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cover story
MORGAN
Morgan Miller-Wakeling inherited her love
of horses from her mother. Although her mother had never owned horses, it had a been her life-long dream. When Morgan was five, mother and daughter convinced Morgan’s father to let her start taking riding lessons. Morgan lived in Oregon at the time, in close proximity to many hunterjumper barns with an active pony club. Once she got a chance to ride her first pony, Morgan’s passion for horses continued to grow.
From Pony Club to Appaloosas Shortly before Morgan’s tenth birthday, the Miller family moved to Michigan. “There weren’t many hunter-jumper barns in the area we moved to,” Morgan said. “So instead, I started competing in the all-around events at our local open shows. But my real love was always the English classes. When my parents finally agreed to buy me my first real show horse, I knew I wanted a Hunter Under Saddle horse.” While searching for the perfect horse, Morgan happened to attend an Appaloosa show where she met Rusty Miller and his assistant trainer Virginia Williams. “I spent a lot of time at that show watching Rusty and Virginia,” said Morgan. “I was so impressed by both of them and loved every horse I saw them ride.”
taught me so much and were so good to me. They pushed me to be a better rider and to really challenge myself. Rusty took me under his wing and helped me buy some great horses that I achieved a lot of success with.” When Morgan was sixteen, she purchased a promising young 2-year-old Hunter Under Saddle prospect named Big Brown Art. With “Big Brown” Morgan won her first World Championship in the Novice Youth Hunter Under Saddle at the ApHC World Championship Show. Morgan’s success at the ApHC shows, didn’t end with Big Brown. She owned and showed several notable horses during her Youth and Amateur careers including I Heart My Art, who was a National and Reserve National Champion, Color Series Reserve Champion and National Show High Point winner while under the guidance of Heather Runyon Show Horses. “It was a really exciting time for me,” said Morgan. “I was very lucky to have the opportunity to learn from some incredible people and ride some amazing horses who really taught me a lot and helped me be successful.”
Moving into the Quarter Horse World
Following their initial meeting, Morgan spent most of her youth career showing on the Appaloosa circuit with Rusty Miller Show Horses. She is quick to credit Rusty and Virginia with teaching her much of what she knows about showing.
After I Heart My Art retired from competition, Morgan’s search for a new horse led her to Troy Lehn and Brad Ost. It was Brad and Troy who first proposed to Morgan the idea of buying a Quarter Horse and giving AQHA shows a try.
“I was really lucky,” said Morgan. “Rusty and Virginia
“Troy called me during the AQHA World Show and told me a had
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MILLER
AN INHERITED LOVE
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GREASE MONKEY and Howdy have won the Level 3 Junior Hunter Under Saddle circuit championship at all three shows.
found the perfect horse for me,” said Morgan. “This was on Wednesday, the horse was showing on Saturday, and Troy said we had to buy him before he showed so I needed to come and ride him as soon as possible. I happened to be in Tulsa at the time, so the next morning my Dad and I jumped in the car and drove to Oklahoma City. I rode him for maybe two minutes and knew that I had to have him. He’s just so talented and so much fun to ride. For a big horse he’s so slow legged and graceful.” Morgan finalized the purchase of Hows That For Ya and later in the week “Howdy” won the Reserve World Championship in Junior Hunter Under Saddle with Katy Jo Zuidema. He was also the Reserve World Champion in the Level 3 Amateur Hunter Under Saddle with former owner Sarah Nimigan. “We are very grateful to Sarah and Katy Jo for giving us the opportunity to buy Howdy,” said Troy. “He is everything that I look for in a Hunter Under Saddle horse and has been a great match for Morgan.” So far this year Morgan and Howdy have won circuit championships in the Level 3 Amateur Hunter Under Saddle at the Silver Dollar Circuit and Prairie Classic and were reserve circuit champions at the Arizona Sun Circuit. Troy 8 | PREMIER | JULY 2021
“The whole experience has been truly amazing so far,” said Morgan. “I’m really looking forward to showing him at the NSBA World Show and the rest of the year.”
