... Bobby McGee here, tellin' my story, tellin my tale. It's a long one, but it never gets stale.

... In 1976 my mother, Shaker's Hollybrook, was bred to UVM Promise and put up for sale. A nice young couple with their small baby traveled up to Tennessee, to the Epperson's at TVM, to see her because they were admirers of her father, Troutbrook Playboy. Mom had only been bred a week to the now famous UVM Promise, but this couple bought her anyway, on blind faith that she had gotten pregnant. They took her back to their little farm in Alpharetta, Georgia and got her broke to ride. That next spring, I was born, "yeah", and came out just as pretty as a colt could be, and let those
folks know that they just hadn't seen a real Morgan yet, until they had seen me. I think my owner's were sort of hippy like, named me after that Janis Joplin song. Guess they knew then it would be "Me and Bobby McGee".

... My farm was pleasant and small, I had other Morgans to share with, but I was definitely the star. Booted that other stallion right outta there! That baby, they carried her around on their backs while they worked with me, and taught me to be a good colt. When I was a yearling, we all moved. "lock, stock, and barrel". This time it was to Columbus, Ohio. Had a pretty scary ride coming up the interstate through an ice storm in Jellico,Tennessee, but we made it, and my trailer partner, Oldwick Indira, told me to be calm. My owner's really thought I was special when they saw UVM Promise and Troutbrook Playboy that summer bring the house down in halter at the Gold Cup. Grandpa won, after all, he was the hometown boy. I got extra carrots after that!

... We did not stay in Columbus long, before we moved to Oxford, Ohio, near Miami University. I think it had somethin' to do with my owner's work, and the fact that grandma and grandpa lived nearby for that now two year old baby girl named Sarah. We lived there for five years and it was a "roll for me". I got to breed two mares that first spring, one was Oldwick Indira, that pretty matron that I rode up with in the ice storm. I was just two, a teenager, by all rights. Then, oh boy, off to boot camp with Kathryn Schwartz. Two Years there, and lots of shows. We did Road Hack, Amatuer English Pleasure, Driving, and Jr. English Pleasure. Everyone loved my big trot. Went to Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Even went to Mid A, there was a horse in one of my classes named Treble's Willy Wild. I hear he has done "alright" for himself too. Got lots of pretty ribbons, some blue, and met a lot of new people. My owners got a loan to keep me showin', they had to use fans for them and that baby girl, couldn't afford their air conditioner that first year. Then I finally came back to the farm, bred some more mares, and then my owner decided she would trail ride on me.

... Boy, did she ever trail ride. Ten and fifteen miles a day, and 30 mile competitions. I gave it my best, and won an award first time out. We would trot by all those other breeds galloping. No, we didn't thumb our nose, too dignified for that. My owner got pregnant again, thank goodness, that slowed her down a bit, and before we knew it, we were shipped off to Oregon and the farm was sold. I got to ride in a big van this time, again with Oldwick Indira and this time her cute filly, ScandiasMoonbeam. Never did get to breed that one, but she and I sure had somethin' going. Moonbeam is now the foundation broodmare for Dream Morgans in Washington. My grandson is getting to whisper sweet things to her now.

... Well, anyway it was winter when we Ieft, and my owner was big "in foal". Did not mind leaving all that snow and ice, but sure missed those fireflies of Ohio in the summer. Got to Oregon, and well, it was raining. What else is new? I kind of was forgotten that first year. That other new baby, a colt, was born and a house bought, and land. Kept everyone pretty busy.

... Next thing I knew I was on a cute farm in Battleground, Washington with lots of nice mares to breed and was definitely "king of the hill". I had many visitors and admirers. I remember one fun time, riding on the Oregon Coast beach ride. We had a trotting race, well, I just left that group of horses in a sand duststorm... and I got three mares to breed from that race! Had to show those big horses how to go and my owner tells me she couldn't even hear anyone behind her.

... Guess what? My owner's decided they wanted to drive, and not just drive, but they wanted to do Combined Driving. Now guess who they picked to learn on. They took me to clinics and competitions. Man was that fun! Wish I was young again, I would love to do more of that. I also taught a few students to ride, even a girl from Spain that lived with us for awhile. My family loved driving so much, they decided I would be happier as a gelding.

... Silly people! Getting gelded, well that almost killed me. Literally. The vets told my owners I would die from the hardened infection pockets all up and down lymphatic system. Aah, but I showed them, a young vet said, heh? What ya' got to lose, give him Sulfa for a month. Well, guess what, I am still alive at 28 and doin' fine. Besides, I couldn't handle all those tears they were shedding over the thought of losing me.

... Those owner's of mine, well, they moved again. This time to St. Helens, Oregon. That baby girl was a Senior now in High School and that boy born in Battleground was in fourth grade. They bought lots and lots of land and built a farm from scratch. I had hit the jackpot this time. Land to run and run, and with all the mares. I get to take care of them all, and babysit those foals.

... Life is definitely good. Oh, yes, occasionally I have had to teach someone to drive, or take a kid for a ride, or let those noisy cheerleaders ride me when that baby girl's friends were out, but mostly I just relax. The man here says my belly is as big as his, but heh, that's life. We are just gettin old, my owners and I. Those kids are grown now, and so are mine. I have grandchildren and great grandchildren. My neighbor named me Professor Bob when I was teachin' her to long line, seemed to "stick".

... My most recent job was to babysit my own grandson and daughter Superfree and her colt. She was such a nervous mom, so grandpa helped Loyalty through his baby life. Hated to see them go, recently they had to travel cross country to New York. I told Loyalty to be a good boy, and that if his life was half as good as mine, he would be a happy old man and to just behave when he was around all those girls.

So that is my story...Bobby McGee here, signing off for now.

(Written in 2004)

Bobby McGee is 31 years old this year, 2008.

Foals:

Cascade Molly McGee
Scandias Fleetwood Mac
Scandias Dark Star
Beaver State Katie McGee
Scandias Silver Star
Scandias Super Free
Scandias Dane
Scandias Cheri Belle
Scandias Norwegian
Scandias Belladonna
Scandias Promise Mee
Scandias Flutterby
Scandias Shimmeree
Raynyday Monday
Scandias Vigil Bob
Caravann Prime Time
Caravann's Surprise
CP Ambrosia
Scandias Helga
Blacksfork Pendragon
Scandias Helene