U.S. World Pony Team: Morgan Ponies Rule!

Sara Schmitt and High Country Doc

The Morgan pony Courage To Lead (Courage of Equinox x Hartland Sable), owned by Beverly Lesher of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and High Country Doc (Paradox Madison x Mir Roy Crystal), owned and driven by Sara Schmitt of Glen Gardner, New Jersey, have been chosen to represent the United States as members of the U.S. Single Pony Division Team competing in Derbyshire, England for the World Pony Driving Championship this month.

Suzy Stafford and Courage to Lead

The eight-year-old Courage To Lead, or “Katy,” is driven by Suzy Stafford of Bear, Delaware. Among their accomplishments to date are placing first at the 2004 Laurels and being named the 2004 National Single Pony Champion. Lisa Singer, their trainer, coach, and mentor, has ably supported them. They also have been aided by Claudia DeLormes as the dedicated navigator, and by Suzy’s mom, Linda Gallo.

Sara and the nine-year-old Doc placed fifth at the Black Prong CDE in February, second at Southern Pines CDE in April, and they won the Advanced Single Pony division at the Garden State CDE in New Jersey in May. At the Garden State CDE, they earned the Best-Scoring Morgan in the Advanced Division Award, one of three sponsored Morgan awards presented at that event.

Editor's note: Suzy Stafford was very disappointed when her pony became lame only three weeks before the Championship. Events turned out that Sibyl Humphries’ Welsh cob Oak Dark Bouncer was in Europe and had previously been qualified by team alternate Muffy Seaton. Suzy and Bouncer won an individual Gold medal. For more on the World Combined Pony Championships, click here.

For more information on America’s original horse breed, contact the American
Morgan Horse Association Inc.®, 122 Bostwick Road, Shelburne, VT 05482;
(802) 985-4944; info@morganhorse.com, or webiste www.morganhorse.com.

For more about the U.S. World Pony Team visit www.ponyteamusa.com.