My dream of breeding Morgan's began when I was growing up in the Rocky Mountains in a magical place called Jasper, Alberta, Canada. I started riding at the age of 4, on an old Morgan mare called Dimples ,and later would ride her daughter, Abilene. Dimples taught me just how special Morgan's were by her lessons, keeping me safe time after time, through the mountain trails. " Just drop your reins on her back if your lost and she will take you home" I was told, and she ALWAYS did! I proudly rode her in the Queen's birthday parades , competed in novelties at rodeo's, and even carried the Canadian Flag. I would spend hours doubling my little brother and friends, exploring trails,crossing rivers and swimming in lakes. Many times as kids, my older brother and I would come across grizzlies,cougars and other wildlife without so much as a snort from her. In the autumn for fun!!we would bugle to tease bull elk in mating season and be chased .... taking crazy chances ..and my little mare always kept her head and looked after me.
In 1985 I moved to Australia and left my Morgan memories behind in the mountains of Alberta...years went by and I always missed my past . In 1996 I met my now friend Jenny Bird of" Red Bluff Morgan Stud "in Victoria and made the discovery that there were Morgans in Australia . Then and there I started to save and plan to buy my Australian Morgan. In 2002 my dream came true and we purchased 2 Morgan fillies . .. "Eiben's Penny" a yearling and" Manna Wood Hope" 5 months old. Over time ,our daughter Lana and I competed successfully ,on our mare "Eiben's Penny" at Agricultural Shows, National Morgan Shows and rode at both Adult Riding Club and Pony Club. Where ever you ride a Morgan, you can guarantee,all will ask "what breed is this"?
Our name "Manna Wood " derives from the lovely Eucalyptus Manna Gum tree's that scatter our paddocks, providing home and shade to native animals. The Manna Gum is a large grand tree used for building fine furniture so we thought it was an appropriate name for our Morgans. My husband is not a rider,but our Morgans have won his confidence over the years. He happily halters them, mends fences with their helping curiousity ,or is that hinderence!
Understanding the importance of breeding quality and loving the old world Morgan, we bred our first two foals to reflect traditional Morgan size, temperament and ability . "MW Hope" carrying "Wawayanda Watch Out" lines, and "Eiben's Penny" being the grand daughter of "Royalton Ashline" America's first Morgan Sport Horse, combined with the "Taproot" sport bloodlines, is what I consider to be gold star breeding.
My childhood dream came true and I am blessed to be able to breed my Morgan's and share my love of this breed with others. Our Morgan's are family bred and raised in an attentive healthy environment ,with quality feed and care . We only breed every few years allowing us the time to enjoy, nurture and manage each one in an ideal setting and ponder on what future stallion to chose to compliment our special mares.
We take great pride breeding that special true Morgan, a pleasure to own, easy to keep, beautiful to watch, versatile,athletic and fun to ride...... THE ALL PURPOSE MORGAN maintaining the old world virtues for which the Morgan is renowned.