Branching Out Although Morgan’s passion is the Hunter Under Saddle, she has also recently branched out into the Western Pleasure arena with a 2015 ApHC mare named Grease Monkey, and her most recent purchase, Made It In Time, a 2018 AQHA mare by Machine Made out of Right To Be Radical. “Out of the blue one day in 2019, my dad called me and told me he had purchased Grease Monkey,” Morgan said. “We had first seen her as a two-year-old showing with Pat Heeley and dad has always loved her so when she came available for sale again, he bought her without even telling me!” Morgan showed Grease Monkey last year at the NSBA World Championship Show and was Top 10 in the BCF 4-6-Year-Old NonPro Color Western Pleasure. From there they went to the ApHC World Championship Show where they won the World Championship in Novice Amateur Western Pleasure. They finished out the year winning the Amateur Junior Western Pleasure at the Color World Series. “The Western Pleasure is a lot different from the Hunter Under Saddle,” said Morgan. “I’ve had to work really hard and spend a lot of saddle time learning how to show and find my pace, but I really like
HOWS THAT FOR YA
the Western Pleasure and have been having a lot of fun with it.” Morgan has been having so much fun showing in the Western Pleasure that she recently purchased Made It In Time to show in the 3-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro futurities and Novice Amateur Western Pleasure. “While we were in Ocala this spring for the A Sudden Impulse Futurity, Brad pointed ‘Maren’ out to me,” said Morgan. “Mallory Menard and Jason Ducharme owned her, and it was very clear after riding her that she was a great fit for me. I’m so grateful they were willing to sell her. She’s so easy and always wants to be good.” Although Morgan bought Maren to show in the Western Pleasure this year, and just made her debut with the mare at The Premier in Kentucky where they won the Level 1 Amateur Western Pleasure, both she and Brad are already looking forward to expanding the mare’s repertoire in the future. “She shows so much potential for the all-around events,” said Morgan. “Brad has already started her over poles, and it is so easy for her. She has an aptitude for the Trail, and I am looking forward to showing her in that and the Western Riding in the future. I think she will be a great horse for me to learn both classes on and of course I can’t wait to watch Brad show her as well.”
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“Maren is such a fun, talented horse,” said Brad. “Mallory Menard is also our customer, so I have been watching Maren from the very beginning and have always liked her. She has a bright future. We were so excited when Morgan bought her and can’t wait to help them develop as a team.”
Planning For The Future In addition to her three show horses, Morgan also has a new young prospect that she is very excited about. Bred and raised by Anthony Leier, Al Be Good For Ya is a 2021 colt sired by Allocate Your Assets out of Will Be A Nature, a daughter of Good I Will Be. “I really enjoy the babies and had been looking for the right one to buy,” said Morgan. “When Anthony Leier, who I knew from showing Appaloosas, sent me a video of a foal he thought I might be interested in I instantly fell in love with the colt. I’ve never seen a foal lope like that at only 16 hours old. I immediately sent the video to Brad and Troy and within less than a minute they both agreed I had to buy him.” “Oliver is such a big, strong, pretty colt,” said Anthony. “He is definitely one of the nicest I’ve ever bred. If all goes well Morgan and I will show him in the Longe Line next year. He’s so fancy and I’m very excited to watch him grow up.”
MADE IT IN TIME
“Oliver is everything I had been looking for in a young prospect,” said Morgan. “Troy and I both have high hopes for his future in the Hunter Under Saddle futurities.” With much to look forward to this year with her three show horses as well as in the future, Morgan has been enjoying the transition from ApHC shows to AQHA and NSBA. “I’m having so much fun right now,” said Morgan. “Everyone at the AQHA and NSBA shows has been so welcoming and encouraging. It has been such a great experience and I’ve met some incredible people that have become great friends.”
