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Tuesday, June 18 2019 / Published in General

Unbridled with Michael Morrissey

By Jan Westmark

Rider Michael Morrissey grew up in Bradenton, Florida, and horses were a part of his life from the beginning. With his father a show manager, his Uncle Jimmy Morrissey a trainer and rider, and his Great Uncle Gene Mische the show producer, Michael was traveling to shows his family produced even before he was riding. When Michael started riding with Jimmy and Gene around the age of 10, it immediately became an obsession. Michael now owns and operates Imperial Show Stables with his wife, Lourdes de Guardiola, based in Wellington, Florida, during the winter and Lexington, Kentucky, in the summer. They specialize in developing show jumpers to the grand prix level along with sourcing top quality hunter, jumper and equitation prospects from Europe. Michael continues his family tradition by training students who share the same passion for the sport that he has.

Tell us about your wife and children.

Lourdes and I married in 2012. She’s a very accomplished rider and the best person to have by my side — both at home and in the show ring. We have three kids: Lucas, Mischa and Delphine.  Lourdes recently started her own business, opening up a women’s lifestyle boutique called Milou in Palm Beach, Florida.

Do any favorite horse show wins stand out in your mind?

In 2006 I spent the entire summer competing in Europe. The first show on that European tour was in St. Tropez and I won the grand prix on a horse named Crelido. He was a very special horse and that win was a lot of fun.

What are some of the shows you like to compete in?

Great Lakes Equestrian Festival in Traverse City, Michigan, has become my favorite show. Not only are the competition and the show amazing, the town offers so much for my family. We enjoy all the fun activities, restaurants, boating and beautiful scenery of Northern Michigan.

Any favorite horse experiences over the years?

I won a couple of big puissance classes and in 2008 at the Washington International Horse Show, I won the class clearing over 7 feet tall and came up a little short attempting to break the record at 7’8”.

Have you had a funny horse moment that still makes you laugh?

The first time I rode a jumper, coming off my medium pony, was a tough experience. I fell off in my first three classes doing the jumpers. I didn’t give up and can laugh about it now.

What’s your favorite thing about being part of the horse world?

Traveling and seeing so many different parts of the world

What would you like to accomplish in the future?

I’d like to try course designing and possibly venture into the management side of the business.

If you had a week off, what would you do?

Go fishing on a boat in the Florida Keys with close friends and family

Do you have a personal motto or catch phrase?

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

What’s your favorite item of clothing to wear?

Shorts and a T-shirt

Most embarrassing thing you’ve ever worn?

I still get embarrassed wearing my riding clothes in public. Outside of Wellington, it’s very difficult for me to do.

What three items can usually be found in your refrigerator?

I’m married with three kids so the bigger question is what three items won’t you find in my refrigerator. I love to cook and grocery shop at least three to four times a week, so my refrigerator is always stocked.

What’s your favorite meal?

Probably a cowboy ribeye steak

Favorite type of pizza?

Pepperoni and mushroom

What would be the best gift in the world?

A nice fishing boat! And maybe a vacation house to go with it.

What’s something everyone should try at least once?

I’m a foodie, so I’d say be open to trying anything new for the first time.

How would you like people to remember you?

Kind, caring and hardworking and a great father to his kids

What’s your favorite thing about being part of a horse family? 

Being in a horse family helped with having access to horses and going to horse shows. That really helped me become successful as a junior rider. But, also now as an adult and a professional in the industry, it’s great being able to see and interact with family members throughout the year while we travel and compete at horse shows.

What are some of your favorite memories from growing up?

I had a wonderful family, lived in a great neighborhood with lots of other kids and rode my bike to school every day. Even with riding being a serious part of my life, I spent a lot of time playing other sports like baseball and soccer.

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Tagged under: Michael Morrissey, unbridled

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Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! W Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! We're proud to offer exceptional modern Sporthorse stallions, with wonderful temperaments and quality gaits to North American breeders.
 
