Joane Doucette

With the passing of my parents, Kenneth and Marjorie Toombs in 2010 and 2011, and the dispersing of the show horses, the doors of South Bay Morgans seemed to be closing.

Until 2017, when a Facebook sales ad popped up in my feed of a four year old chestnut mare that I couldn’t stop thinking about. Totally green. What was I thinking?

It was fate—the horse lived just over the hill from my daughter—just 10 minutes away at Townshend Farm in Bolton, Massachusetts! I’d never been there nor ever met the legendary Nancy Caisse.

So I went over not expecting to ride (it had been years!), and actually I had wanted a potential driving pony for future grandchildren. But Nancy gave me a helmet, tacked up Townshend Shining Bell (Townshend Rise And Shine x Townshend Bewitching Bell, by Tug Hill Whamunition), and off I went! We rode around the farm, down farm roads and into the fields amongst tractors coming and going. “Annie” was so interested in all, yet totally attentive, assessing EVERYTHING. She was SO smart. SOLD!

I had some help with trainers when needed, she came home in between, and then I boarded her seasonally at a hunter/jumper barn. I met people who were just as intrigued with my Morgan as I was of their non-Morgans. We learned a lot! The more people admired Annie, the more she showed off—a true Morgan.

I asked around for recommendations seeking someone to help me with Annie’s flatwork while boarding, to share her and keep her “busy” on days I had to work.

The prerequisites:

a) like mares
b) ride ponies
c) love a challenge, and
d) have a sense of humor

I found the perfect match in Ashley Conway! Strictly a hunter/jumper rider, Ashley is a petite, beautiful rider, who had never ridden a Morgan and had some preconceived notions, but was so open-minded! We began with low flatwork, poles and dressage for a few months until that first cross rail was just set aside, but Annie wanted to jump it, pulling Ashley and launching over it with about 2’ clearance.

Fast forward three years where we have only competed in open shows, clinics, and fox hunts. Although I started Annie in Intro Level dressage competitions the year before, Ashley had never had any formal dressage instruction. Their first ridden test together was Heritage Days in 2022. So now who’s teaching who? Still smiling!

From 2021 until now, Annie and Ashley have received multiple jumping championships and year-end awards—all at Open shows. Even dressage! And they’ve accumulated blue ribbons from 20+ horse classes all at reputable jumping events. We are always asked, “What is she”? “Where did you get her?” “How tall is she?” Last year, she returned to her Morgan roots and strutted her stuff at the New England Morgan Horse Show, her very first all-Morgan event, and showed the other Morgans what she (and they!) could do. Winning amongst her peers meant the world to me!

Annie jumps and I don’t, but I absolutely love being her Social Director, caretaker, limo driver and hacking her from home.

P.S. I now have a grandchild and Annie still doesn’t drive. It must be fate… LOL!