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AL BE GOOD FOR YA
In addition to her fellow competitors and Empyre Show Horses barn mates, Morgan has a very supportive family cheering her on from the sidelines. “My husband is so supportive of our horses,” said Morgan. “He has no interest in riding or showing but he loves watching me show and is my biggest fan. He’s a great horseshow husband. I’m also so grateful for the support and encouragement of my parents. They have a big farm in Michigan where many of my old show horses are retired so they usually flip-flop who comes to the shows and who stays home. My dad loves the show horses, and my mom really enjoys taking care of the horses at the farm. We make a great team and support each other in everything we do.” With the support of her trainers, family and friends, Morgan is Iooking forward to the summer and fall futurities including the upcoming NSBA World Championship where she’ll be showing Hows That For Ya in the Non-Pro Maturity and Amateur Hunter Under Saddle, Made It In Time in the 3-Year-Old Limited Non Pro and Novice Amateur Western Pleasure and Grease Monkey in the Non-Pro Color Western Pleasure. Her horses will also be showing in Open events with Brad and Troy. “I’m very excited about the horses I have to show this year and am very much looking forward to the NSBA World Show,” said Morgan. “After that we are planning to go to both The Championship Show in Ocala and the Congress. It’s going to be a busy summer and fall but I can’t wait! I feel so blessed to be able to pursue my passion and ride great horses with great people.” Article Written By: Claire Binkowski
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NSBA RES WORLD CHAMPION
M U LT I P L E AQ H A T O P T E N Y E A R E N D AWA R D W I N N E R M U LT I P L E A L L A R O U N D C I R C U I T W I N N E R
Joe Whitt Suddenlee Single S e l ect A l l A r o u n d E v e n ts
ad by Natalie Zvanya | Photos by Cody Parmenter & Shane Rux
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Lola Knight
2 YR OLD NON PRO WESTERN PLEASURE EVENTS
& 2 YR OLD LIMITED OPEN WESTERN PLEASURE EVENTS WITH JENNIFER REAMS
ad by Natalie Zvanya | Photos by Southern Horse Photography
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premier sires results
3 YO LTD HORSE LTD RIDER WESTERN PLEASURE
3 YO LTD HORSE LTD RIDER HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
SHOWN BY: BECCA BRITTON OWNED BY: LIBBY TRUCCO
SHOWN BY: AMANDA GATELY OWNED BY: HOLLIS TAYLOR
KM SLOT MACHINE
LAST ONE MATTERS
SIRED BY: MACHINE MADE
SIRED BY: WHAT MATTERS MOST
$10,000
$10,000
4 YO NON PRO WESTERN PLEASURE
4 YO NON PRO HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
SLEEP N THE MOONLITE
AL BE YOUR PRINCE
SIRED BY: ONLY IN THE MOONLITE
SIRED BY: ALLOCATE YOUR ASSETS
$10,000
$13,600
SHOWN BY: BECKY GALYEAN
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SHOWN BY: SAMANTHA GARDNER
3 & OVER NOVICE HORSE WESTERN PLEASURE
OPEN/NON PRO TRAIL CHALLENGE
4/5 YEAR OLD OPEN TRAIL
MADEFOURIT
KM GENUINELY BEST
