The Blonde One and Noel

I have owned "The Blonde One", Mineral's Flaxen Athena, or "Blondie" as she is known to most people at the ranch now for several years.  I'd never owned a gaited morgan before I got her, and it has been one of the most interesting odysseys I have ever embarked on in all my years of owning horses.  I'd never owned a gaited horse, let alone knew how to ask them for gait or if I even wanted a gaited horse.  She sort of "fell into my lap" and I've never looked back although in the early days I often wondered what the heck I was doing (especially when training her to turn her gait "on/off" on command).  She is an absolute joy to own, and the most athletic, opinionated, intelligent, and versatile horse I've ever ridden but sometimes I believe she thinks my only purpose in life is to cater to her needs, LOL!!  We regularly do trail trials, sometimes do limited distance endurance, trail riding and horse camping, cross-country and stadium jumping, dressage, and the occasional show w/my "partner in crime" Jennifer and Blondie's "girlfriend" Jamaica .   I really enjoy boarding at Pagemill Pastures and value all the friendships I've made over the years.

Check out Blondie's smile trick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVnW9SoKQ-o