Among our stallions are Cum Laude and Kaiman. Cum Laude (Apache x Weltmeyer) is a winning FEI horse and sire of quality dressage horses, breed show champions, and offspring scoring 9.0s on gaits.
 
Kaiman (Dark Pleasure x Gribaldi) earned high scores at his stallion testing and in the young horse classes. He's also the sire of a Licensed Oldenburg stallion. Kaiman's first North American foal crop is arriving now and they are gorgeous!
 
If you're looking for top international bloodlines please check out our 2023 stallion collection, now available fresh, frozen, and by the dose.

Among our stallions are Cum Laude and Kaiman. Cum Laude (Apache x Weltmeyer) is a winning FEI horse and sire of quality dressage horses, breed show champions, and offspring scoring 9.0s on gaits.

Breeding season is underway at Iron Spring Farm! We're proud to offer exceptional modern Sporthorse stallions, with wonderful temperaments and quality gaits to North American breeders.

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❗️George Williams column❗️ The FEI World ❗️George Williams column❗️
The FEI World Cup Final in Omaha is coming up quickly. That means that it’s starting to heat 
up as the end of the qualifying period for both the Western European League (WEL) and the 
North American League (NAL) nears. I started to write this column before the Amsterdam CDI- W, and I was using the FEI Ranking List from January 15 as a reference. As I sit down to finish 
my column, I’m now looking at the results from Amsterdam. While the list of the top contenders 
for the WEL hasn’t changed, they’re definitely moving around on the ranking list. The WEL has 
three more legs, as they’re referred to: Neumünster February 16–19, Goteborg February 23–26, 
and ’s-Hertogenbosch March 9–12, and they could change things dramatically.
Looking at the top 12 athletes from the WEL as they were ranked on January 15, there are five 
from Germany, three from the Netherlands and one each from Great Britain, Denmark

➡️Read Georges's full column by clicking the link in our bio, and never miss an article by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine 🦄 

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Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Gre Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Great American $300,000 Grand Prix at HITS Ocala!! 🏆🥇

Crowds filled the stands at the HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring on Sunday afternoon to watch the world’s top athletes compete in the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix. The day concluded with a thrilling five-horse jump-off featuring athletes 
representing four countries. In the end, it was Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Ivaro N who produced the only double clear effort of the day, claiming one of the biggest wins of her career. Scott Keach (AUS) and Noble De La Chapelle earned the second-place prize with the fastest 4-fault jump-off, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Obi Wan placed third as the day’s pathfinders.

“I'm still on cloud nine, I still can't believe it – I’ve used up all my luck for the year,” smiled Goldman-Smolen after her win. “I've been knocking on the door a long time in these bigger classes. I am so proud of my horse – he gave every ounce of effort.”

Sunday’s Great American $300,000 Grand Prix marked the conclusion of the 2023 HITS Ocala circuit. HITS CCO Joe Norick concluded, “We are so excited about the new HITS, with 2023 as the launch. New footing, many new arenas here, and a lot of our facilities across America are getting a lot of love and new footing. Our partnerships with Worldly Martin and others across America including our footing leader Bart Poles overseeing our operations – it really makes a big difference for us. Today is about Ocala and these three riders sitting next to me who supported us this entire winter. We want to be a proud destination for our exhibitors and our friends. We know we have to provide them a beautiful showplace to work from that's horseman friendly, and that's our go goal. 

Congratulations to all of the riders, horses, owners, and groom who participated in this prestigious class!!! 🎉
📸 @esi_photography 
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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

 ✨PF'S DIAMO BLUE✨
Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
17.0hh, Oldenburg International Hunter Derby/ Jumper Stallion
An outstanding Pedigree- Chacco Blue and Diamant de Semilly
WBFSH/ Rolex top ranking Jumping Sires 2017 thru 2022
Standing at Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, in California

For more information, you can contact 
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🖥Ryan.p.f@hotmail.com
☎️(714) 357-2714

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

@ryanpedigosporthorsespf_

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