IMA SOUTHERN LOPER
SIRED BY: MACHINE MADE
SIRED BY: RL BEST OF SUDDEN
SIRED BY: ITS A SOUTHERN THING
L2 HORSE TRAIL
3 YEAR OLD OPEN TRAIL
L1 HORSE TRAIL
SHOWN BY: KATY JO ZUIDEMA OWNED BY: ARMELLINI/OYER
SHOWN BY: JENNIFER PAUL & EMMA GORE OWNED BY: EMMA GRACE GORE
SHOWN BY: BRYNNE BASSLER OWNED BY: JOHN & JULIE PARSON
IM HOTT YOURE NOTT
CHEESING IT
CHIPS MACHINE
SIRED BY: VS CODE RED
SIRED BY: VS CODE BLUE
SIRED BY: EXTREMELY HOT CHIPS
SHOWN BY: ANTHONY MONTES OWNED BY: INGRID MILLER
SHOWN BY: CARLY PARKS OWNED BY: FRITZ LEEMAN
SHOWN BY: ANTHONY MONTE OWNED BY: BRIANNA MERKLIN
4/5 YEAR OLD NON PRO TRAIL
MADE IN DETROIT SHOWN BY: MALLORY MENARD SIRED BY: MACHINE MADE
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premier sires breeders futurity
OPEN WESTERN LONGE LINE
COLOR OPEN WESTERN LONGE LINE
KM GREYS ANATOMY
BEST INGREDIENT
SIRED BY: RL BEST OF SUDDEN
SIRED BY: LOPIN MY BEST
SHOWN BY: TY HORNICK OWNED BY: PETER MEAD
SHOWN BY: CALLI ROUSE OWNED BY: JOYCE SUE CONKLIN
OPEN HUNTER LONGE LINE COLOR OPEN HUNTER LONGE LINE NON PRO HUNTER LONGE LINE COLOR NON PRO HUNTER LONGE LINE
LIVE AND LEARN OWNED & SHOWN BY: MARK OWEN SIRED BY: LIVING LARGE
COLOR NON PRO WESTERN LONGE LINE
NON PRO WESTERN LONGE LINE
SHOWN BY: HEATHER CAPLINGER OWNED BY: BRETT & HEATHER CAPLINGER
SHOWN BY: BRETT CAPLINGER OWNED BY: BRETT & HEATHER CAPLINGER
SIRED BY: MAKIN ME WILLY WILD
SIRED BY: THE BEST MARTINI
MAKE N MONEY
COLOR 2 YO OPEN WESTERN PLEASURE
MARTINI TIME
2 YO OPEN HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
2 YO OPEN WESTERN PLEASURE
SUGAR FACTORY
COUTURE DOWN SOUTH
KM BIT OF THE BEST
SIRED BY: THE SUGAR DADDY
SIRED BY: ITS A SOUTHERN THING
SIRED BY: MACHINE MADE
SHOWN BY: JEFFREY GIBBS OWNED BY: CATHERINE & HEATHER MEYER 50 | PREMIER | JULY 2021
SHOWN BY: ALYSE ROBERTS OWNED BY: LAUREN HUFFAKER
SHOWN BY: KATY JO ZUIDEMA OWNED BY: WAYNE & JUDY DAVIS
results
3 YO INT OPEN HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
3 YO NON PRO HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
COLOR 3 YO NON PRO HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
SHOWN BY: MICHAELA DARROH OWNED BY: DEANNA DARROH
SHOWN BY: CINDY SNAPP OWNED BY: TIM & CINDY SNAPP
SHE LOOKS FAMOUS
IM ALWAYS SLEEPY
SIRED BY: IRON ENTERPRISE
SIRED BY: TOO SLEEPY TO ZIP
SIRED BY: TOO SLEEPY TO ZIP
3 YO INT NON PRO HUNTER UNDER SADDLE 3 YO LTD NON PRO HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
COLOR 3 YO LTD NON PRO HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
3 YO OPEN HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
OWNED & SHOWN BY: KRISTEN SYBURG
SHOWN BY: AMBER HANSON PICKARD OWNED BY: DEEDS FAMILY FARMS
SHOWN BY: SCOTT JONES OWNED BY: JENNIFER ROOKS
ITS GAME ON
OWNED & SHOWN BY: TALI TERLIZZI
THE PLEASURE CODE SIRED BY: VS CODE RED
SIRED BY: MACHINE MADE
COLOR 3 YO OPEN HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
SLEEPY ALL THE TIME
ENTICED
SIRED BY: ITS A SOUTHERN THING
3 YO OPEN WESTERN PLEASURE
COLOR 3 YO OPEN WESTERN PLEASURE
ALL THE GOOD THINGS
