Welcome to Thornapple Farms, LLC, home of Thornapple Morgans and our Irish Sport Breeds, including the rare Kerry Bog Ponies. Our farm enjoys 90 secluded acres of farm fields and woodland in Vermilion, Ohio. On Ohio's north coast along Lake Erie, Vermilion is an old Great Lakes fishing village of the Western Reserve, set at the mouth of the Vermilion River (from the name given the river by native Indians, for the red earth of its banks).
Thornapple Farms bears the name of the large stand of trees surrounding the house and barns. Our thornapples, it seems, are a subspecies of the Hawthorne, a relative of the rose family and said to bring good luck growing by a barn. You can see our trees in spring bloom and other scenes from the farm on our About the Farm page.
We are proud of our fine Morgans, our rare Irish Kerry Bog Ponies, and our Connemara Pony bloodstock. The hallmarks of our Morgan breeding program are horses of fine disposition, athletic ability, versatility, and Lippitt and Old Government bloodlines. These horses are exceptional in the show ring, on the hunt course, in harness, or on the endurance trail. Their best and lasting trait, however, is loyalty, as in the kind of friend who will do anything for you, no questions asked. Our 2003 filly, T-A-Mora Clair Delight, has been nominated for the Morgan World Futurity. Watch for her in the show ring.
In 2003 Thornapple Farms imported the first breeding herd of six Kerry Bog Ponies in the United States. There are fewer than 200 of these ponies in the world. They spring from ancient blood that has endured against the odds in the mists of Ireland. These ponies are strong, athletic, gentle, and wise -- and look very much like mini-Morgans! Our first Kerry bog foals were born here in 2004. Our first arrival, TAF Miss Ruby Peat, was born May 10, 2004. She is the first Kerry Bog Pony bred and foaled in the United States! TAF Foxy Peat is a striking dark bay filly, born July 7, 2004 to Old Peat and Kerry Rose.
Also imported from Ireland is our fine Connemara Pony broodmare, Maumturk Heather. Called "Silky," she is sired by one of the leading stallions in Ireland, the late Abbeyleix Owen. Her half-siblings are reigning Grand Champions in Ireland and Australia. On April 27, 2004, Silky presented us with an outstanding colt. Please visit our Irish Imports page to see our new boy -- THF Liam Aodh Owain -- sired by the fine American Connemara stallion, Tre Awain Dobh McDuff.
Browse our website and visit our favorite links!
Mike and Linda Ashar
The Morgan Horse Magazine will have an article by Sue Brander that includes Figure's original stud book!
In honor of that is this "Tribute to Figure", the Justin Morgan Horse.
Click on the image to see it larger.
2007 ANNOUNCEMENTS
DECEMBER NEWS
We are pleased to announce our importation of two new Irish Kerry Bog Ponies: Foundation Stallion - The Spotted Badger and Broodmare - ChocTaw Corn II. Both
ponies have arrived in the U.S. and are settled at Rigbie Farm for their required sojourn in quarantine. They come to us from Church Farm, County Down, North Ireland.
Badger is on lease. We have purchased "CC", who is a fine addition to our broodmare band. Badger and CC are the parents of our young broodmare, Moneen April
Breeze. CC contributes to the U.S. "herd" the independent bloodline of the foundation mare, Old Brown Sod, CC's dam. Old Brown Sod is now deceased.
We are pleased to announce that our lovely Lippitt mare, Kustom Dondei Echo (Covenant Colby Moro x Rushbruk Figurine), has been leased to Bill Davis, WJD
Morgans, Rolla, MO. Echo arrived at Bill's on December 22, 2007, just in time for Christmas. She is betrothed to Bill's wonderful stallion, Edgewood Moro SonofaGun
(Edgewood Weatherby x Edgewood Reva Moro).
Congratulations and thank you, Bill!
CONGRATULATIONS
to Julia Skelley, Parkton, MD on her purchase of Aquila's Total Devotion
MAY FOALS:
Kerry Bog Filly - Old Peat and April are proud parents.
