Results of TMH/Denny Emerson Imagining History Essay Project

Early this year, The Morgan Horse magazine announced an essay contest based on a Facebook post by well-known equestrian commentator Denny Emerson. Riding in the hills of Vermont, Denny discovered a rusty horseshoe near the Frye Barn, in Tunbridge, not far from the final home of Justin Morgan, the stallion. This essay topic was proposed: “Who was almost certainly the Morgan horse who once wore this shoe?”

The question inspired 53 remarkable essays submitted by students from around the country (and even from Canada) in the age groups between grades four and nine.  Morgan breeder Nina Quinn and author Dorothy Ours took on the challenge of judging the submissions. 

The results are in. Congratulations to the following young essayists:

GRADE 4/5:

Winner: Molly Ruth Palmer (Grade 5)  Title: Ruthy Fryer Had a Horse

Second: Meghan Mathias (Grade 5)  Title: Lucky, In More Ways Than One

GRADE 6/7:

Winner: Emily Kolodziej (Grade 6)  Title: A Shoe and the Legend it Created

Second: Naomi Buschhaus (Grade 6)   Title: Naomi’s Morgan Story

GRADE 8/9: (TIE)

Winner: Lily Moser (Grade 9)  Title: Captain’s Story

Winner: Nathanael Buschhaus (Grade 8) Title: Jenni and Jessi

The winning essays will be published as part of an article in the August issue of The Morgan Horse. Other plans to acknowledge all participants are in the works. Everyone involved in the project feels overwhelmed by the response and the quality of writing by these young Morgan enthusiasts.