March 2010 by email...
Hi Marguerite,
Just a quick note to give you an update on the 2 fillies.  The Jackie B filly is HUGE - she is 15 hh now and still growing !  I've had about 7 rides on her now, just walk and jog - not going to push her since she is doing so much growing and she is too good to push, and I'm in no rush.  She sure is a beauty though.

The other filly is so darn cute and everyone that comes to our barn just loves her.  She is 14.2 hh, well built and totally proportioned.  I had a local gal that has been starting young horses for a few years now, get on her and WOW - she walked, jogged and loped both ways like she had been doing it all her life.  She was just amazed at our little "Rosie".  I now have two friends who would love to have an MJ horse !  I told them to watch the upcoming sales.

I will try to get some photos now that the weather is getting better and most of our snow is gone.

Take care and I will keep in touch.

Kenda Grant, Nova Scotia

 

Below is a story we just had to share as it gives such great testimony that our horses are as versatile, willing and athletic as we are working to breed them to be... from the show ring, rodeo arena, cow pasture and branding pen!

We are so happy to hear how Lilly has met and exceeded the goals that Renee had for her... and thank Renee for keeping us posted!!

August 2007 - Re: MJ ALL DOC - AKA "Lilly" - owned and shown by Renee Neighbour
Hi there! I just wanted to let you know how "Miss Lilly" was doing.  2007 was a pretty quiet season for her, mostly due to weather & other time commitments on my part. She basically had from December through July off (with the exception of the occasional lunge when the weather permitted). There is a beautiful warm barn where I board but no indoor arena. With all of the snow and the wet spring we had the poor mare hardly got rode. 

At the beginning of August I finally had the time to start working my mare again. I saddled her up for the first time since the ground was snow covered and headed to the arena.  I thought I would test her to see just how willing she was... I mounted, sat quietly for a few moments, bumped her into frame, kissed and loped off. This wonderful mare picked up her back, dropped her head and softly & slowly loped halfway around the area until I had to stop. Up to this point in my 20+ years of riding and showing, has a horse impressed me to the point of tears.  I was literally sitting on the rail with tears rolling down my face. It is absolutely unbelievable the amount of heart this horse has.
 
So with a less than dozen more rides, about 300+ extra pounds and little to no muscle tone, we headed to the Western Canadian Championships Horse Show & Futurity from August 17-19. There, Lilly continued to shine, several times throughout the weekend I have complete strangers call me over from my warm up rides to comment on her athleticism and to tell me how pretty she was. I showed the mare in the All Breed Western Pleasure Open Senior Horse and she was Reserve Champion.  I could not have been more proud, she tried her heart out for me every time I asked her to do something with no fuss to the fact that she was unfit. Just wanted to let you know that she just keeps getting better and better.  

I have attached the rail from show so that you can see her for yourself. Also, Lilly is booked to the World & Congress Champion producing sire Skys Blue Boy for 2008. Himself, he is a 2-Time Congress Champion Hunter Under Saddle. Needless to say, I am very excited for the potential of this cross.  

Thank you once again for breeding this special mare, who never ceases to amaze me on a daily basis. She is truly "One of A Kind".

July 2006 - Re: MJ ALL DOC - AKA "Lilly"
I own one of your horses, which I purchased about seven years ago. Her name is MJ All Doc AQHA#3408320. I just wanted to let you know personally what an AMAZING horse this filly turned out to be.

I broke her as a four year old and she was an absolute dream. She never said "NO". My goal for her was to eventually have a broodmare that was proven in both the speed and show events.

In 2000 she was the Canadian National Amateur Barrel Racing Champion at the Canadian National Qarter Horse Show, and Reserve Canadian National Amatuer Barrel Champion in 2001. She competed as a money-earning heading and heeling horse (I could have sold her everytime I took her out). Upon retirement from the speed events, the show training was finished and we began competing in the show events.

"Lilly" was the Champion All-breed Amatuer Showmanship, Horsemanship and Western Pleasure her first time time out at the Canadian National Pinto Show. She is a great little jogger with a good-hocked lope. She can hold with the big guys in the Hunter Under Saddle & Hunt Seat Equitation. She is an absolute pleasure to work with every day and has the most willing attitude of any horse I have ever shown (and I have been on some pretty fancy stock). I am looking forward to continuing to show her in the Showmaship, Hunter Undersaddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, Western Pleasure and Trail. Last weekend she was reserve over my 16.1 hand Obivious Conclusion gelding in Halter. She will continue to be shown and hopefully once I hit the Quarter Horse shows again win antother Canadian National Hampionship.

This mare will have a permanant home with me and will hopefully pass on all her wonderful characteristics to many babies in the future. Thank you for breeding the filly who has become my "most trusted friend"!

— Renee Neighbour