Morgan colt - Ben and Dusty produced a leggy bay (no white) colt,
T-A-Mora Estevanico, shown below:
TAF Dempsey's Bog Star - SOLD 2007 filly
foaled at Thornapple Farms, April 19, 2007.
Bay filly
Sire: Dempsey Bog
Dam: The Hobby
SOLD to Rae and John Brocklehurst, KerryBrock Farm, Columbia Station, Ohio
Star is shown here with Rae.
Foaled March 4, 2007
Morgan Bay Colt
T-A-Mora Algonquian (UVM Springfield x Aquila's Immortal Vision
This little guy is very friendly and confident, already very imprinted. Follows us as much as he does his mom. He's still unfolding but after his big romp and run in the big
pasture today I think he's made a huge headway on it
2007 EXPECTATIONS Morgans:
Learn about our Morgan horses and our Irish breeds.
Our Kerry Bog herd is the largest in North America.
Learn More!.
2008 ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our Liam is a daddy. Here is his colt, 1 week old! Name is Micheal (pronounced "Meshul"). I'm
very happy with the looks of this colt and ensures daddy stays entire.
The mother is Nainsi owned by Marsha and Gabriel Rood.
Our four year old Morgan mare T-A-Mora Jo-Z-Pizazz (UVM Coming Attraction x Equinox Karma) took first in Western New York Morgan's competitive
Hunter Pleasure Jr. Horse class and third in the championship class, on May 28, 2008. We are very pleased to announce the sale of Jo-Z following the
show to Karen Miles of Golden, CO. Jo-Z was trained by Suzanne Evans, Evans Equestrian Center, Montrose, PA.
Shown is Jo-Z's blue ribbon victory pass at Western NY Morgan, Suzanne Evans up.
The Spotted Badger and Choctaw Corn II arrived safely out of quarantine and are well settled with us here in their new home. Badger will be joining us at
the American Kerry Bog Pony Society's display at the Dublin Irish Festival at Dublin, Ohio, on August 2, 2008 (www.dublinirishfestival.org). Marilyn
Terry and TAF Hobby's Bog Faerie will be at the display at the Festival on August 3, 2008.
NEW FOALS Foaled February 21, 2008
Kerry Bog Pony Chestnut Colt (born under the lunar eclipse)
TAF Peat's Red Moon (Old Peat x Kerry Rose)
Foaled April 14, 2008
Kerry Bog Pony Black Colt
TAF Dempsey's Bog Indigo (Dempsey Bog x Miss Peat)
IMPORTED FROM IRELAND The Spotted Badger - Foundation Kerry Bog Pony Stallion
on Lease from Church Farm Stud, North Ireland
Choctaw Corn II, Kerry Bog Pony Brood Mare
Purchased from Church Farm Stud, North Ireland
PURCHASED IN IRELAND, IMPORT PENDING Quagmire Prince - Foundation Kerry Bog Pony Stallion
Purchased from Tim Cooper, County Kerry
Morgan STALLIONS AT STUD
Watch for our Ad in the Breeders' Guide
T-A-Mora Vigilation
photo March 25, 2007
Sunny day today. Here he is on his first day out in the big wide world.
T-A-Mora Vigilation - "Jove" - (Raynyday Squire Jack x Aquila's Total Devotion) -
f. 3/22/2007
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Congratulations to:
Sharon & Skip Ackermans of British Columbia, CA on their purchase of Morgan filly, T-A-Mora Enchanted Iris (Bloomer x Kustom Dondei Echo)
Jennifer & James Cino of Princeton, MA on their purchase of Kerry Bog Pony mare, Moneen Steffy Dunn (in foal to Dempsey Bog)
Rae & John Brocklehurst of Columbia Station, OH on their purchase of Kerry Bog Pony filly, TAF Bog Princess (The Bog Prince x Miss Peat)
Congratulations to Epic International Ltd dba Tipperary Farm of McDonald, PA on the purchase of Kerry Bog Pony filly, TAF Caragh Breeze (Old Peat x Moneen April
Breeze) foaled May 2007. Breeze will their foundation mare for breeding the Kerry Bog Ponies. Epic already breeds Irish Draughts. They are a valued addition to our
KBP family!
Thornapple Farms, LLC
