Morris Clarke

Director

I am the fourth generation Clarke to be involved with horses in Virden. My great-grandfather owned a livery stable on one of the main streets in town. My grandfather operated a riding academy which rented out saddle horses to Air Force personnel at the flight training school just north of Virden during World War Two. My father was one of the last blacksmiths in town. The blacksmith’s shop was located a block and a half east of where the livery stable was.

I rode pony’s when I was a boy as we lived on an acreage outside of Virden. We owned our first horse in 1972 and obtained a Morgan mare in 1973. With my parents, Irene and I showed Morgans for 19 years at provincial Morgan shows and local fairs. We participated in English Pleasure, Western Pleasure, Pleasure Driving and we had a team of Morgan’s.

Since we quit showing, I took up trail riding. I’ve taken part in trail rides in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. I have not ridden for the past couple of years.

I became involved in the Equine Foundation of Canada many years ago, and recently was named the Manitoba director. We still have one senior horse on our farm, and will always be interested in the welfare of horses.