Marie as a foal with a canine friend at Treble Clef Farm in Calhoun, Georgia. Summer 1980.


We made both the morning and evening editions of the Atlanta Journal/Constitution, October 12, 1984.


Marie and I relaxing away from the action at the Greenwood Saddle Club Open Show, October 1984. This was her first show. We just showed in hand as Marie had only been under saddle for about three months at this point. We got a third in a nice sized class of saddle type halter horses, which included a local champion palomino Saddlebred. I love this picture, although I wish I had unbraided her mane and tail first! That is Stone Mountain off in the background, to the left.


Here we are in the class. Greenwood Saddle Club, October 1984.


Marie working bridleless, 1985, after 8 months of training.


Backing up, bridleless. The neck rope is easily understood by horses who've been taught to move away from gentle pressure on various parts of their bodies. Spring 1985.


Bridleless horses tend to move in a very low frame as there is no bridle "containing" the energy created by the hindquarters, compressing the horse's outline. Still, Marie's shoulders are elevated, her back is raised and free swinging, and her hind legs are engaged and working well under her body- all prerequisites for collection. This is a wonderful feeling to ride! Spring 1985.


Sometimes we'd just skip the saddle and neck rope! Summer 1985.


Marie, as one of the most reliable horses on the farm, often gave "pony rides" when we hosted a group of schoolchildren, as was the case here with a pre-school class. She helped many girl scouts earn their equestrian badge and patiently taught many beginners to ride over the years, as well. April 1985.


Opening the gate after a ride...


...and closing it. Marie sometimes would "help" by shoving the gate with her nose! We put this daily gate practice to good use in trail classes. August 1985 photos.


I taught Marie to drive to help her stay fit throughout her first pregnancy, thinking it might be more comfortable exercise for her later in gestation than being ridden. I had never taught a horse to drive before, but had no problems with Marie! Fall 1985.


Standing ground tied in a trail class at a Rolling Hills Saddle Club Show, Summer 1988.


Marie schooling over three foot fences at home, 1989. She is two months pregnant with Pat here.


Marie on her way to winning the Western Pleasure Championship at the Georgia State Championship Horse Show, 1991


Here is another shot of Marie going bridleless, this time with Claudia Ellerbrock from Germany up. Claudia visited us several times on her tours of US Morgan dressage barns. Marie was also used quite often in lessons without a bridle, as it is a perfect way to emphasize to riders the importance of proper seat and leg influences. June 1993 photo.


Amy Venable (then age 13) had been taking lessons once a week on Marie for about two years when this photo was taken in January of 1997.


Feeling frisky, spring 2002, age 22.


Hanging out in the shade on a hot day. August 2002. You can see her interesting facial marking, a roaned star, in this picture. It may indicate the presence of sabino. There is no pink skin under this marking; it is just a collection of roan hairs. Her daughter Mimi has the same roaned star, but it skews towards the right side of her face instead of the left like Marie's. Son Pat has a very small roaned star as well. Roaned facial markings are not uncommon in Morgans- a thin roaned blaze is almost a hallmark of Jubilee King breeding, for example- and there are roaned leg markings as well. Marie is a minimally expressed rabicano (as is her son, Patented). She has a bit of rabicano roaning in her flanks, as well as the characteristic "coon tail".


Marie at age 23, June 2003.


Marie at age 27, September 2007.


I figure we never know how long we are going to have with our animals. I don't know how many times I've heard people say they wish they had taken more pictures (or in some cases, any pictures at all) of their now deceased beloved pets. So I planned to take the time to give Marie a bath and get some pictures, and finally got my opportunity. Marie looks pretty darn good for her age, I think. June 2008.