Hawkeye's Maple Leaf ... The Beginning of a Dream!
Hawkeye's Maple Leaf
Go back in time to when I was a child, and you would find a blond-haired, blue-eyed girl that was absolutely CRAZY about horses! I wrote a paper in 8th grade about "What I Want to Be" as a career choice, and it was so passionately written that my teacher said I really should pursue my dream! I wanted to be a horse trainer, and to eventually raise my own horses. My horse of choice was a Morgan!
After college, I purchased my first Morgan filly, and began to make plans to breed her when she was old enough. I eventually decided to buy a stud, and I began my search. I found "Leaf" in Ottumwa, Iowa, and couldn't take my eyes off of him! He was just 10 months old, but his legs were strong, his back was short, his shoulder was long and well laid back, his head shouted MORGAN! And his bloodlines... he was a FLYHAWK GRANDSON! WOW!! He was the beginning of my dream!
Over the years, Leaf and I created a partnership that even I didn't understand! When I went through my first divorce, little did I know that I took my heart back from my husband and gave it to my horse! HE had never been unfaithful! I even changed my last name to "Morgan" when I got my divorce! (Fall seven times, get up eight. (Japanese Proverb)) Over time, Leaf virtually carried me through the tough times. He gave me hope! I had to sell my other horses when I went through my divorce, but I swore that if I ever had to sell Leaf, it would be because I had lost hope! It was HIS back that carried me through, it was HIS shoulders I cried on, it was HIS strength I relied on. I couldn't let him down, because he had never let ME down! I had to go on, I had to be strong! "Being strong isn't something you always choose to do, it's something you are forced to do when being weak isn't an option!"
As I built my dream, I had a few hand-picked mares that I bred to Leaf, and I kept a filly here and there to put into my broodmare band. I eventually bought a few more mares, and then began a search for another stallion to compliment my dream. I FOUND HIM!!
After college, I purchased my first Morgan filly, and began to make plans to breed her when she was old enough. I eventually decided to buy a stud, and I began my search. I found "Leaf" in Ottumwa, Iowa, and couldn't take my eyes off of him! He was just 10 months old, but his legs were strong, his back was short, his shoulder was long and well laid back, his head shouted MORGAN! And his bloodlines... he was a FLYHAWK GRANDSON! WOW!! He was the beginning of my dream!
Over the years, Leaf and I created a partnership that even I didn't understand! When I went through my first divorce, little did I know that I took my heart back from my husband and gave it to my horse! HE had never been unfaithful! I even changed my last name to "Morgan" when I got my divorce! (Fall seven times, get up eight. (Japanese Proverb)) Over time, Leaf virtually carried me through the tough times. He gave me hope! I had to sell my other horses when I went through my divorce, but I swore that if I ever had to sell Leaf, it would be because I had lost hope! It was HIS back that carried me through, it was HIS shoulders I cried on, it was HIS strength I relied on. I couldn't let him down, because he had never let ME down! I had to go on, I had to be strong! "Being strong isn't something you always choose to do, it's something you are forced to do when being weak isn't an option!"
As I built my dream, I had a few hand-picked mares that I bred to Leaf, and I kept a filly here and there to put into my broodmare band. I eventually bought a few more mares, and then began a search for another stallion to compliment my dream. I FOUND HIM!!
Whispering High Beam .... The Dream Gains Momentum!
Whispering High Beam
In 1995, I discovered that a GORGEOUS, BLACK stallion, Whispering High Beam (Beamington x Highover Desiree) was FOR SALE! Janzen Morgan Farm had established a long-running history with High Beam, but they were offering him for sale, so I made arrangements to purchase him. Unfortunately, he went sterile only three years later, with only 2 mares settling to him his final year. He was such a beautiful stallion, the one every little girl dreams of! The FIREY BLACK STALLION with red flaring nostrils! He stayed with me until the end, when his health began to fail, and I let him go out with dignity. Before his health went downhill too far, I made the decision to have him put down, and I buried him beneath the tree in the pasture with the mares. He helped me put my farm on the map, and to make this dream turn into a reality! He made me get serious about it!
Futurity's Ellusion .... The Dream is Realized!
