RUTH H. TOWNE  1928-2007

Certainly one of the Morgan Breed's most dedicated members, Ruth H. Towne was the guidling light and inspiration for our Morgan Horse Heritage Foundation as she served as our president until her unexpected death May 16, 2007, just before her 70th birthday.

 

The respect that she enjoyed as a politician as well as a horsewoman  was evidenced in her memorial service held in the Vermont State House where Gov. James Douglas gave the eulogy and our MHHF floral horseshoe was displayed. Our members were given special seats for the service.

 

She began raising and showing Morgan Horses in 1950 when she was married to Roderick Towne and became a devoted Vermonter with her Towne-Ayr horses that became famous for their versatility and  adaptability as family horses. We are fortunate to have some wonderful samples of her show ring success on display at our National Museum of the Morgan Horse thanks to her son Bradley, as well as her granddaughter Bethany Towne, now a junior member and one of whom Ruth was extremely proud.

 

Her proudest moment came at the first Grand National in Detroit in 1973 when she won the Amateur Pleasure  Driving Championship with Soliloque Coachman. Coachman was sired by Towne-Ayr Rusty Ash, a son of her premier stallion, Lipitt Rob Roy. But she had many other notable achievements, foremost of which was capturing the Justin Morgan Performance class at Northampton with her lovely mare, Carillon.

 

For Ruth nothing was better than racing about behind her speedster. Her wins at speed, pleasure driving and the great Justin Morgan Performance class in which horses trotted a half mile, then galloped a half mile, then showed in the ring under saddle before pulling a loaded stoneboat are legendary.

 

 From her start in 1950 until the late 90's she enjoyed having her niece, Diane Jacobs, her son Owen and his now wife Kitty Farr, Desiree DeVries and now daughter - in - law Rita Towne as companions. By 2000 she was reveling in the interest and ability of granddaughter Bethany Towne.

 

So knowledgeable was Ruth that she was widely sought out for her expertise. She served as president of the New England Morgan Horse Association and headed the then "National" Morgan Horse Show in Northampton, MA.

 

For her a most prized honor was as a recipient of the Deane C. Davis Award for dedication to the breed. This was given by the Vermont Morgan Horse Association in honor of a former governor and AMHA prsident who was a longtime person friend of Ruth's.

 

The threat of the Museum being moved from Vermont to Kentucky led her to devote the last three years of her life to our Morgan Horse Heritage Foundation which vows to carry on her work.