About Oldfield Morgans
In 1970, the Harvey girls had owned several ponies, which they rode and drove all over the place, even through the winter. That year, the president of the American Morgan Horse Association, Lawrence Appley, appeared on the "Today" show with one of his Morgans. The horse had ridden forty stories up in a freight elevator and stood quietly in the studio amid cameras, lights, and hubbub that would test the mettle of any horse. The beauty and calm sensibility of that Morgan sealed it for Jean, who saw the show and said to Ken, "When we get a horse, we have to get a Morgan." Ken loved history, especially American history, and Morgans filled the bill on that score too.
VAS Tammy and HeidiOur first Morgan was VAS Tammy, a dark chestnut daughter of the prolific Westcrest Silver and the palomino mare, Elinor. She was purchased as a two-year old filly from Harvey and Marge Luebke, lifelong Wisconsin Morgan breeders. Marge was also Heidi's 7th grade English teacher and determined to steer that horse crazy girl in the Morgan direction.
Ken and Jean Harvey and KJ Morgans were founding members of the Wisconsin Morgan Horse Club, which was formed on the very snowy night of February 20, 1976. Heidi, who was a junior in high school, also went along. Ken, a WWII veteran and a survivor of Pearl Harbor, retired from the Navy in 1977 after 37 years of active duty, and Morgans became his retirement project. Ken and Jean both received Master's Certificates from the AMHA for their long term involvement with Morgans, and Jean has been a member of the Wisconsin Morgan Horse Club and the AMHA for more than 40 years.
Boomer at age 25Tammy had five foals for us, including our foundation stallion, Boomer 66298, in 1977. Boomer was sired by Marge and Harvey Luebke's bay in-hand, park saddle, and park harness champion stallion, Beauty's Banner.
Boomer typifies the calm, intelligent, people-loving Morgan personality and demonstrates another Morgan trait - longevity! We created a separate page for him in celebration of 35th birthday on May 21, 2012, which tells the story of his extended horse and human family. Boomer's Page.
Fieldstone Farah and 1989 colt, Jubilee
Over the years, Boomer sired more than two dozen offspring, including a string of look-alike bay colts out of Fieldstone Farah, or "Flora" as we called her. Flora was a high-stepping, snorty mare who loved attention. Jean spotted her quality even though Flora was being offered as a barely broke and untested broodmare in a package deal with a quarter horse for $800. Jean found a buyer for the quarter horse and got the bargain of a lifetime with her $400 purchase. Flora had 11 foals for us, including our former matriarch, Flora's Lida Rose. Flora wasn't a people horse by any means but she was as smart and sensible as a person. Once when a toddler escaped into the pasture and grabbed her by the legs, Flora stood stock still and warned every other horse off with a shake of her extended neck for several minutes until the humans came to retrieve the errant child. There was also no gate or latch that Flora could not open. On hot days, she would select the stall of her choice. Once she released a stallion from his stall and kicked him into the hallway so that she could stand directly under the ceiling fan. That is very Morgan.
Ch. Oldfield Sailor (Boomer x Flora's Lida Rose), owned by Robin Pelham, Finger Lakes MorgansKJ Morgans became Oldfield Morgans in 2000 when Ken passed away and his daughter, Heidi, took over day to day operations. Jean Harvey and Heidi's sister Gretchen are trusted advisors, thanks to their knowledge of the breed, their experience raising horses and their sound judgment.
Today we are breeding Rose's daughters and granddaughters for beautiful, athletic Morgans that are true to Morgan type and temperment and suited to a lifetime of partnership with their owners in multiple pleasure and sport disciplines.