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Stormy's Ebony Jo & Mo Patterson:
A New and Versatile Generation

It is simply unexplainable! Not one person in my family rode or had horses. I guess I am the beginning of a new horse loving generation. When people ask my dad how my love for horses started he replies with a familiar story, “She was five and went on a pony ride at the SEMO District Fair and was hooked.” Horses and barns consume my time, energy and desire in life. My parents always thought that I would grow out of this and found many reasons for not getting me a horse. Finally, at Christmas when I was ten years old I received a certificate of ownership for Rusty, a Quarter Horse pony. Rusty belonged to James and Kathy Thomas at the Coldwater Ranch in Eminence, Missouri. We had been going to the ranch since I was five. There I was able to take trail rides on my summer vacations. James and Kathy had become my second parents and took the time to teach and share with me their love of horses. Rusty stayed in Eminence, which is a three-hour drive from my hometown of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. So for the next three years my dad and I would take one weekend each month to drive to Eminence. I continued to ride Rusty and learn about the care and responsibilities of having a horse. I also spent a month during summer vacations with James and Kathy at the ranch riding and helping with all the horse duties at Coldwater Ranch. I came to know the trails so well that I took out some rides and made a little money. I still go out every chance I get to learn about horses. I believe you can never stop learning about horses because, like us, God made each one different. I love the challenge and joy that comes with figuring out each horse’s individual personality.

As any true horse lover knows, once a month was not enough horse time, so I started going to a stable down the road from my home. It was there that I was introduced to Tennessee Walking Horses and the show ring. Cis Erlbacher, a retired schoolteacher, took me under her wing and allowed me to show her black Tennessee Walking Horses, Foxy and Threat’s Secret. I received a fourth place ribbon on Secret and that is when my love for the show ring and Tennessee Walking Horses began. The search began and, with the help of Paul Kidd and Jack Schwetmann, I found Stormy’s Ebony Jo, a.k.a. Thunder, in a field owned by Rush Fortner. Thunder was a wild-eyed colt and had never been touched but I felt that I could take on the challenge so my dad bought him.

He was truly an enormous challenge for both my dad and me. It took many months of hard work every day to give him the perfect ground work so he would be ready for the show ring the next year. We also sent him to learn the trail at Eminence with James. After only three months Thunder was a new horse. My dad was thrilled that we had a dead broke trail horse. I, on the other hand, had much different plans for Thunder. I had just completed a horse clinic with Martha Ann Huck and she and her mom Becky had given me the TWHBEA Versatility Program Handbook and told me that I should think about it with Thunder.

I was 13 years old and Thunder was two, we spent every weekend at the local shows. We began competing in Good Seat and Hands, Two-Gait, Showmanship, Model and Water Glass. While both of us were still new to the show ring, we were a good team and seemed to place in almost every class we entered. Thunder’s favorite was two-gait and he always left the ring with his well-known show dance of prancing like a wild black stallion. My mom would cover her eyes when we did our exit, fearing he would throw me off, but Thunder never lost me. He is a proud boy and he loves the show ring. Halter and Model classes were a bit of a challenge due to Thunder wanting to act like a big hairy dog and lick me the whole time. I couldn’t wait to get done with those points and after we finished I said I would never show in Model and Halter again. Some say “never say never,” because Halter is one of our favorite classes at horse shows these days.

I had completed my points in five classes and had to decide what other events to earn points in for Versatility. We tried barrels and poles and I decided against that for the fear of Thunder being so young and not wanting to risk the chance of a leg injury. The next fall I started to train him to canter and after a long winter we had it perfected for the shows that spring. We started to earn our points in English Pleasure, Western Riding and Trail Obstacle. Those points took another couple of show seasons to complete and I was getting a little nervous since I would be turning 18 the next year. But we Got R Dun!!

I want to say a big THANK YOU to all the people that take the time to put the horse shows together in Cape Girardeau County and surrounding areas. Without them, I and many other young riders would not have the opportunity to achieve such great accomplishments.

Youth Superior Champion is recognized as a horse and rider achievement but without the help of two special people it would not have been possible. Thank you Mom and Dad! I want you to know that my love and appreciation goes beyond words. You gave up almost every weekend during the past four summers to take Thunder and me to the show ring. You were my grooms, horse handlers, cheering section and outfit coordinator (my mom’s favorite task) at every show. This has truly been the ride of my life and will never be forgotten. Thunder and I will continue to show for a long time to come.

Thunder is known as a barn clown these day, and still does his famous show ring exit. Another one of his famous talents is to stand in his stall and shake his head up and down or from side to side. You can ask him questions and he will gladly tell you “yes” or “no.” Another trick he loves to do is to zip my winter coat up and down for as long as I will let him or until he gets his lip stuck (it hasn’t happened yet). I know that I am the first to be a horse lover in my family but you can bet I won’t be the last if I have anything to say about it.

–Mo Patterson