Jim and Ronna Messier are winners of the IMBA Meritorious Service Award for 2007. They live on a farm in Franklin, Vermont, located just one mile from the Canadian border that has been in Jim’s family since 1940. Jim purchased the farm from his father and mother in 1985. When Jim was growing up, all the field work was done with Clydesdale horses. A part-Morgan horse was used on the “dump rake” and for riding. Jim explained that back then, every horse smaller than 17 hands was called “part-Morgan.” Jim remembers gathering sap in the spring and wood in the winter with horses. “All the neighbors had tractors long before we did,” he said.
Jim went through high school and graduated from the University of Vermont. He returned home and ran a dairy farm. At the same time, he purchased a few Shetland ponies. After a few years, he sold the dairy cattle and began teaching agriculture at the local Union High School. Forty-three years later, he is still teaching agriculture at the same high school but he is beginning to think about retiring to be able to devote more time to his deep interest in horses.
Twenty years ago, Jim began raising registered miniature horses. Then ten years ago he decided to get back into owning riding horses. Jim had always been interested in both Morgan and Arabian horses and his veterinarian suggested that he look into breeding Morabs. Jim began his breeding operation with nine Arabian brood mares and one leased Old Government Style Morgan stallion by the name of Spectrum Rising Star. Jim explained that he was not very concerned about bloodlines. He just knew that Rising Star was a fabulous horse and he wanted to raise good, versatile performance horses. He wanted to produce hunter-jumpers, trail horses, English and western pleasure and that is exactly what he did. With the help of a friend that has trained horses Jim and Ronna determine each horse’s strengths for the various equine sports. In addition to breeding and raising Morabs, they raise Arabians and Miniature Horses.
Nearly nine years ago, Jim married Ronna Jager. Ronna embraced Jim’s passion for horses and immediately contributed to their breeding operation by organizing the breeding, registration and health records. Ronna also investigated the three Morab registries and suggested to Jim that they change over to IMBA and IMR. Ronna also works at a local grocery store full time. During the past year she had herself demoted from “Front End Assistant Manager” to a shift leader/cashier/bookkeeper position so that she could have a more flexible schedule, making it possible to have more time for the needs of the farm and the show seasons.
When the Messiers married Ronna knew nothing about farming or horses. But not many days passed until, through Jim’s teaching, the learning began. While Jim was teaching in the classroom, Ronna began taking over the daily maintenance of the farm chores. It has been Ronna’s great delight to have helped mares deliver their foals at times when she’s been home alone. Over these last nine years she has learned a lot about farm life and has a great love for it, and especially for the horses. Now, it is not unusual for this person who knew nothing, to be found helping out friends by giving advice as to what to do with their horses in certain situations based on her own experiences.
The Messiers have raised an impressive number of fine Morab horses, all with the Half Moon prefix. Their second generation Morab stallion, Half Moon’s Zadok Shammah, was the Reserve Champion Halter winner at the Eastern Canadian Show, and his dam Half-Moon’s Raisa won Grand Champion. Zadok was sold to a breeding farm in Pawlett, Vermont. Zadok’s full brother will be shown by the Messiers this year. His name is Half Moon’s Aswad Kahil, a word meaning “black horse” in Arabic.
Several years ago, the couple bought LM Black Powder from Liberty Mtn. Ranch in Arkansas as their herd stallion. Then in 2006, Ronna bought Powder’s filly LM’s Red Flair and with help, got her ready for the Canadian National Horse Show where she won Reserve Champion at Halter in 2007. Their plan is to get their black stallion ready for the Canadian National in two years and other horses will be shown in the Canadian Eastern Horse Show this year.
Half Moon horses have been sold and are being shown successfully in Canada, Massachusetts, New Jersey and elsewhere. Jim and Ronna are well-satisfied with their first and second generation Morabs and now plan to raise third generation IMR horses. They use in-hand breeding with Ronna handling their stallion, who is sensible and predictable, and Jim handling the mares.
Educating others in their community about Morab horses is a challenge that Jim and Ronna are willing to tackle. They held a very successful Region 1 “Discover the Morab” event in September of 2007 and now they are considering continuing this as an annual event. Perhaps they will invite Natural Horsemanship trainer Lief Engstrom this year. Lief is a member of the community in the Franklin area.
he people who help Jim and Ronna with training are Jill Kelley and Rachel Martel. Rachel has been working with their new Morab “Indy” (Freedom’s Independence Spark). He was in four shows last year and did very well. Jill has worked with the majority of the horses including Half Moon’s Raisa and Zaddok Shammah before their shows in Canada. Jill and Rachel are also working with LM Black Powder to help get him ready for the Canadian Nationals.
Along with Jill and Rachel, the Messiers would like to start an equine 4-H program for youngsters interested in hunter and jumper horses at the farm this year. Another potential project is that Half Moon Farm may be taking over the County Field Days Equine Show and if so, would offer a few Morab and Morab/Morgan/Arab classes.
Jim reflected that running their Morab breeding operation over the years has been very interesting. They have produced 35 Morab foals and moved from first generation to second and now plan to take it to another level with third generation Morabs to be born in 2009. IMR Registrar and IMBA Chairperson Karen Smith remarked that the Messiers are role models for all Morab breeders. They are thoughtful and considerate of their horses and their customers, and they have set specific goals for the future. Congratulations to Ronna and Jim Messier for their well-deserved award.
