Happy Friday! Here is your Friday Flashback:
“Meredith Tiger #20714”
by Judy Mosman
from LCN Vol XII No3, May/June 1985 pp. 20-23
Sixteen years ago on the Ashbrook Farm in Meredith, NH, a chestnut colt was foaled (in 1969). He was among 5 foals born that year at Mrs. Rice’s farm. The name finally settled on was Meredith Tiger, after an illustrious ancestor, certainly not his disposition. This spunky, round colt spent his first summer frolicking beside his dam, 21 year old Lippitt Norma, in the lush pastures adjacent to Lake Winnipesaukee. This was to be Norma’s last foal and her only one sired by Lippitt Moro Ashmore (aka, “Oscar”), head sire at the farm. The fact he was foaled in mid-July probably attributed to Tiger’s late weaning the following year. The Meredith mares were rarely stalled, and had free run of the barn whose stalls opened toward the pastures as well as an interior feeding area.
Nancy Plimpton was a frequent visitor at Meredith and is one of the people most familiar with Meredith horses. She recalls seeing Tiger as a yearling and thinking even then how much he resembled his sire, one of her all time favorites. Nancy has a special place in her heart for Tiger, as well as Oscar.
Tiger was sent to the George Morrill Stables in Littleton, NH, where he underwent both driving and saddle training.
One of the events in young Tiger’s life which easily could have had an adverse psychological effect was his early experience with hoof care and shoes. Tiger hadn’t had constant hoof care at Mrs. Rice’s, and upon arriving at the trainer’s, young Tiger met up with a farrier who neither knew or cared about first impressions with green horses. When Tiger became upset with the unfamiliar routine of having his feet attended, he was tied and thrown to finish the job. This experience may have ruined most horses, but Tiger’s disposition and unyielding trust in humans kept this young stallion from being emotionally scarred.
Tiger’s show career was short and intense. He was one of the few horses Mrs. Rice had shown professionally. One of his first appearances was at the 1973 Tunbridge Exposition, in which the Lippitt Club was participating for the second time. This exposition, which was for informative purposes only and not a competitive show, preceded the now annual Lippitt Country Show. During the next few years, Tiger was shown in various circuits, including the National, held at Northhampton, MA in 1973. He was no stranger to the color blue: in one show alone, he took 3 blue ribbons. Beth Dudley was the blonde wisp of a girl who often was seen guiding Tiger to his numerous wins. Tiger’s natural, bold trot, inherited from both his sire and dam, made him appear larger in size than he was. Tiger’s way of going is a bouncy, prancing step, which makes the spectator know how much he enjoys his outings! His dam, Norma, won a maiden pleasure class barefoot after a very brief show training period! (See Jan/Feb Newsletter 1984.)
When Tiger returned to the home farm, he was not used for breeding. There were 3 other studs there and Tiger didn’t get any mares nor was he ridden. However, before going into training at the age of two, Tiger sired a stud colt from Sarah Ashmore. This son would play an important part in Lippitt history and become the foundation sire for a very active breeding program.
The colt was named Meredith Knight, and he was purchased as a weanling by Dave and Barby Carr of Middleton Springs, VT. Anyone who had attended the Lippitt Country Show since its conception saw Knight win Grand Champion Stallion in the first show and several reserve champions in later ones. His get usually are in the ribbons. In the weanling colt class at the 1983 Lippitt Country Show, the first two places went to Knight sons! In 1984, his daughter, Covenant Knightngale took the blue in Mares 3&4, his 2 year old son wore the blue in his class, his yearling son took a second. Covenant Nightngale went on to wear the blue in the Junior Horse Driving class.
When Pete Drury visited the Ashbrook Farm in 1978, he saw Tiger in a very dejected state. Gone was the sparkle and the zip; this 10 year old stallion had hit bottom. His hooves were long, probably due to his learned fear of farriers, and he had lost weight. Pete always had a fondness for Knight, and thought Tiger should be given another chance to sire foals. Upon seeing his condition, Pete decided he wanted to bring Tiger to his farm, even though he had two studs of his own. Pete leased Tiger and when Mrs. Rice passed away, he was able to purchase Tiger and ensure his well-being forever.
Little did Pete realize until he had Tiger home what a sensitive horse he was. Very well trained witha soft, responsive mouth, Pete attributes Tiger’s training in firming up his own equestrian skills.
Since arriving at Tradition Farm, Tiger has been an active entrant in the Lippitt Country Show. He particularly enjoys barrel racing under English tack! Granted, this is not one of your larger classes, but whenever Pete and Tiger win, there’s plenty of support from the crowd. Lately, Tiger and his son, Knight, are involved in an unusual situation at the show. Each stallion heads up their own impressive group of get in the Lippitt Sire and Get class. In order to fill Tiger’s line-up, Knight will step over into his line-up to be judged as one of Tiger’s get. Knight then returns to his own group.
After talking to Pete about Tiger, I stand and look closer at my own Tiger filly (who inspired this article in the first place). I try to be objective as any owner and pick out the traits which Tiger has passed on to this daughter. On a scale of 10, Gretchen (my filly) has 8 of his same or similar traits. If Tiger is scolded for any reason, he is “crushed” and only wants praise and love from his human counterparts. Tiger’s disposition is bubbly and enthusiastic as he prances about.
All Tiger’s get are extremely uniform in their type. Owners speak of their kind, willing dispositions. Resolute, who stands at 15 hands, intimidates people by his size and muscular build, but in face is a “pussycat” to handle.
The foals Tiger has sired while at Tradition Farm are:
1980: Tradition Resolute from champion mare Tradition Hollybrook.
Tradition Georgiana from Ryegate Georgette.
Suzanne Royalty from Nekomia Royalty.
1981: Tradition Cody from Ryegate Georgette.
Tradition Cameo from Royalton Deidre D (pretty as her name!).
1982: Mira Vista Montana from Tradition Jenny Ash.
Mira Vista Georgiana from Ryegate Georgette.
1984: Gretchen Moro from Kimberly Apryl.
Fawn Ledge Norman from Meredith Jennifer.
1985: a Tradition foal expected.
Without the help of those who know Tiger and his get, this article would just be wishful thinking. With so many young stallions coming along, let’s not forget our “senior sires.” As Nancy Plimpton puts it so well, “To know them is to love them.”
(Note from Heather Jackson, Facebook page administrator: here are the additional progeny that Tiger had from 1985 on: 1985: Tradition Christie D from Royalton Deidre D; and Mic Mac Autumn Mist from Integrity Katanah; 1986: Mic Mac Independence from Integrity Katanah.)
Photo of Meredith Tiger by Bruce Orser.
