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                         May 24, 2002

Something for everyone at Morgan Farm Open House

Story and photos by Jim Fox
Staff Writer

Dozens of hearty souls braved the elements to visit Morgan Farm’s Open House Saturday. Things were a little slow at first, until the rain and flurries subsided, but a good crowd eventually made their way to see what the Directorate of Community and Family Activities facility had to offer.

Free horse rides, door prizes, plenty of refreshments and Macaroni the Clown were all available thanks to the donations of numerous area and regional merchants.

Morgan Farms manager Pete Cashman described the day as an opportunity for the West Point community to get to know what goes on at Morgan Farms.

"We offer riding lessons, trail rides, kenneling and through cadet activities this is the home of the Army Equestrian team," he said.

Cashman said he and his staff are trying to dispel the secrecy about Morgan Farms.

"Riding is for everybody," Cashman said. "It is not just for special people. We try to make it cost-affordable and available to everyone whether their interests are towards Western, English, trail riding and even barrel racing. These open houses let new parents come and see what we are all about."

The group that attended the open house included community and local children, some of which had never seen or ridden a horse before.

One enthusiastic young rider was Dylan Kelly of Highland Falls. The seven-year-old has ridden before and hopes to take riding lessons at Morgan Farms in the near future.

The highlight of her day came when she got to ride one of the Morgan Farms horses. She rode a 20-year old Morgan named April.

"It was fun," Kelly said. "I was lucky because I was born in April and I got to ride a horse named April."

Other little people were entertained by Macaroni the Clown’s magic show up in the hayloft.

Macaroni’s audience was kept busy helping him with tricks and telling jokes to the amusement of all.

Young people throughout the audience were baffled by Macaroni’s tricks as they asked, "How’d he do that?" amid peels of laughter.

In the end even the un-spring-like weather couldn’t keep young and old from finding out just what Morgan Farms had to offer. 

Right: Seven- year-old Dylan Kelly takes a ride on April. Left: Face painting was a popular diversion Saturday while attendees waited for the weather to clear so they could see all the things Morgan Farm had to offer. Here Pat Horne paints a horse on the cheek of four-year-old Kyle Liotto.