The Owners
Jim and Ronna Messier are winners of the IMBA Meritorious Service Award for 2007. They live on a farm in Franklin, Vermont, located just one mile from the Canadian border that has been in Jim’s family since 1940. Jim purchased the farm from his father and mother in 1985. When Jim was growing up, all the field work was done with Clydesdale horses. A part-Morgan horse was used on the “dump rake” and for riding. Jim explained that back then, every horse smaller than 17 hands was called “part-Morgan.” Jim remembers gathering sap in the spring and wood in the winter with horses. “All the neighbors had tractors long before we did,” he said.
Twenty years ago, Jim began raising registered miniature horses. Then ten years ago he decided to get back into owning riding horses. Jim had always been interested in both Morgan and Arabian horses and his veterinarian suggested that he look into breeding Morabs. Jim began his breeding operation with nine Arabian brood mares and one leased Old Government Style Morgan stallion by the name of Spectrum Rising Star. Jim explained that he was not very concerned about bloodlines. He just knew that Rising Star was a fabulous horse and he wanted to raise good, versatile performance horses. He wanted to produce hunter-jumpers, trail horses, English and western pleasure and that is exactly what he did. With the help of a friend that has trained horses Jim and Ronna determine each horse’s strengths for the various equine sports. In addition to breeding and raising Morabs, they raise Arabians and Miniature Horses.
Nearly nine years ago, Jim married Ronna Jager. Ronna embraced Jim’s passion for horses and immediately contributed to their breeding operation by organizing the breeding, registration and health records. Ronna also investigated the three Morab registries and suggested to Jim that they change over to IMBA and IMR. Ronna also works at a local grocery store full time. During the past year she had herself demoted from “Front End Assistant Manager” to a shift leader/cashier/bookkeeper position so that she could have a more flexible schedule, making it possible to have more time for the needs of the farm and the show seasons.
When the Messiers married Ronna knew nothing about farming or horses. But not many days passed until, through Jim’s teaching, the learning began. While Jim was teaching in the classroom, Ronna began taking over the daily maintenance of the farm chores. It has been Ronna’s great delight to have helped mares deliver their foals at times when she’s been home alone. Over these last nine years she has learned a lot about farm life and has a great love for it, and especially for the horses. Now, it is not unusual for this person who knew nothing, to be found helping out friends by giving advice as to what to do with their horses in certain situations based on her own experiences.
The Messiers have raised an impressive number of fine Morab horses, all with the Half Moon prefix. Their second generation Morab stallion, Half Moon’s Zadok Shammah, was the Reserve Champion Halter winner at the Eastern Canadian Show, and his dam Half-Moon’s Raisa won Grand Champion. Zadok was sold to a breeding farm in Pawlett, Vermont. Zadok’s full brother will be shown by the Messiers this year. His name is Half Moon’s Aswad Kahil, a word meaning “black horse” in Arabic.
Several years ago, the couple bought LM Black Powder from Liberty Mtn. Ranch in Arkansas as their herd stallion. Then in 2006, Ronna bought Powder’s filly LM’s Red Flair and with help, got her ready for the Canadian National Horse Show where she won Reserve Champion at Halter in 2007. Their plan is to get their black stallion ready for the Canadian National in two years and other horses will be shown in the Canadian Eastern Horse Show this year.
Half Moon horses have been sold and are being shown successfully in Canada, Massachusetts, New Jersey and elsewhere. Jim and Ronna are well-satisfied with their first and second generation Morabs and now plan to raise third generation IMR horses. They use in-hand breeding with Ronna handling their stallion, who is sensible and predictable, and Jim handling the mares.
Educating others in their community about Morab horses is a challenge that Jim and Ronna are willing to tackle. They held a very successful Region 1 “Discover the Morab” event in September of 2007 and now they are considering continuing this as an annual event. Perhaps they will invite Natural Horsemanship trainer Lief Engstrom this year. Lief is a member of the community in the Franklin area.
he people who help Jim and Ronna with training are Jill Kelley and Rachel Martel. Rachel has been working with their new Morab “Indy” (Freedom’s Independence Spark). He was in four shows last year and did very well. Jill has worked with the majority of the horses including Half Moon’s Raisa and Zaddok Shammah before their shows in Canada. Jill and Rachel are also working with LM Black Powder to help get him ready for the Canadian Nationals.
Along with Jill and Rachel, the Messiers would like to start an equine 4-H program for youngsters interested in hunter and jumper horses at the farm this year. Another potential project is that Half Moon Farm may be taking over the County Field Days Equine Show and if so, would offer a few Morab and Morab/Morgan/Arab classes.
Jim reflected that running their Morab breeding operation over the years has been very interesting. They have produced 35 Morab foals and moved from first generation to second and now plan to take it to another level with third generation Morabs to be born in 2009. IMR Registrar and IMBA Chairperson Karen Smith remarked that the Messiers are role models for all Morab breeders. They are thoughtful and considerate of their horses and their customers, and they have set specific goals for the future. Congratulations to Ronna and Jim Messier for their well-deserved award.