With swiftness and agility, Heartquest Erin moves effortlessly within the show arena. His well-muscled body appears of mass and strength, but that is just a small part when compared to the ability he possesses due to his training and natural temperament. Hearthquest Erin gained first place in Reining at the World Champion Morgan Horse Show in Oklahoma City, Okla., in October of this year.
Reining is a horse-riding competition in which the horse is expected to be trained to do a series of movements around the arena at the riders command with little effort from the rider. To do this, the horse must be well trained to anticipate the riders subtle commands, “The rider shouldn’t use the bit at all. Pressure and position of the rider’s legs is what the horse notices,” said Leroy Stockton, owner of Heartquest Erin and breeder of Morgan Horses. Leroy and his wife, Donna, live on a farm in Seligman, Mo., where they keep and breed select Morgan horses (all of which bear the name “Heartquest”) and also maintain a herd of beef cattle. Leroy added, “Reining is a western event and I really like it. It’s your true cowboy way.”
Leroy Stockton, who grew up in Barry County, has always carried an affection for horses, “I remember as a little boy, riding along with my grandpa who used a team for farm work. He had tractors, but still used horses, because he liked it, that’s what he’d always used.” Leroy has farmed many years in the dairy cow industry, and also with chicken houses, but now focuses his attention on his Morgan horses and beef herd. Though he had farm horses through the years, he started working with Morgans nearly 20 years ago. “I like Quarter Horses, too, but wanted to work with something different. There were no Morgans in this part of the country.” Leroy also added, “Physically, a Morgan has a broad chest and more endurance than other breeds. They are so versatile. All horses have positive traits, though, and you have to choose what you like. It’s like driving a car, you have to go with what you prefer.” Leroy is very interested in maintaining breed characteristics and relies on foundation breeding to keep true to the Morgan breed. Careful breeding can also encourage characteristics such as a gentle disposition, “If it’s not a gentle horse, I don’t want it.”
Leroy’s breeding really hit the mark with Heartquest Erin. As a young colt, Leroy knew that Erin had a promising future. After sending him to be trained in Oklahoma, the trainer told Leroy, “This horse won’t spook, I’ve tried everything, tied cans to his tail. Nothing spooks him, a bomb could go off and this horse would not move. He should be trained for competition.” So, Leroy sent him to Louisiana to Mark Wilcher, who trained Erin for reining. “I broke him, started him and showed him. He has dominated nearly every competition he has competed in,” said Mark. Most of the competitions they have entered Erin in have been National Morgan Reining Horse Association (NMRHA), but Mark has also rode Erin in open show competitions that include Quarter Horses. “At open shows Erin always places. He scores at least 72 1/2 or 73 1/2 and is always competitive with the Quarter Horses there, and that is rare for a Morgan in reining.” Currently, Heartquest Erin is staying in Lousiana with Mark. Other breeders are taking advantage of Erin’s genetics by requesting him as a stud horse, but when he is not busy carrying on his heritage, Erin is enjoying the off season with gentle riding and pasture grazing. “I’m using him to train with handicapped children. The kids always ask for Mr. Erin… and he is a stud horse. He is so big and strong, but so gentle. Everyone wants to ride him,” Mark said of Erin.
Though Erin is currently the star of the farm, Leroy is enjoying working with the breeding and training of his other Heartquest horses. He is also working on the growth and maintenance of his beef herd. His stock primarily consists of Herefords and black cows which he likes using a black bull for.
