FLORIDA - A visit to Florida's horse country has become a winter tradition for Morgan enthusiasts from throughout the United States and around the world. A large and enthusiastic crowd took part in the annual Florida Morgan Barn Tour on January 18 - 20, 2002. The weather was just what the chamber of commerce had ordered with mostly sunny skies and warm temperatures greeting many visitors hailing from wintry locales.
The well planned gathering kicked off the new year in grand style with everyone ready to socialize and see many of the Morgan champions that are born, bred and trained in the equine mecca of Marion County Florida. Over 200 guests from such far away locations as Canada, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma, Missouri, California, Oregon and Washington mingled with their Floridian Morgan friends. It seems that each year many new people turn out for this enjoyable event and some even end up staying in Florida as was evidenced by the expanding farm tour.
The expanded schedule of three days of activities started with a trip to Graywood South in its new home of Ocala. Katrina and Kenton Wood purchased the lovely farm over a year ago and have enjoyed making a number of stunning additions and renovations to the property. Graywood South officially opened in late 2001 with Greg Ferguson making the long trip from his native Canada to accept the training assignment.
Graywood South compliments the Woods well established program Graywood Stables located in Greenville, New York. The Woods along with Greg Ferguson welcomed visitors to start off the weekend on Friday afternoon. Following a tour of the facility and a lovely buffet, Katrina Wood welcomed everyone to the farm and thanked her trainers and friends from near and far. Following a moment of silence to honor America, Conky Price took over the microphone for the presentation that followed.
She offered some background on Graywood Stables and their many outstanding champions who have graced the show ring including Corrick, On Center Stage, Salem Command and UVM Columbine. Accompanied by musical selections, an impressive group of five horses were then presented by Greg Ferguson assisted by Mark Mason and Jennifer Lalone, Lynn and Kathleen Peeples, and Judy Nason.
Spiceolife Right Answer had the right answer for the anticipatory crowd as he began the presentation with his charismatic presence in harness. The four-year-old Issues N' Answers son is the up and coming stallion for Graywood as he proved with his presentation. He was followed by the handsome three-year-old colt Graywoods Corin (Man About Town LPS x Salem Showgirl) who enjoyed his time in front of the crowd as he posed and trotted around the ring to the cheers of the crowd.
The Graywood breeding program features early British and Gaelic names in honor of Kenton Wood's ancestry. A pair of promising two-year-olds, Graywoods Arthur (RJM Pardon My French x On Center Stage) and Graywoods Morgase (Simply Maserati x Salem Showgirl), enjoyed their time showing off for the crowd. Greg Ferguson then brought out the spectacular HBF Dynasty Flaire (HVK Courageous Flaire x Rum Brook Athena) to the cheers and whistles of the audience. The young park saddle champion is owned by the Babuik family and seems to be enjoying his move to Florida with Ferguson from Canada. Just as he had opened the presentation, Spiceolife Right Answer made an encore showing of his good looks and talent in hand to close the well received presentation.
Saturday mornings festivities opened with more sunny skies and warm temperatures, quite a contrast to the previous year's record-breaking low temperatures. The first stop of the day was at the newly completed home of Spice O Life Morgans. Don and Mary Geisler relocated their breeding operation from Colorado to Ocala at then end of 2000, but the horses just moved into their new barn in September 2001. The Geisler's son Scott took on the project of building the barn and house in February 2001.
While guests mingled and admired the horses as well as the new barn and house, Mary Geisler took over the microphone and introduced herself to the audience. Geisler spoke about her breeding program and about the new farm. She then introduced Richard Boulé and Larry Bonnell of Summerfields who presented five well bred youngsters for the audience.
A pair of two-year-old geldings opened the presentation as they posed and were turned loose. The Spiceolife Alleged sons Spiceolife Baritone B (out of Serendipity Song B) and Spiceolife Night Cadence (out of Tarryall Electra) have grown up quite a bit since their farm tour debut a year ago. They were followed by the handsome yearling colt Spiceolife Signature B (High-Y Black Tie x Serendipity Song B) who enjoyed his time in front of the crowd and remained out in his pasture showing off throughout the rest of the proceedings.
A pair of elegant three-year-old mares rounded out the presentation. Spiceolife White Diamonds (Spiceolife Alleged x Tarryall Electra) is a royally bred mare with two crosses to Waseeka's In Command and Applevale Cadence. Spiceolife Flirtacious (Relentless Flaire x Spiceolife Cherish B) showed off her attitude and ability for the appreciative audience to close out the presentation.
With just a short drive or walk down the road, visitors were welcomed to the next stop at Treble's Morgan Manor, the first Morgan breeding farm to call Ocala home. Carol Hudson along with husband Chuck and Lisa Nyberg welcomed guests to Treble's Morgan Manor where innumerable world champions have been born. Guests walked around the barn and throughout the property visiting with the beautiful broodmares and youngsters who were eager to meet their visitors. The theme of great food and horses continued with yet another buffet offered to guests.
As the presentation of horses began, everyone gathered around the large grassy paddock. Carol Hudson narrated the presentation while Luman Wadhams and Deanna Nance presented the six outstanding Treble's bred youngsters who were each accompanied by a musical selection. Team Treble's also included Morgan friends from near and far who had all the horses turned out to perfection.
Treble's Take Me On (Mtn Laurel Maximilian x Take My Breath Away) was the first to captivate the audience for the second year in a row. The elegant three-year-old filly is a maternal sibling to 2000 English Pleasure Reserve World Champion Treble's Heartbreaker. The stunning chestnut yearling colt Treble's On The Mark (Tug Hill Commando x Saddleback Sharade) was next to show off for the crowd. He just loved all of the attention, and by the time the day was over he was the first horse of the weekend to be sold. The Chauncey Felker family is the proud new owner of this grand youngster who will be under the direction of Mary Jo Schmidt when his training days come.