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Greetings Morgan Friends,

2012 is here and at the request of many of our friends we have decided to offer a newsletter via e-mail to keep everyone updated on what's happening at Rafter Bar D Morgans. Our first newsletter shares the highlights of 2011 to bring you up to date, so get your coffee or tea and enjoy. For 2012 we will periodically have updates as exciting things happen at our farm. This newsletter is interactive with our website. Happy New Year!
Our small farm in northern Wisconsin claimed our hearts years ago when it was only wooded land. We had a vision and through the years it has become a labor of love creating what we consider heaven on earth. We have built this farm ourselves with the help of family and friends, and through research and time have filled it with beautiful Morgans for the breeding program we have today. Welcome to our farm ~

How our Farm Name came to be . . .

Where did the name, Rafter Bar D, come from? Years ago, before we had Morgans, Derrick was planning an elk hunting trip out west. At that time, we were informed that several hunters had their horses and mules stolen, so any stock he took out for hunting should be branded. Derrick registered for and designed a brand, and it was Rafter Bar D. D is for Derrick, and the rafter bar symbolizing our farm. He had a freeze brand made and branded his gelding, and two mules that he would be taking for the hunting trip. When it was made, it was not intended to be our farm name. I kid my husband that it should have been D hanging S, for Sue.

I'm proud to have it be our farm name, because my husband is a wonderful man, and has helped me to believe in following my passion for horses and a dream of raising morgans. I am blessed to have him be my partner through this adventurous life. His support, patience and love has kept me moving forward when I wasn't sure. He is my inspiration to persevere and believe in my vision. Special thanks to him for encouraging me to dream as if we will live forever, and live as if this is the last day . . .

Years later, after purchasing several Morgans, and deciding to begin a breeding program, we needed a farm name. To find a name that was unique with meaning, and not already used, was difficult. The name was right here hanging on a hook in our home, it just needed to be discovered, and it was. Rafter Bar D was born and RBD would be the prefix for our foals born here at our farm. It wasn't too long before the headgate to our farm was graced with a Rafter Bar D brand too. Today, we do not brand our Morgans with , the brand is just a conversation piece, the symbol for our farm and to me, in honor of the man behind living the dream.

Rafter Bar D Morgans

We have chosen mostly black morgans with great type and excellent minds for the foundation of our breeding program, with primarily brunk and government pedigrees, and we have some western working lines too. Our mare herd has grown in the last few years and also consists of a bay, a palomino and in February of 2011, we added a cremello mare to our herd. It is true we love the classic black's, however, I have always admired and loved the colorful coats of buckskin, palomino, and smokey black. In an effort to be able to offer quality Morgans to people who love a variety of colors we have a splash of color too. We are thankful to all the breeders who have raised the Morgans that we have chosen for the foundation of our breeding program.

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A terrible loss at our farm . . .

This newsletter was almost complete, and before I finished it to send, we had a terrible accident at our farm. This is never the kind of news I want to share . . . The afternoon of January 5, 2012 we lost Red Rose Pearl, our cremello filly, to a tragic pasture accident. She was such a beautiful filly and truly a sweetheart. Pearl loved everyone, equine and human. Not only did we lose a great friend, but she was a big loss for our breeding program. We loved Pearl . . . She is an angel in heaven now, and we are blessed to have had Pearl touch our hearts while she was here.

Rest is peace my friend.

2009-1012

 

Our Two Beautiful Black Morgan Stallions at Stud

JMF BASIC BLACK
JMF TRUE NORTH
Stud Fee $750 LFG
Stud Fee $750 LFG

~We welcome outside mares ~

Our 2011 Foals

We had 3 beautiful foals in 2011. We just love the foals and each year anticipating their arrival is so exciting. All three foals have been sold and we send very special thanks and congratulations to the new owners. Cyrus went to Germany, Lace went to Hungary and Elegante stayed in Wisconsin. Visit our Foals Page to learn more.
RBD Immortal Cyrus
RBD Midnight Lace
RBD Rey Elegante

 

Breeding Season and Foals Coming for 2012

We offer live cover and fresh cooled shipped semen within the United States for both our stallions. Breeding season is a busy time for us and we are excited to announce that we have 5 mares confirmed in foal for 2012. You can see the crosses we've made below. We expect some exceptional foals from these mares and they will be available to new homes after weaning. This year we offered interested buyers the opportunity to reserve a foal, and we are happy to announce that we currenlty have three buyers with deposits down on the 2012 foals coming. For more information on reserving a foal visit Foals Purchase Agreement. To learn more about out stallions and mares visit Stallions ~ Mares.

JMF True North

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EBL Spades Awesome Babe

JMF Basic Black

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JMF Wild Side

JMF True North

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JSM Supreme Breeze

JMF Basic Black

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JMF Mystery Cruise

JMF True North

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Baybee's Sunspot Baby

 

The Washburn County Fair

Our daughter, McKayla, showed her mare, JSM Supreme Breeze, in gymkhana at the local County Fair this summer. She did very well in all the different events and had so much fun with Breeze and spending time with friends. Nice job McKayla!

