About the logo....
The trillium flower, whose origins hail from the lily family, was chosen for its distinctive bold elegance and identity. (The trillium is the provincial flower of Ontario.)
The proud-bearing solitary flower, surrounded by a whorl of three
large broad leaves, makes its home in the shadowed forest. Since both varieties of the
white and less common red trilliums are found on the farm's property, it was deemed
appropriate to incorporate the trillium into a logo and adopt its name for the farm's
registered prefix.
Nestled amongst the farm and forest woodland terrain bordering the tiny village of Orono, just east of the cosmopolitan mega city of Toronto, the Trillium Morgan Horse Farm and now the Trillium Equine Complex, makes its home sheltering many champion Morgan horses. Farm Site I is the main stable and hub of activity. Farm Site II is the crop production for Trillium. Owners Robert and Catherine Sampson have actively been involved with Morgan horses for three decades. The evolution of their modern equine complex has been a labour of love, hard work and dedication, spanning some thirty years. Today, the Sampsons are noted authors and presenters of many unique programs at the farm, including the Trillium Order of Equine Companionship Program, Foundation Training, Private Riding and Driving Lesson and Owner-Assisted Training programs.
Catherine Sampson is also a guest writer for several
horse publications, including the popular Horse and Sport magazine, Horse
and Country, Horses in Canada, The Morgan Horse Journal and Equus where
her feature articles are published regularly. Catherine is also available
for public speaking engagements and training clinics. To book Catherine for your
future events and clinics, please
contact the farm.
Catherine served two terms as President of the Ontario Morgan Horse Club and had been on the board of directors for 10 years. She is a long standing member of the Canadian Morgan Horse Club and the American Morgan Horse Association.
After years of breeding, showing and training, it wasn't until the late 1980s that the farm's direction would shift towards a different path. As a pilot project, the Sampsons held mini training sessions for new owners of their horses. These educational meetings were received so enthusiastically, that the farm began an initial series of workshops, developed for the general horse owner at large. With each new year, workshops were created, enhanced and expanded. At present, the Trillium Morgan Horse Farm has successfully hosted more than 200 workshops, covering a vast agenda of topics and themes, everything from rider psychology to photography. Attendance has come from as far away as Indianapolis in the south to Thunder Bay in the north.
Building on the many successful years of workshops, the Trillium Equine Studies Short Course Program was born in 2001. Along the lines of the Short Course Program, a Trainer’s Apprenticeship Program made its debut in the fall of 2002. The six-month apprenticeship provided successful candidates with a wide variety of training opportunities and general stable management practices. These programs more than adequately achieved their targets and have since been retired.
For a number of seasons, the farm's seminar facilities have been donated to the Durham East 4-H Horse Club as their headquarters. As well, this keen group of future horse owners, have access to the farm's horses for their educational sessions. Both the Ontario Morgan Horse Club and the Canadian Morgan Horse Club Zone, have selected the farm's excellent seminar facilities for their general meetings on occasion. In the fall of 2005, the farm will host the 4-H Ontario Horse Leaders Conference, with Catherine Sampson delivering a day of mini workshops, as well as sharing her knowledge in teaching and farm mentoring programs.
In 2001, a youth club was created to further enhance the education of the farm’s young riders. The Clip Clop Club is offered as a free membership to the farm’s clients. It’s a year round jammed-packed program of special events held both at the farm and offsite. The Clip Clop Club delivers thrills and entertainment while providing a strong measure of academic learning, self-esteem, discipline and responsibility that promotes a keener interest in the horse and personally more rounded individual..
As education has become a major focal point at the farm, so has been the Equine Foundation of Canada, a registered charity. Through their efforts, the Trillium Morgan Horse Farm has raised more than $3,000 in donations. Since the Equine Foundation establishes grants for equine research and sponsors scholarships for veterinary students specializing in horses, it was a logical charity that the farm wished to support.
Because the farm uses its own horses, including their
stallions, for many of its practical workshops and promotional events, Trillium Morgan
Horse Farm received special recognition from the American Morgan Horse Association and the
Canadian Morgan Horse Association. The American Morgan Horse Association presented the
farm with its first and only gold medal award for breed promotion. It is this honour by
their international peers that the Sampsons cherish the most. The farm is also the most
honoured Ontario Morgan Horse Club high point promotional division champion in the club's
30 year history.
Since the advent of the public workshops, the farm has also been involved in numerous open barn functions, including the Great Ganaraska Countryside Adventure and their own Christmas Festival, which in 2001 attracted a record attendance of 896. This event was months on the planning board and successful due to the efforts of the army of dedicated volunteers. It is now part of the farm's past history, leaving us with many wonderful memories.
In 1996, Trillium was also selected as a tourist site attraction in the Municipality of
Clarington and is featured in their tourist guides which are distributed throughout
Ontario, Quebec, New York, Michigan and Vermont States. As a result, the farm has received
visitors, literally by the busloads. The welcome has been extended to visitors from
as far away as Austria, Holland and Japan. The farm has welcomed the York Region
Historical Automobile Society of Canada and dozens of schools. The farm also became the film site for an
episode in the PBS children's program, Zoboomafoo. In 2000, the farm was
approached by a committee looking into possible hosting stables for competing horses at a
future Olympic venue bid currently underway and hosted tours from Toronto and overseas
from Holland.
In 2005, the Trillium Equine Complex was the site of the Ontario 4-H Leaders
conference, welcoming horse club leaders from across the province.
Although the farm's Historical Art Project Contest didn't come to
fruition in the summer of 1996, artwork was completed. The theme chosen by artist Lorenz
Bazarin which captured his impression of the New England coaching run between Vermont and
Mass., with historical data supplied through the National Museum of the Morgan Horse in
Vermont, hangs in the farm's indoor arena. This spectacular detailed painting measuring 4'
x 16' is now the focal point of the arena. The historical project has not been shelved
completely. It will continue in some format, in the future, as
historical themes from the breed's colourful and exciting past will be added and preserved
on the walls of the farm's arena for visitors to study and admire.
As these major activities require a lot of preparation and assistance, the Sampsons decided to acknowledge the volunteer spirit of those who have given so generously of their time and effort. They have presented the Trillium Fellowship Award nine times since its inception, including "In Appreciation " awards to more than two dozen people. This award ceremony marks the farm's commitment to recognizing the dedication of others who have contributed to its many appealing and successful yearly events.
More recently, the farm has formed two unique clubs. The Golden Stirrup Club invites and celebrates mature riders to join their social venue with everything relating to horses in some fashion. It is a busy and exciting club. The Clip Clop Club is dedicated to the education and exciting activities for our youth members. The main theme around all functions and special events is education of the young horse enthusiast to make them a well-rounded equestrian. Confidence, respect and responsibility are key elements of our program.
The farm is nearing completion of their Equine Rehabilitation Centre. The fully stock Veterinary Station will be complimented with an equine treadmill. This therapeutic tool enhances rehabilitation of the horse, building stamina and muscle tone.
Beginning in the fall of 2006, the Trillium Equine Complex established a new and exciting program for under-privilege children. The HORSE Program is a free service offered by the farm for under-privileged children referred to the farm by registered charitable organizations. This is a three month complete riding and mentoring program offered for sponsored candidates. The motto of the program is spelled out in the following: H for horse, O for opportunity, R for responsibility, S for self-esteem and E for excellence.
The farm continues to raise fine Morgan horses that are now selling on the global market and offers breeding services in addition to their educational programs. The stable door is always open!
Revised: November 1, 2007
Copyright © 2007 Trillium Morgan Horse Farm