HOW IT BEGAN

* "The Catskill Morgan began at the Aubrey and Evelyn James' farm on Platner Brook in Delhi, NY.  Starting with the Easter Twilight son, Bald Mountain Gay Holiday, the James's bred horses through the 60's and 70's.  With a wonderful disposition, Gay Holiday was a joy to be around.  
    Eventually, daughters of Gay Holiday became their band of broodmares, so they began looking for another stallion to use.  At that time, they purchased Stillwater Senator. The beautiful foals this golden cross produced were now in demand in this area and elsewhere.  They were noted for their beautiful heads, conformation, and dispositions.  When you saw a Catskill Morgan in a show ring you could pick it out every time. . . ."

   ". . . I was truly blessed to have this mare [Catskill Sentola] for 28 years.  What a joy she was and always my favorite.  What a wonderful legacy the Catskill Morgans have left this area.  Aubrey and Evelyn James will certainly be remembered for their contribution to the  Morgan breed.". . .

  ". . . Catskill Morgans have wonderful dispositions, are spirited, willing to perform, and a delight to watch. They are most intelligent and have lovely, expressive eyes, which are almost human."

*From excerpts written by past owners for the Catskill Morgan Tribute at the 2000 Delaware County Fair, to celebrate this very special  bloodline. 
Read by Glenna James of Del-View Morgans, Delhi, N.Y.

 

Prominent Breeders
Then and Now

Up from this rich blood-line sprang individuals that portrayed and defined the Catskill Morgan, specifically the two full brothers out of Catskill Gay Mia:
 *Catskill Senator Mac, of Dunraven Morgan Farm and later with Coby Clark Holowacz at Vintage Valley Farm, was a NYS western pleasure champion and sired 47 offspring.
*Catskill Senator Ladd, of Tara Farm, a multiple western pleasure world champion.

*Del-View Morgans.  The next generation of humans and horses, Glenna and Lloyd James (niece and nephew) continued the legacy with the Stillwater Senator son, Catskill Allan and the daughters: Catskill Cha Cha Lee, Catskill Gay Connie, and Catskill Sentola. From these and others, came numerous offspring (over 80) and include the stallions: Del-View Ebony Fox, Del-View Nekomi King and most recently Del-View Catskill Valiant. Valiant is 5 generations of careful breeding.

*Vintage Valley Farm, owned by Burton Clark, had a multitude of Stillwater Senator sons and daughters out of Catskill Gay Marcel.  To list a few: Catskill Hotshot, Catskill Senatordino, Catskill Saucy Girl, and Catskill Sen Mar Joy.  Burton enjoyed success in driving them, a perfectly matched four in hand, in such places as Walnut Hill in Rochester, the regional Morgan Show in Syracuse, and at home. Burton is gone now, but his farm runs along under the care of Coby Clark Holowacz and business associate Toni Watkins, who is also the great-niece of Aubrey and Evelyn James.

Spring Run Morgans at Vintage Valley Farm
     A third generation James, Toni Watkins and business partner Coby Holowacz define the Catskill Morgan this way;  "The Catskill Morgan was produced by Aubrey and Evelyn James throughout the 1960's and 1970's. Sired by the great stallion, "STILLWATER SENATOR", they were the epitome of the Morgan Horse. Known for their beautiful heads, expressive eyes, wonderful dispositions and great athleticism, the Catskill Morgans were "SPORT HORSES" personified, long before there was an official title for Morgans with these qualities. You could find them in many backyards as well as the show ring, for their wonderful dispositions made them a great family horse. They were kind and accepting of whatever it was that you desired of them."  Vintage Valley continues the legacy with the "Catskill" prefix as well as their two Catskill Senator Mac sons: VV-Tuff-E-Nuff, (who also carries the blood of Catskill Sen Lin,) and Dunraven Moonraker.

*Black Willow Morgans - That's us.