COWGIRL TAKE ME AWAY SHOWN BY: RUSTY GREEN OWNED BY: BETH MCNICHOL
SHOWN BY: GIL GALYEAN OWNED BY: SUPERIOR CARE MANAGEMENT LLC
SIRED BY: GIVE ME THE GOODS
SIRED BY: RL BEST OF SUDDEN
SIRED BY: VS CODE RED
SHOWN BY: KEITH MILLER OWNED BY: ERIN SHAPIRO BOATWRIGHT
VS BETTIN ON RED
premier sires breeders futurity
3 YO LTD OPEN WESTERN PLEASURE
MARILYNN MONROE SHOWN BY: BECCA BRITTON OWNED BY: BLAKE & BECCA BRITTON
3 YO LTD NON PRO WESTERN PLEASURE
COLOR 3 YO LTD NON PRO WESTERN PLEASURE
SHOWN BY: TALI TERLIZZI
OWNED & SHOWN BY: KAREN BANSTRA
PINBALL MACHINE
A GOLDEN MACHINE
SIRED BY: MACHINE MADE
SIRED BY: MACHINE MADE
SIRED BY: MACHINE MADE
3 YO INT OPEN WESTERN PLEASURE 3 YO NON PRO WESTERN PLEASURE 3 YO INT NON PRO WESTERN PLEASURE
KM SLOT MACHINE
SHOWN BY: BLAKE BRITTON & LIBBY TRUCCO OWNED BY: LIBBY TRUCCO SIRED BY: MACHINE MADE
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4 YO OPEN WESTERN PLEASURE
MADE YA LOOK
SHOWN BY: AARON MOSES OWNED BY: BRENT & KATE BAMFORD SIRED BY: MACHINE MADE
results
4 YO OPEN HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
AL MY ASSETS
SHOWN BY: BETH CASE OWNED BY: MICHELLE & SHELIA BAUER
4 YO NON PRO WESTERN PLEASURE
4 YO NON PRO HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
OWNED & SHOWN BY: BECKY GALYEAN
SHOWN BY: MICHELLE BAUER OWNED BY: MICHELLE & SHELIA BAUER
SLEEP N THE MOONLITE SIRED BY: ONLY IN THE MOONLITE
AL MY ASSETS
SIRED BY: ALLOCATE YOUR ASSETS
SIRED BY: ALLOCATE YOUR ASSETS
4 YO LTD NON PRO WESTERN PLEASURE
4 YO LTD NON PRO HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
OWNED & SHOWN BY: AMY GUMZ
SHOWN BY: TY PARIS OWNED BY: BECKEY SCHOOLER
BESTSEATNTHESOUTH SIRED BY: ITS A SOUTHERN THING
AL RIGHT ALREADY SIRED BY: ALLOCATE YOUR ASSETS
PREMIER SIRES PAID OUT
OVER $565,000
IN 2021 53 | PREMIER | JULY 2021
premier magazine results
NON PRO SHOWMANSHIP
NON PRO HORSEMANSHIP
NON PRO HUNT SEAT EQUITATION
ON THE ROKS
DEFINITELY A FIRST
BEEZ IN THE TRAP SHOWN BY: DEANNA GREEN OWNED BY: MARY ROGERS GREEN
OWNED & SHOWN BY: JOHNNA LETCHWORTH
NON PRO MATURITY WESTERN PLEASURE
NON PRO MATURITY HUNTER UNDER SADDLE
L2 SENIOR WESTERN RIDING
OWNED & SHOWN BY: JOHN MCNICHOL
OWNED & SHOWN BY: HALEY HARTMAN
OWNED & SHOWN BY: KALEENA WEAKLY
KM BETCHA IM BEST
AL FOOL YA
LEVEL 1 WESTERN RIDING
THE MONIE MAN
SHOWN BY: CARLY PARKS OWNED BY:SUMNER PERFORMANCE HORSES
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CASH INCLUDED
SHOWN BY: ANTHONY MONTES OWNED BY: ROBIN & ERIC REPLOGLE
NON PRO WESTERN RIDING
STRAWBERRI WINE OWNED & SHOWN BY: LAINA BANKS
PAID OUT $31,700 PRE M IE R M AGAZ IN E
IN ALL-AROUND CLASSES IN 2021 These classes are funded by ads purchased in the Premier Magazine.
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30k t r ai n e r s t e a m ch alle nge
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congratulations
K ATI E GR EE N | CODY C AMP B EL L | M I KE H AC H TEL | B EEZ I N THE T RAP
WINNING $30K $10K TO EACH WINNING TEAM MEMBER
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candids
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