“Lippitt Miss Nekomia” (Lippitt Moro x Nekomia) by Eleanor Mason:
Lippitt Miss Nekomia was the reason I became involved with Morgans. Way back in 1950, I sent for some free samples of horse magazine that were available to anyone that requested them. One was for a 1949 issue of “The Western Horsemen Magazine.” At that time, I owned a lovely half-Arabian yearling colt and I was definitely into pretty horses. Some friends raised Morgans and they were nice horses, but they didn’t really catch my attention. There was an article in that magazine titled “The Morgan of Distinction” and it included 3 pictures of Morgan mares. The pictures were labeled “Class A Morgan mare,” “Class B Morgan mare,” and Class C Morgan mare.” I looked at the picture of the Class A Morgan mare and thought if I could have a mare that looked like that, then I would get into Morgans. I found out years later that the picture of the Class A Morgan mare was a picture of Lippitt Miss Nekomia.
Lippitt Miss Nekomia certainly ranks as one of the breed’s all-time great mares. Foaled in 1935 at the Green Mountain Stock Farm in Randolph, Vermont, she was purchased by Dr. Clarence Parks of Honesdale, Pennsylvania in 1937. She went on to prove the versatility of the breed. She competed six times in the Green Mountain Association 100 Mile Ride while in foal and raising a foal at the same time. She was 1st in 1942, 2nd in 1933 and 3rd in 1946. She won the Mare-in-Hand class at the 1947 National Morgan Show and also placed 1st in the Mare-and-Foal class. She produced 14 foals and was weeks away from delivering her 15th when she died in June of 1957 at the age of 22. Eight of her foals were pure Lippitt in breeding and the five sons had a big impact as breeding horses. Dyberry Billy, Dyberry Bob, and Dyberry Buddy remained in the eastern part of the country while Dyberry Robin went to the Pacific Northwest with Dr. Elmer Searles, and Dyberry Ethan helped found the Moro Hill’s horses in Wisconsin. Four of the mares went to the mid-West to the O’Neil and Emerald Acres farms where they made a great contribution.
A grandson, Moro Hill Gay Ethan, was Grand Champion Stallion at the Golden West National Show in 1967 and another grandson, Heritage Ethan, owned by John and Polly Bee won many gelding championships besides numerous carriage classes when paired with Bay State Ideal. He also starred in the movie “Justin Morgan Had a Horse,” produced by Walt Disney.
Lippitt Miss Nekomia was a dark bay with no white and stood 14 hands 2 inches. She passed on her incredible soundness and beauty. These traits are quite visible today in Morgans that carry her blood. We are indebted to Mr. Parks for giving her the opportunity to accomplish all she did.
From LCN XXX, No. 2, 2003 Mare/Foal Issue, p. 16.
(Photo of Lippitt Miss Nekomia at the 1941 Vermont 100 Mile. She is the bay on the left, with Dr. Clarence Parks astride.)