Futurity's Ellusion in 2005
When I found out that High Beam was sterile, I immediately started looking to see what was available to keep my dream on the right track. I saw the advertisment for the Futurity Farm Sale in 1997, and made arrangements to head to Spokane, Washington for the sale. I saw Futurity's Ellusion, a young 2 year old stallion, I fell in love, and I bought him! He was AWESOME from the day he got here, and he hasn't stopped! He has produced fabulous babies, with spirit, animation, BEAUTY, and that "people factor"! He has been "the Man" in the barn, the star in the night, the love in my heart! He didn't let me down, and I was so glad that MY hand was the last one up that fateful day at the sale in Washington! Ellusion has been trained to ride English as well as Western, but has not been finished for the show ring. He has won the Grand Champion Stallion In-Hand honors at the Nebraska State Fair numerous times! He LOVES to go to Expos, Parades, Horse Fairs, etc, where he can show off and just have FUN!!
And now, for the good part! Living the Dream!!
Tim, Pam and our little Suzi
Over the past 10 years, I went through a divorce, I lost several GREAT friends, including my Mother, and my very special horses Leaf and High Beam. I also lost the "dream farm" that I thought I needed to build this business with! Due to my (ex) husband leaving, along with some predatory lending practices from the bank, the rotten horse economy and / or the economy in general.... my life got turned upside down, inside out, and I had to wonder which way was up at times! But, through all of that pain, all of the heartbreak, all of the hardships..... I endured. My horses helped me get up every day. My family helped me believe in myself just enough to keep going! And, I found my new BEST FRIEND!
When I met Tim, I was worried about how to make it through the next day. He helped me smile, and with that smile, he saw HOPE and had FAITH that it could get better! I tried really hard to chase him away! I didn't know how I would get through next week, and I didn't know what kind of person I would be when I finally got there! HE didn't know anything about horses, or horse-crazy people, or hay, or scooping poop, or driving a tractor! He'd never even owned a DOG growing up! He had lived in the city all his life.... he couldn't POSSIBLY like the life I lead, and had NO IDEA what he was getting himself into!!
But, he held on! Tim is one determined guy! And, after I got tired of trying to chase him away, I finally realized how great he is! I realized that I can teach him how to lead a horse, or how to drive a tractor, how to stack hay, and he can really scoop poop by now! But....... I can't teach someone how to love me! He already had THAT part down.... he really actually loved me for who I was, and I would never have to pretend to be someone I wasn't !!
"For God so loved ME, He gave me YOU!!" We now have an acreage southeast of Shenandoah, IA, where we are still working on converting a small hog facility into a useable horse facility! There were times when I hated it.... it wasn't my "dream farm" !! But I knew when I lost my other farm that I can always put up 4 more walls somewhere else. My DREAM was in my horses... in their bloodlines... in the blood, sweat and tears that it took to get where I am! The acreage is less than perfect, but it gets better every day! It will be a work in progress for a long time..... but it gives us something to do with our time!!
Life is short.... don't waste time being unhappy! Take care of what's important. Don't ever let anyone else tell you not to DREAM BIG! If you don't reach for the stars, you will never get to touch them!!
When I met Tim, I was worried about how to make it through the next day. He helped me smile, and with that smile, he saw HOPE and had FAITH that it could get better! I tried really hard to chase him away! I didn't know how I would get through next week, and I didn't know what kind of person I would be when I finally got there! HE didn't know anything about horses, or horse-crazy people, or hay, or scooping poop, or driving a tractor! He'd never even owned a DOG growing up! He had lived in the city all his life.... he couldn't POSSIBLY like the life I lead, and had NO IDEA what he was getting himself into!!
But, he held on! Tim is one determined guy! And, after I got tired of trying to chase him away, I finally realized how great he is! I realized that I can teach him how to lead a horse, or how to drive a tractor, how to stack hay, and he can really scoop poop by now! But....... I can't teach someone how to love me! He already had THAT part down.... he really actually loved me for who I was, and I would never have to pretend to be someone I wasn't !!
"For God so loved ME, He gave me YOU!!" We now have an acreage southeast of Shenandoah, IA, where we are still working on converting a small hog facility into a useable horse facility! There were times when I hated it.... it wasn't my "dream farm" !! But I knew when I lost my other farm that I can always put up 4 more walls somewhere else. My DREAM was in my horses... in their bloodlines... in the blood, sweat and tears that it took to get where I am! The acreage is less than perfect, but it gets better every day! It will be a work in progress for a long time..... but it gives us something to do with our time!!
Life is short.... don't waste time being unhappy! Take care of what's important. Don't ever let anyone else tell you not to DREAM BIG! If you don't reach for the stars, you will never get to touch them!!
