Eclipse

Eclipse was our first mare Missouri Fox Trotter. We named her Eclipse because our kids had recently seen their first total solar eclipse. She is black black and has the most beautiful tail that always naturally drags the ground. She is proud and brave and looks like a smaller version of a majestic Friesian.   She is the boldest horse I have ever known.  Afraid of nothing and the best leader trail boss you could ever ask for.  If there is a trail in front of her she will go on it.  It doesn't matter what kind of obstacles are in front of her.  She will lead the way and safely carry her rider wherever you point her. Solid as they come she is one of the best horses we have ever owned. 

When our kids wanted young challenging horses to train we bought a 2 year old and sold Eclipse. As the song says, Sometimes you don't know what you've got until it's gone. We have often missed having Eclipse on the trail to lead the ride. 

She does have a wonderful home with a lovely lady and her special needs daughter. They love and adore her and she has been a great confidence builder for them. 

Cedar was our first Missouri Fox Trotter. We named him Cedar because he stands as still as a tree to be mounted and he is a beautiful red color.  Although he was not registered, he was a wonderful starter horse for our kids.  He was afraid of nothing and has a great babysitter personality.  Anyone can ride him, and I do mean anyone.  He has been a first ride for many of our friends and family. Carrying them safely over many trails across the Ozarks. Always a great disposition and always enjoys a snack! When our kids wanted to participate in the MFTHBA events they needed to ride registered horses and in essence had outgrown Cedar. He was way too good of a horse to stand around so we found a perfect home for him.  He is now teaching the next generation how to ride with his new family which includes 2 kids under 5 who love and adore him. 

 A tribute to a great horse. 

Topper’s life ended much as it began, in the green pastures of Missouri. He was born in Boone Missouri 1992. Darrel Dalton purchased him as a weanling and brought him to Utah. Darrel was one of the founding members of Mountain West Miniature Horse Owners, MWMHO and was instrumental in bringing many great horses to the state. 

Topper spent his early years with the Dalton family and was shown a couple of times in halter and jumping by Darrel’s grandkids. Happylands Topper came into my life when Mr Dalton bought him to me to be trained to drive. Topper had been for sale for awhile and with no buyers coming forth Darrel thought having him trained to drive would make him more marketable. I took Topper in for training in the fall of 1995 when I was living in Sandy Utah. I only had him a short time when I realized he was something special. With only a few sessions in the round corral I could see how much potential this horse had.   I began to think I should buy the horse! But I tried to talk myself out of it. Then, I watched him jump! I had never seen a miniature horse that could jump like a full sized horse. He was just breathtaking to watch. He had so much talent and was so bold it would make your heart skip a beat.  I had always loved jumping. As a kid I had trained my dog to jump and would set up grand prix style jump courses in the backyard and dream of riding on an amazing jumping horse. When the time came for me to actually ride jumpers I realized I lacked the boldness to ride over big fences. But, with a miniature horse we lead them over the jumps just like I had done in years past with my dog Woff.  I just had to have Topper. Over the years Topper would attempt to jump anything you put in front of him. He never refused a jump, ever.  Every jump I pointed him at he would jump. Once in awhile he wouldn’t be able to clear it but he would always try. He so loved to jump.

I still remember talking with Darrel Dalton and telling him that I liked his horse and had decided that I wanted to buy him and how surprised Darrel was at the proposal. I was a bit nervous going to the bargaining table because Darrel was a horse trader of sorts. He was known for looking for the profit. I was worried that if I as the trainer wanted the horse he might change his mind and not actually want to sell the horse to me thinking he could get more money later. I guess I drove a hard bargain because we were able to come to an agreement and Topper was mine! 

I worked very hard training Topper all winter long to drive, to jump, to stand up and show halter. By the time the first show came in the spring we were ready.
Topper’s first show was an American Miniature Horse Registry, AMHR show in Tremonton Utah. He performed perfectly and blew away the competition. He won Grand Champion in Halter, first in Jumping and won every single driving class he was in! It was amazing! Pretty much a dream come true for any horse owner. Mr Dalton was there at the show too. He wasn’t all that happy that I now owned Topper, who was winning everything for me, instead of him. Over the years he told me more than once he should have never sold the horse.
But I really don’t think Topper would have shown his true greatness with just anyone. It takes a special bond between trainer and horse to really achieve greatness. We spent so much time together perfecting our performance that we became a team.  

Topper changed my life. He made my dreams come true, he defined me as a trainer and breeder. He became the foundation of my breeding program. He had such a willing personality. Willing to go and do whatever was asked including being dressed up in silly costumes and driving in parades and ridden by kids. 

