Stallions
Stallions then and now
It is a Frandsen practice to train our stallions under saddle to verify gait and trainability. With the unexpected passing of Mary Mels Swanee, we have been using outside stallions that come from both Mary Mel and outcross lines. We thank the stallion owners who have allowed us to breed to their stallions!
Prospect: 2022 Proud Sitting Bull (Pictures at 3 Months & 14 Months)
Sitting Bull sports a refined head, big powerful hip and short back. He gaits naturally already, and we look forward to watching him mature.
Gait: AA Homozygous
Height: Estimated 15.1hh
Color: Chestnut, homozygous carrier of Agouti (all his black-carrying progeny will be buckskin or bay)
Pedigree: https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/proud+sitting+bull
Prospect: 2023 Proud Midnight Rider (Pictures at 4 weeks and 6 weeks)
Proud Midnight Rider is out of Dam Sky Echo (palomino 15.3 hands) and Sire Mtn Edge Black Boaz (black 15.2 hands).
Gait: AA Homozygous
Height: Estimated 15.2 hh
Color: Black
Pedigree: https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/proud+midnight+rider
Stallion History
1948 Stellar
Stellar was bred in Vermont from government lines, but was owned by a man in Utah when Mel bought him at age 15. He was National Grand Champion and took 1st place in the Utah State Fair 5 years consecutively. He had a mare kick him and break his hind leg. The leg was cast and he was suspended off the ground in a sling for around a month. The leg healed to the point he could still breed mares with some accommodation.
Gait: Unknown
Height: 15.1hh
Color: Liver Chestnut
Pedigree: https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/Stellar3
1966 Omar Sheriff "SHERIFF" (Pictures at age 3)
Omar Sheriff was a renowned Morgan stallion. Bred by Mel Frandsen before the Mary Mel prefix and out of dam Wingo (from the renowned LU Ranch) and sire Stellar (bred in Vermont). He was gaited, but was never allowed to develop it due to the requirement to trot in the show ring. In the show ring he was unmatched, and he passed his conformation, disposition, and gait to his offspring. He is found in many gaited morgan pedigrees.
Gait: Gaited, but not developed
Height: 15.1hh
Color: Liver Chestnut
Pedigree: https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/omar+sheriff
1975 WNS Windenstone "DOCK" (Pictures at Advanced Age)
Dock was the first Mary Mel Morgan stallion allowed to develop and exhibit gait. About this time, the Morgan shows began to favor the “new type” of Morgans which resembled saddlebreds more than they did the “old type” Morgans. Mel decided to give up on the show ring and focus his energy toward preserving the Morgan type he preferred. He also decided to breed for gait. It is through Dock that Omar Sheriff’s stallion line continues. He came from dam Woodrush Hilite and Omar Sheriff. He possessed a masculine, yet refined head, a large powerful hip, short back, and what we call “beef”. Dock was used extensively and can be found in many gaited Morgan pedigrees. He can be remembered by being ridden by Mel Frandsen in the local mountains leading a pack of mares carrying grandkids down the trail.
Gait: Gaited
Height: 15.2hh
Color: Liver Chestnut
Pedigree: https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/wns+windenstone
1974 Jan Mabie Pace "JAN" (Pictures at age 28!)
Jan Mabie Pace was selected as an outcross stallion based on his working western pedigree, and natural gait – color was a welcomed bonus. Crossing him with the Sheriff and Dock progeny resulted in offspring that could be depended on as being naturally gaited. He sired his last foal at age 28 and was ridden that same year when he passed away of old age. Jan can be found in many gaited Morgan pedigrees.
Gait: Very Gaited
Height: 15hh
Color: Dark Palomino
Pedigree: https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/jan+mabie+pace
2001 Mary Mels Swanee (Pictures at Age 3)
Swanee was the perfection of the Mary Mel type. Nice length neck, short back, long hip, and a small, well-shaped head. He had a great disposition and was easy to handle and ride. Swanee gaited naturally at leisure. Unfortunately he was bred comparatively little as Mel Frandsen was getting out of the horse business, and wasn’t expected to pass so early. He passed away from an unknown cause at age 15.
Gait: Very Gaited
Height: 15.2hh
Color: Liver Chestnut
Pedigree: https://www.allbreedpedigree.com/mary+mels+swanee