Kilronan Morgan Performance Horse's

Although Morgan horses are quite common in some regions of the United States, they remain fairly un-common in other areas. One Morgan mare and her young rider from New England are tearing up the scoreboards and making a name for the Morgan horse everywhere.

When Erin Amato began looking for a new horse two years ago, she wasn’t looking for a younger horse. She was just breaking into the world of eventing, so she was hoping to find a Novice or Training level packer who could show her the ropes. Instead, she found LBF April’s Delight.

“I had been looking for a horse for a while and actually almost purchases 2 different horses, both who fail the vet check,” Erin explained. “I saw a few ads for some interesting horses, including April, in Vermont so I decided to take a Saturday and drive up to check out a few.”

At the time, April was six-years-old with just a year and a half of basic training under her belt.

(Above left and right: April and Erin enjoy their cross-country round at this year’s AEC. Erica Larson photos.)

“Although April was no packer, I thought I should still take a visit at least for the experience,” Erin said. “Well, little April was the last on my schedule of rides for that day and I was so exhausted. I wanted to just go home. I thought, ‘She’s a 6-year-old who’s never evented. It’s not worth it’.

“But my mom convinced me to go and try her out anyways. I don’t know how or why, but I instantly fell in love with her. She was so unique, her chocolate brown color and her thick wavy tail were adorable. Everyone thought I was crazy, but a few days later, the only horse I looked at to pass a vet check would become my first horse.”

Although they would have to learn together, Erin took a chance on April and the little Morgan mare stepped up. She progressed quickly under saddle, and won the hearts of just about everyone who met her…especially Erin.

(Left: April and Erin splash through the water complex at the AEC. Emily Daily photo.)

“She’s very curious and energetic,” she recalls. “She has an opinion about everything and she’s always curious about what’s going on in her barn. She always has her head out of her stall door and loves attention from small children walking by. When she’s outside, she’s always busy in her paddock and is usually up to something. And, although she loves to be curried - especially her belly - she is incapable of staying clean for half a day!”

But as most riders know, a good personality on the ground doesn’t always result in a quality partner in the arena. But for Erin, April turned out to be the great little event horse she had been looking for.

“She’s great. Once she can settle the nerves down in the dressage ring, we’ll be doing well. She just needs more confidence and experience in that phase. But once I put her in jumping tack and put on her cross-country boots, she already knows what’s coming and she gets so excited. She’s so confident and knows the job. She totally takes care of me…if I get ahead of her or left behind, she’s so forgiving.

“And it’s always good that stadium is last because it’s probably our best phase. Once she steps in that stadium ring, she turns into a show horse. She brightens up and gets that ‘look at me!’ personality. Even if we aren’t in first, she’s still so proud of herself at the end of her round.”

Of course, Erin loves April, but she also feels that many Morgan horses could be successful eventers because of how they were bred.

“They’re strong horses,” she said. “I’ve never had any issues with April’s legs or feet. She’s very sturdy and has never had an off day in her life. She’s confident and loves to perform and be watched. Most are bred for endurance. They’re fast learners and have good work ethic.

“Also, the average height of the Morgan horse is about a hand smaller that many Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods. If a parent was looking for a smaller horse to take care of their small child, this could be a perfect match.”

April is currently competing at Beginner Novice, and the pair just returned from the 2008 American Eventing Championships in Wayne, Ill., where they finished on their Dressage score. Because they are learning together, Erin does not want to rush things and hopes to have April going Novice by next summer.

So was the risk of buying an unproven Morgan worth it for Erin.

“I wouldn’t have wanted this eventing experience any other way,” she smiled. “Morgans rock!”"