Over the years we spent countless hours training and traveling to shows all over the western United States. He continued to show his versatility by winning and winning. He won everything from multiple Supreme halter champion, pleasure driving, country pleasure driving, roadster, obstacle driving, jumping, hunter, versatility, costume and more.  I had a true show horse. We had to show him off to a larger audience and go to the National show. 

At my first AMHR National Show in Columbia Missouri in 1997 Happyland’s Topper made one of my lifelong dreams come true when we won our first national championship in the Open Jumper class. Topper was only 31 1/2“ tall but still beat horses much taller than himself. He also won numerous National Top Ten awards at that show. 

Over the years Topper and I went to several National shows in AMHR and one in AMHA.
His national show record includes:

AMHR National Champion Open Jumper
AMHR National Champion Youth Jumper
AMHR National Reserve Champion Obstacle Driving
AMHR National Reserve Champion Get of Sire
AMHA National Reserve Champion Combination Costume
AMHA Reserve National Champion Open Country Pleasure Driving
Tied for AMHA reserve National Grand Champion Open Country Pleasure Driving, finished 3rd.
16 time National Top Ten 

During his show career Topper became the first stallion showing in Utah to acquire his Halter Hall of Fame and the first “A” sized stallion to get an open Pleasure Driving Hall of Fame Award. Then he earned his Country Pleasure Hall of Fame to become the first to have own all three. 

Topper was not only a great show horse himself but he proved his worth by producing National and Reserve National champions as well as many Hall of Fame horses.
When six of his foals earned their own Hall of Fame awards, he became the first stallion in the western United States to receive the Superior Sire Hall of Fame award. 

One of the greatest awards he ever won was the year when he was awarded AMHR National Reserve Champion Get of Sire. To win this award 3 of his offspring show in the ring together and are judged as one unit and compared to the get of the other stallion entries. The cumulative nicest entry wins. Winning that award was the pinnacle of my breeding program. Proving Topper’s superior ability to produce amazing offspring. 

I guess it was fitting that we buried Topper on Fathers day.

Some of his notable offspring  are:

MMMTC Top Elegant Inspiration
National Champion Owned Bred and shown Halter, part of Reserve National Champion Get of sire, 4 Time National Top Ten Champion, Hall of Fame Halter, Multiple Futurity Champion, Multiple Supreme Halter Champion.

MMMTC Top Mirror Image
Reserve National Champion Youth Halter, part of Reserve National Champion Get of sire, 5 Time National Top Ten Champion, Hall of Fame Halter & Country Pleasure Driving, Multiple Futurity Champion, Multiple Supreme Halter Champion.
 

MMMTC Top Ultimate Impression, 2 time National Top Ten Champion, Hall of Fame Halter, Multiple Supreme Halter Champion, Futurity Champion. 

MMMTC Top Crystal Reflection
Hall of Fame Halter, Multiple Supreme Halter Champion, Producer of multiple National Top Ten Champions and Futurity Champions.

Mountain Shadows Kindred Spirit
part of Reserve National Champion Get of sire, 8 time National Top Ten Champion, Multiple Supreme Halter Champion, Hall of Fame Halter.

Magic Mist Top Secret
Hall of Fame Halter, Futurity Champion.

When Topper moved from Utah to back to Missouri in 2007 he once again was able to graze on the green pastures he had known as a foal. He never showed again but instead spent his life of luxury in the pasture.
We did hook him up and drive him down the roads for fun occasionally as he was so steady and reliable. He  was also the favorite for my kids. Brittney especially loved him and trained him to be ridden. Topper taught both my kids how to ride, he also taught them how to get back on the horse when you get bucked off! They would ride him bareback all over the property. Brittney loved to have him run like the wind while she held on his mane.  When she grew too big for him he would still come to the fence for a carrot when she called. He was her first horse. The one she has known and loved all her life. 

When I sold all my mares and quit breeding Topper was gelded so he could be out in the pasture with our other stallion Looky’s Tattoo. Topper and Tattoo became best of friends and were basically inseparable.
 Tattoo stood over him during Topper’s last day and stood watch next to him all night while we waited for the tractor to come. It was heartbreaking to hear the calls of Topper’s lonely friend calling for his fallen buddy.
Topper had been healthy his whole life until his last day when colic and back injury, caused us to have to make the humane decision to put him down. 

He was a once in a lifetime horse. A friend who I have loved for 24 years, one who will be dearly missed.
Topper lived a long and happy life and we know he is living in eternal green pastures now.