few weeks, of multiple fractures, founder, and seven months recuperation.  She is coming home next week!  And the prognosis is very good.

Jackie and Rocket went to the Santa Barbara Regional Morgan show and won a first and a second in their two classes.  We are starting to get back to showing and taking some dressage lessons.

Lastly, we have an incredible 6 foals due in 2007!

Oh, I almost forgot…we now have this website!  We have worked all year on it and are now starting to see some of the results and benefits.

Thanks to all of you who participated in our great 2006!

Jackie Brittain and WNC Rocket Man continue their winning ways at the Regional Morgan Medallion Show.  Because of the move from Florida to California, we have not been able to show for over a year.  At Rocket’s first show in Florida (as a three year old) he was High Point winner and Dressage Champion at the Citrus Cup Regional Show.  At the Santa Barbara Regional Show they entered two classes and won a first and a second with scores in the mid-sixties.   Congratulations!  See photos of Rocket and Jackie.  Learn more about Rocket’s siblings - Merriewold Hanah and Merriewold Ima Honey Moon.