BLACK WILLOW MORGANS

Breeding for Excellence – Training With Trust

 

By Janet L. Aldrich, Senior Program Educator,

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County

 

At age fifteen, Jeff Wilson of Delhi purchased his first Morgan brood mare and his horse farm business had begun.   He learned horsemanship by working with Coby Holowacz, of Vintage Valley Farm – well known in the world of Morgan horses.  With guidance and inspiration from Coby and his “awesome” 4-H Club, The Ghost Riders, Jeff absorbed it all.  He learned how to show, breed and train.  In 1986, Jeff and his wife Kim established “Black Willow Morgans”.  Glenna and Lloyd James sold them their first breeding stallion Del-View Tomba Hawk, who was a foundation bloodline of the highly regarded Catskill Morgan horse. This bloodline began at the Aubrey and Evelyn James’ farm on Platner Brook in Delhi, New York. During the 1960s-70s the James family bred horses that were admired for their beautiful heads, conformation and dispositions – as well as their expressive eyes and athleticism.  At Black Willow Farm, Jeff, Kim and their three children, Alixandra (and most recently, her husband Josiah), Aaron, and Andrew, have worked to improve the impressive bloodline in their Black Willow Morgans – through careful breeding and innovative training techniques. Their ability to turn out beautiful foals that are friendly and unafraid of humans is fast becoming the foundation of a new Catskill legacy. 

 

Foal Imprinting

 

Step number one in training at Black Willow Morgans is a technique called “imprinting”.  The Wilsons remain with the mare around-the-clock at foaling time to ensure a successful delivery. To help achieve this, they monitor the mares on a closed circuit tv.  “Many customers want that “whole foal experience” so we teach them imprinting ahead of time and call them when the mare is ready to foal. When you imprint, you are setting the stage for a really good, people-friendly horse”, says Jeff.  They deliver the foal, inspect the placenta, evaluate the health of the foal and imprint the very first memories the foal will have by gently drying it off with towels and hand rubbing its entire body.  They flex the joints until the foals relax. “It is an amazing moment”, says Jeff, “when they suddenly relax and trust that they are safe.  It’s almost like a hypnotic trance.”

Imprinting is a training technique developed by Robert M. Miller, DVM of California who has gained respect by horse trainers worldwide.  Dr. Miller felt that the foal’s first experiences will become fundamental memories that can greatly influence how well they respond to human handling and contact.  It begins with rubbing and touching – toweling the foal down to clean and dry it. The mother is kept content with fresh hay and grain.  The foal’s entire body is gently rubbed and touched to establish a sense of human dominance over the horse. This includes the nostrils, ears, mouth, legs, and feet.  Special attention is given to the feet by tapping them gently on the bottom.  This helps prepare the foal for future shoeing by the farrier.   

Early in his career Dr. Miller noticed that foals he helped deliver and took the time to towel down, acted differently than those he did not assist.  They were markedly friendlier.   The Wilsons agree and use imprinting techniques on their foals within the first hour of birth.  If for any reason this can’t be done, Miller advocates it be done while the foal is still very young – it is not the same as imprinting, but it helps create the horse-to-human bond so critical for future training.  The one area he advises NOT to imprint is the area where a rider will apply leg pressure. 

This does not replace the mare’s duties – they will still lick and care for the foal; but if a human is above the prone foal and strokes it, handling its nose and mouth etc., that foal will be bonded with the human as well.   Later, they are more willing to leave the mother in pasture and run to the human – the fear has been erased as is its instinct for flight.

 

Round-pen Training

 

Once weaned, Jeff follows up imprinting with “round-pen training”.  In the small circular enclosure (60’ diameter ring with a 6’ top rail), a young horse doesn’t have a lot of room to get away.  “In here, it’s all about me.  There is no fear and no pain”, says Jeff.  “The natural instinct of the horse is to escape possible danger by running away - A small round pen gives the horse a feeling of security but keeps it confined enough to rethink the level of threat.  So you never chase.  It’s about building up enough trust to where the horse is willing to comply with a command.”  Jeff was working with a young gelding, Black Willow Malachi, and although the horse was highly aware of my presence, his attention was focused on Jeff and he followed Jeff’s commends happily. 

