Pictured below is the little Morgan who started it all. This is Robbi-Sue's Heart of Gold
(Robbi-Sue's Gold Dust x Tanglwood Tiffany) known to us as Rosco. Long before we had Rosco,
however, my first horse was a stubborn Welsh cross pony named Trigger.
He was a palomino (thus my connection to color) with a georgous floating trot.
I learned much thanks to him (most the hard way). In 1993 when I got pregnant for the third time, I
decided to give Trigger away in fairness to him. I was horseless for seven years.
In 2000 Terry (my husband) finally relented his position on the no-horse rule and in my search
for my perfect partner, I purchased a Thoroughbred gelding named Elvis, soon discovering he was not it!
Then Terry happened upon a little Morgan colt looking for a home at his breeder's, Julie Ploof in Arlington VT.
Our whole family fell in love with this boy. He knew nothing when he came and we taught him all the
basics and then some. It was a new experience for us, as he was a baby and gaited.
Eventually Elvis found another home.
Photo By Candi Rousseau-Tori & Rosco (now Beau)
Tori, my oldest daughter, showed Rosco for three years before we made the heart-wrenching
decision to sell him to make room for our breeding stock. He now resides happily in Waitsfield, VT
with his new owner Ronda. She now calls him Beau (which suits him well).
Much to his delight, he is ridden frequently on the trails.
Ronda hopes to compete with Beau in the future.
Photo By Ronda Kelley-Beau
Photo by Ronda Kelley-Beau
When I was a little girl I dreamed of raising horses, but it was not until 2000 that I met
my first Morgan up close. When we went to look at Rosco, I was taken by his in-your-pocket
personality and kind, gentle eye. I also noticed a stunning bright red (bay) four year old filly in the next paddock.
That was Robbi-Sue's Dun Rose (H-Ken x Robbi-Sue's Misalert)
Terry quickly informed me that her breeder, Julie Ploof, would never part with her.
In November of 2001 I came home from work and went to the barn as I always did,
and there looking at me was the most beautiful face I had ever seen. There was Rosie.
I could not contain myself and startled her with all my jumping and squealing. T
erry had done the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me. This was the beginning of my dream, as I knew I had to breed this filly.
Photo by Candi Rousseau-Tori on Rose
Along with the purchase of Rose, Julie graciously gave me Rosco's dam, Tanglwood Tiffany
(Townshend Big Secret x Tanglwood Tabitha) as she wanted her back from Texas.
When she stepped off the trailer in June of 2002, my heart sank. She was just weaned from her foal and was dangerously thin. She has a large scar on her face from a bad reaction from a weed down there and the resulting sunburn. With lots of time and TLC the little mare with the big heart has recovered. Raelee, my youngest daughter, has cared for her from the beginning, grooming and feeding her.
She will own one of her babies some day.
Photo by Candi Rousseau-Raelee & Tiffany
In 2005 I sought a Dun dilute colt to add to our breeding program.
I was disappointed when I could not get a Peanut Butter Dun colt I was looking at and had all but given up.
On August 14th, I got an email from Jerry Hess telling me about a Grulla colt born the previous Friday,
the 12th, to Bob and Kellie Sharpe by the incredible Grulla stallion Stormwashed and out of Light up Atlanta.
I could not believe the answer to my prayers!! I completely loved him the moment I saw the pile of legs!
I still ask the girls to pinch me when I am just hanging out watching him. Kellie and Bob were great to deal with. Kellie sent me tons of pictures and updates as I waited to bring Jordan home and watched him grow into this incredible colt.
River Jordan came here in January 2006 to his forever home.
Photo By Laura Behning of Brookridge Morgans in GA-River Jordan
2005 also was the year I bred my two mares for the first time. Rose was bred to the Dun stallion
FPS Success Made in Dun (Robbi-Sue's Sweet Success x FPS American Made),
now owned by Morningstar in OH. Tiffany was bred to the cremello stallion Amberfields Desperado
(Springtown Champagne x Andrews Misty Dream).
Several years ago I saw a lovely black mare that just drew me in on a website I had found.
It has been my hope to add a homozygous black mare to my herd and I wanted a 100% foundation bred.
Well in July 2008 Sable, or After Dark In Pursuit (General Crook x After Dark Intrigue),
came home to us from Barb Laudenslayer's farm.
The mare stole my heart when I went down to PA to see her. Thank you Liza and Barb!
And then came Successful Super Nova ... truly my dream girl as she is a bay dun daughter of the great Robbi-Sue's Sweet Success (Equinox Beaubrook x Robbi-Sue's Misalert) or Zeke and
out of DBF Black Noonstar (a BL Independance granddaughter).
The very first colorful Morgan I saw was the striking mare known as Peaches.
That is Robbi-Sue's Misalert (Robbi-Sue's Moralert x Pendleton Buck Missy) a lovely
dunskin (meaning bay horse with both the dun and cream genes!).
Thank you so much Butch and Tami for allowing me the privilage of bringing this mare home!
Photo copyright and courtesy Judy Hinman
Here is our latest addition the grulla mare HCTF Dove Song, a lovely paternal sister to our Jordan!
She has made herself part of the family already!! Thank you to Judy Hinman for helping this to happen!
Truly another dream come true for me!
Please feel free to give us your feedback on our site and our program.
Last update: 6/20/09
Tocara Farm Morgans
662 Rte. 67 West
North Bennington, VT 05257
(802)442-4090 No Solicitations, PLEASE!
Memberships Include:
American Morgan Horse Assn.
U S E F
Rainbow Morgan Horse Assn.
New England Morgan Horse Assn.