Reader Story of the Week: Tiggerlillie's Triumph

Editor's Note: due to a server glitch, this story did not appear as scheduled last week. We hope you enjoy it this week as a little bit of Thanksgiving cheer!

2009 National Mountian Trail Championships
by Bobbie Ann Beller

The little black Morgan standing in line between the Mammoth Mule and the 15+ hand Paints looked like an unlikely candidate for a win at the National Mountian Trail Championships at the Oregon Horse Center in Eugene, Oregon the weekend of November 7th. There were 780 entrants and 150 equines vying for national titles. The course was an engineering feat that facility owner Major Defoe and his staff had worked on for 2 weeks. There were logs to cross that were well above Jinglebob Tiggerlillies knees, 4 ½ foot ditches, ponds, creeks, a bridge 20 feet in the air and a waterfall all in the Silverado Arena.

Rose White owner, trainer and rider of her “mighty little Morgan Lillie” believed in her bravery, sure footedness and above all huge heart. With the help of friends and family who sponsored the journey they competed the three days in two divisions: Mountain Trail Explorer and Novice Horse against Quarter Horses, Mules and Paints, she was the only Morgan there.

At 14.1 hands (with shoes…) Lillie epitomizes the image of the Morgan Horse. When she was born she was bold but as she grew to only 14.1 hands Rose was worried that her size was not adequate for her 5’7 inch 140 pound frame. So Lillie kept company with her mother Blacksaddle Gypsey until she was 7 years old. Rose knew she had to start the mare and began her training trail riding and eventually rode her over 250 Limited Distance miles in AERC sanctioned endurance rides where she was in the top ten more often then not. In the summer of 2008 Rose and Lillie started participating in Medieval Equestrian Gaming with the SCA. Jousting the quintain, swinging swords at fake heads and doing palfrey competitions where Rose would ride bridless in all gates carrying a flag. They were Tournament champions both events they entered in 2009.

Rose had wanted to participate in the Mountain Trail Series at the Oregon Horse Center for the 8 years since its inception but as a National Championship wasn’t sure that a small Morgan could be competitive with the “big gun” Quarter Horses and Mules who were each years champions. With the encouragement of her partner Bobbie Ann and her friends and family who believed in the team she entered and went up hoping to just have a great experience, keep Lillie safe and do the best they could do.

When the announcer called The 2009 National Mountain Trail Championships Mountain Explorer Division Champion winner is Jinglebobs Tiggerlillie and Rose White the crowd erupted for the “mighty little Morgan” and a teary eyed Rose buried her face in Lillies velvet soft neck. Lillie leapt onto the winners podium, a 3’ tall three tear pedestal, to receive her Champion ribbon and photograph. In the Novice Horse Division they placed 4th out of 30 entrants. The icing on the cake for this dynamic team was receiving the Judges Award for the Top 5 Competitors who exemplified the finest in horsemanship throughout the entire event. A cherry on the cake of success!!