Key to round-pen training is the attitude the trainer brings into the pen.  The Wilson’s subscribe to Kenny Harlow’s program of “Training With Trust”.  Indeed, the Wilsons so believe in this system that they bring Kenny Harlow to the farm and put on a five-day horse training clinic where Harlow teaches people how to accomplish conditioned response riding and training.  Horse owners can bring their own horse – all breeds are welcomed.  This year’s clinic (2004) was held from June 12-16.  Harlow gave a special demonstration with his horse “Blue” on the 11^th.  If this is of interest, feel free to check up next spring at their website: www.blackwillowmorgans.com

There are many variations of round-pen training.  Harlow’s technique is to establish trust and to get the horse to respect and cooperate with the rider.  A person needs to be consistent and calm so that the horse will feel comfortable and safe, ultimately to stand and allow grooming and touching.  They are learning to move at your request, and to enjoy being with you.  Beginning this training at weaning is best, as its imprinting at birth is still fresh and it has not had any negative experiences to unlearn.  But it is also effective with older horses. So the Wilsons open up their farm to owners who want to retrain a difficult horse and to those who want to learn the best way to live, work and play around their horses.  It is as much about training the human as it is the horse!

 

A Bit on Bits

Jeff did an experiment, using my leg.  Most of you are familiar with the traditional curb bit that goes into a horse’s mouth.  As you pull on the rein, the horse will turn accordingly.  He placed the curb bit on my shin and gave me the rein, instructing me to pull with as much force as I wanted.  Well…the bit hurt already so I used a very slight tug.  It hurt like – the dickens.  He showed me what they use – a full cheek snaffle bit.  He showed how the joint in the middle allows the bit to move without pressing against the mouth, causing pain.  “This is all that I use and all that I need. There is no pain.  A horse doesn’t learn with pain, they just submit.”  The horse also doesn’t fear the bridle or the person who puts one on him.

 

Facilities & Rotational Grazing  

 

Black Willow Morgans has a 30-stall horse barn and a 60’ by 120’ indoor arena with a heated viewing room.  It also has a large outdoor ring.  The soft gray buildings blend against the hillside where a system of sleek gray fencing allows for rotational grazing on their sixty acres of lush pastures. Jeff and Kim worked with the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) and their whole farm planners from Cornell Cooperative Extension, NRCS, and the Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District to develop and implement best management practices (BMPs) to protect water quality.  These practices include the rotational grazing program, the installation of a polysite and polycharge Ramm Fencing System, a watering system with frost free hydrants and an insulated waterer for the winter paddocks.  They also designed and installed a drainage system to minimize wet areas in the pastures, runoff and erosion. 

 

Line Breeding

 

Black Willow Morgans has five stallions standing at stud:  Del-View Catskill Valiant, Black Willow Gideon, Del-View Nekomi King, SB’s Mac-A-Tac, and Black Willow Orion.  As stated on the farm’s website:  The bloodlines were established in the Catskill Mountains and are a valuable heritage to be carried on.  We walked out into the pasture to see the newest result of this line breeding:  a two-week old foal named Black Willow Daniel.  Both mother and foal were unafraid as we approached, held and pet them.  It was an experience to remember.

 

A Little Diversification

 

What is a farm without good dogs and why not make that part of the whole farm venture?  The Wilsons, especially 17-year old Alixandra, 14 year old Aaron, and 3-year old Andrew, breed ABC Registered Border Collies.  The breeding pair is “Wilson’s Tess and Wilson’s Samuel.  Tess helps with the horses while Samuel is a great third with balls and Frisbees.  They have sold six litters of black and white and red and white pups.  Says Alixandra, “As with any quality animal, you go to a reputable breeder who will stand behind their product, as we do with our horses.” 

That about sums up farming.  Farmers care about doing a good job – producing the best possible product.  Its what they do best and enjoy the most.  When asked what has been the hardest part about farming, Jeff replied:  “Winter – it’s always toughest in the winter.  We have persevered through the years just to keep going.  But now we are being recognized for the quality of our stock and are receiving the prices we need to keep on. With our training we are producing foals that are a delight to own. Special bloodlines and special training – they speak for themselves.”  When asked what is the most enjoyable part of their farming, he smiled:  “Foaling time is like Christmas here.” 

At Black Willow Morgans, Jeff and Kim work diligently to match new owners with their foals.  They enjoy working with buyers to make sure their young stock end up in good homes.  At the annual Kenny Harlow clinics, people learn the training techniques that keep their horses easy to handle, show, race, and enjoy.  Black Willow Morgans’ website provides a wealth of information and photographs, so if you want to visit a beautiful Delaware County horse farm and see the living legacy of the Catskill Morgans, go to www.blackwillowmorgans.com or go visit the farm.  Call the Wilsons at (607) 746-3979 or email them at:  info@blackwilllowmorgans.com. The farm is located at 24041 State Highway 28 in Delhi.  Tess and Samuel will be ready to play.