This spring McKayla decided to breed Breeze to JMF True North for a 2012 foal. She felt this cross would be exceptional and she is going to offer Breeze's foal for sale. McKayla is a Junior in high school and looking to go to college for something in the equine industry. Possibly equine therapy, however, she's still researching her options. The money she receives for the sale of her foal will be saved for her future in college. McKayla purchased Breeze two years ago as an untrained four year old. She has worked many hours schooling Breeze herself and has done a wonderful job training her. McKayla is looking forward to raising a foal from her beloved mare.

 

Open Driving Show

EBL Spades Awesome Babe is one of our mares that loves to drive just as much as Derrick. The last day of our fair there is an open driving show and Derrick decided the day before that he was taking Babe to town for the show, just for fun. Of course, I'm quickly cleaning harness and bathing Babe and off to town we go. This mare just shined that day with more than just pepi spray. . . neither she or Derrick had ever shown in a driving competition. Babe, Derrick and McKayla took a first, second and third that day against competitors that compete at shows all summer. Many people at the show asked about Babe, and we even had a seasoned driving competitor ask if she was for sale. Derrick left quite proud that day and needless to say Babe is staying at our farm. Derrick just loves that mare and she is partial to him too. Nice job! Babe is expecting a foal this spring, so keep your eyes open for this one especially if you have driving in mind.

Schooling Morgans and having Fun!!

We spend as much time as possible with our Morgans working to further their education. It is our goal for all our mares and both stallions to have the basics for riding and good ground manners. We work with them in the arena and we also love to trail ride. They are all at different levels with their education and we have really enjoyed starting several of them under saddle this year and brought many of them further along in their training. We are not professional trainers, however, we work with our Morgans using natural horsemanship, offering time and patience to bring out the best in them. Our Morgans are good minded and a joy to work with. Below are a few photos of us working with our Morgans.

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I love this photo below I took of Derrick and North on the trail this summer. This one could be a painting. We just purchased North last fall and we have been riding him with mares on the trail and he does great. A real gentleman and well behaved.

We also work with our foals from birth. They are all handled daily and learn to lead and tie before they go to their new homes. The foals are such treasures and we love working with them. Each one is special and gets love and attention from all of us.

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Three of our Morgans go to Europe Fall 2011!

This year we sold two of our Morgans to Germany and one to Hungary. I contacted the AMHA and our filly, RBD Midnight Lace, is the first Morgan in history to go to Hungary. Pictured below are the three Morgans before we left our farm. From left to right is JMF Midnight Expose', RBD Immortal Cyrus and RBD Midnight Lace. I have created a web page telling the story of my trip delivering Morgans to Europe. I was offered the opportunity to travel with them and spent two and a half weeks in Europe delivering our Morgans in person and meeting many wonderful people who are interested in Morgans. To read about this great adventure visit "Delivering Morgans to Europe". This was truly a trip of a lifetime and I feel very blessed to have had such an incredible opportunity.

At the request of the wonderful gals in the registry department at AMHA, I'm planning to submit an article to the Morgan Horse Magazine about this trip.

Black Morgan Mare For Sale

Her photos were just taken December 18, 2011 ~

Bradford's Countess Echo

1994 Black Mare

Echo is such a beautiful mare with classic Morgan style. She has a gorgeous head and expressive eyes along with a lovely thick forelock, mane and tail. She is forward moving with nice reach at an extended trot. Echo moves out on the trail and is fun to ride! She rides great with groups and needs encouragement alone. She needs a rider with some experience, however, she's easy to handle. She rides wonderfully in the arena or long lining for youngsters. She has performed reenactments, she's been on overnight camp trips, many trail rides and she's been driven a few times. She is a wonderful producer and an excellent mother. She had an incredibly beautiful colt this year by Black. See RBD Immortal Cyrus. She is open for 2012 and can be offered with a breeding to either of our stallions if desired.

$4,500

Marketing Our Morgans

We do our very best to present our Morgans to you as we see them. They are all very special to us and we feel each one deserves the honor of the best representation we can offer. There is a lot of time and effort that goes into preparing our horses for photos, taking photos, video and updating our website. It is our goal for 2012 to create a promotional video for our farm that will include our stallions at liberty and under saddle. It will be posted in our newsletter when it is finished. Thank you ~

Notes From Sue & Derrick

Derrick and I would like to give special thanks to the wonderful people who purchased Morgans from us this year, and in the past years. It is all of you who are truly the driving force behind the success of this breeding program. Special people with the desire to have a Morgan partner is what keeps breeders going. Sure, as a breeder, we are passionate about the Morgan horse. We love raising foals, promoting the breed and have acquired what we feel are the very best Morgans for the foundation of our breeding program, however, without special people like you with a desire to have a Morgan, we could not survive. Thank you so much for giving some of our Morgans wonderful homes. We wish you all the best in 2012.

Believe in yourself ~ Follow your dreams ~ Cherish every moment

 

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