Oregon Morgans: Turning Nightmares into Dreams

The Life of an Oregon Cowgirl
by Brandon Enyeart, photos courtesy Carole Mercer

Carole Mercer was only four years old when she was bitten by the horse bug. Unlike many people in the horse world, Carole didn’t have a family history of horsemen and horsewomen; in fact, her parents didn’t really even like horses. However, a big brown gelding named Fisher who lived behind her family’s house in Sheridan, Wyoming became the first step in an extraordinary career for Carole. There were winters when her mother could barely see Carole from the kitchen window as the little girl wandered out into blizzard to check up on Fisher and make sure he was all right. Even though Fisher wasn’t her own horse, she bonded with him in a way that most of us are very familiar with.

At the age of 14, Carole's life made a big change when her parents decided to retire to a one-acre lot south of San Francisco, California. Her life was missing something, and she mentally wasted away without the one thing that stimulated her dreams and goals…horses.

Thankfully, she discovered Canada Stables in Woodside, California. Still barely into her teens, she biked up hills to Woodside every day and cleaned stalls in exchange for riding lessons. It was just what she needed to ease the culture shock of moving. Once again Carole had regained the drive and determination she had left in Wyoming.

Carole’s adult life had its ups and downs. Horses came and went once she married, went to college and moved to Los Angeles. She had a daughter named Sarah, and then went through a divorce before moving back to the Bay Area.

The next significant horse to come into her life was a POA named Pepper that she bought for Sarah. Carole rode him everywhere with Sarah perched in front of her, along for the ride. Sarah knew how to ride, but didn’t like to; obviously, the horse gene skipped a generation.

The start of Carole’s love of Morgan horses was a registered mare named Chualar’s Valentine. Carole started to become very serious about driving with Valentine, and it was then that her life changed completely.

Another divorce meant Valentine had to be sold in order to buy a ranch in Eagle Point, Oregon for Carole and Sarah. Carole did most of the farming on the ranch with Morgan horses she purchased, using them for everything from gathering cattle to pulling a hay wagon. The ranch became the first real home of her adult life.

Years passed and Sarah moved away for college. Everyday ranch life continued to keep Carole busy until the day Sarah went jogging alongside the road and was struck by a car and killed.

“I was never able to find myself again, but I learned that you don’t find yourself; you create yourself,” said Carole.

After almost 12 years of reshaping her life Carole, finds herself the proud owner of a dream team: two Morgan mares (Bobbi and Valentine) with whom she performs a dressage musical kur. She rides Bobbi western sidesaddle while driving the other mare, Valentine (named after her first Morgan mare), in tandem using long lines.

At 65 years old, this Northwest horsewoman will be representing the United States at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, September 25 through October 10, 2010. Carole and her mares will perform October 7 through 10 in the Equine Village, which promises to be an entertaining and educational companion to the games. This is an honor that Carole likens to being an athlete at the Olympics.

“Whoever thought that this Oregon cowgirl and her lovely Dancing Morgans would dance off their home range of Eagle Point, Oregon to entertain worldwide spectators at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games?”

For Carole Mercer, her horses aren’t just a dream; they’re the reality that makes every day worth living. It’s no wonder she was selected to represent that tough but compassionate Northwest spirit in one of the biggest equine events of our time.

Find out more about Carole and her Dancing Morgans at www.carts-carriages.com.