Greentree Ranch Morgans, Ltd.

When Bonita Graham delivered Bonniejohn back in 1968, we could scarcely have imagined the contribution he would make to the Morgan world.

We were not initially pleased to have a stallion at home, but we had underestimated Bonnie's amiability. As Bonnie developed, it became clear that he would be an exceptional horse. As a yearling he already was showing the presence...the excitement...the spirit that distinguished him in the show ring and in the breeding shed. Like his mother, he was a joy to have around...exciting to watch.....rewarding to show and an eminently successful sire.

At two, Bonnie went to Pedicord Stables for training. There, under the direction of Les Pedicord, John Graham and Bill Williams, he learned fast and showed unusual performance ability. He was breaking above level, hocks snapping well up under him; Bonnie became a park horse, winning as a junior horse in both park harness and park saddle. Unfortunately the opportunities to show park horses in Colorado were too limited. So, we brought him home to Greentree Ranch and Cece began building on the training he had at Pedicords and transformed him into a pleasure horse.

Bonnie was equally at home as a Western Pleasure Horse. Circle J show in Estes Park.

Converting Bonnie from park to pleasure was not an overnight event. Cece spent long hours introducing him to the flat footed walk, two trot speeds and an easy canter. Cece's dressage training was invaluable. Bonnie's first pleasure showing was in Pleasure driving and English pleasure classes. Then came Western Pleasure. Could this former Park horse ever become a winning Western Pleasure entry? Bonnie learned to "think Western" - that going from English to Western is more than a tack change.

Bonnie's versatility became legendary as he went from show to show being pinned Champion in English Pleasure, Western Pleasure and Pleasure Driving. Often he won the "Most Versatile Morgan" award as well.

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In his later years, Bonnie was to have a new career as a Carriage Driving horse. He not only won in the show ring, he also won in Combined Driving Events. He capped his career in the carriage division at age 21 with a Reserve National High Point Championship in Carriage Pleasure Driving Working Single Horse.

After that he was officially retired at the Continental Divide Morgan Horse Show with a large number of his offspring and their owners participating.