Don and Therese Wheaton on Dunn Valley Road with their champion filly Dittobay, 7 months old and already 475 pounds.

Therese Wheaton is living out her girlhood dream. Instead of waking up, she finds it just gets better.

"Many little girls love horses and most never got to do it, but it's something you never lose," said Wheaton. "I have just had the good fortune to live out that little childhood dream."

An independent contractor involved in industrial and municipal wastewater treatment, Wheaton was living in Pittsburgh at the time. The following year she located a renovated 150 year-old farmhouse with a barn in McKean Township, bringing her closer to home.

The move afforded her the comfort and convenience of having her horse taken care of at home rather than at a boarding stable, and made it possible for her to go out on the road with her business, Crystal Environmental. That was four years ago. Marriage, a second horse' two foals and top prizes in a national show ring followed in quick succession.

Her husband, Don Wheaton, 31, grew up in Girard and did a lot of camping with his family but Therese Wheaton is the real "horse person'' in the family. She was raised in the city at East 30th and Reed streets, she said, but her heart always was in the country life.

Don Wheaton, who is self-employed in computer technology, got his introduction to farm life when they married in July 1997 and he "just jumped right into it with both feet." his wife said. He almost had to, considering the menagerie he married into, including Therese Wheaton's big old yellow dog, Bo; five barn cats; and a few occasional stray cat visitors.

He also got a not-too-subtle heads-up on the issue when his bride-to-be made a special prenuptial request.

"Instead of the traditional wedding gift of jewelry, I asked Don for a breeding for Crystal… Therese Wheaton said. "That would be a gift that lasts a lifetime, I told him. He also gave me a pair of diamond earrings, but that's not half as wonderful as a foal.''

Crystal the Arabian was bred to a black Morgan stallion, JPSJG Just Amazing, to produce an entirely different breed of horse, called a Morab. The Morab ideally blends the best qualities of the two parent breeds, the graceful Arabian and sturdy Morgan.

"We bred my mare in June (1997) before we got married," Therese Wheaton said. "Windsor was born the following June."

Before Windsor even hit the ground the Wheatons also bred their Arabian-type mare, Shiloh, to the same stallion. Dittobay was the result.

The two fillies did their owners proud in October, winning two national champion titles at the Illinois State Fairgrounds at Springfield at the 1999 U.S. Morab Nationals.

Seventeen-month old Windsor was the reserve national champion in the yearling futurity class, in which foals born in 1998 are judged against each other. She then teamed with her 7-month-old half-sister to win a national championship for their father in Get of Morgan Sire, a class that judges the qualities a stallion passes to his offspring.

Each designation brought a ribbon, rose neck sash, and trophy. Windsor also won prize money and a limited-edition bronze sculpture of a Morab.

Just as important to the Wheatons as that they won was what they won it themselves. Top horse show prizes often go to horses prepared and shown by fulltime professional trainers.

"Any time a horse goes into national arena that's trained and owned by an amateur, it's quite an achievement," said Morab Horse Association & Registry Inc. founder and executive director Lynn E. Peterson.

"Nationals is the pinnacle for our breed…," Peterson said. "We don't have a world title as yet; we're not large enough."

Peterson estimates there are 2,000 Morabs nationwide. The breed was created in the 1970s.

The Wheatons' interest in Morabs is only a few years old and is growing along with their award winning fillies.

They were introduced to the Morab by local tack shop and thoroughbred breeding farm owners Pam and Pat Patterson. The Pattersons own JPSJG Just Amazing. Both Wheaton fillies did well in all of their classes, Therese Wheaton said, but the Get of Sire class was particularly meaningful, she noted, "because Windsor, Dittobay, and Don and I all got to be awarded as champions."

Where do they go from here?

"We're looking to have Pam and Pat Patterson's daughter, Stephanie, show Windsor next summer at the 4-H show at the Waterford fairgrounds, in halter (showmanship) and driving classes'', Therese Wheaton said. If the young team does well enough to qualify for the state 4-H show, they'll be headed to the Pennsylvania Farm Show Arena in October. If they don't, the Wheatons plan to return to the Morab nationals in Illinois.

Windsor also will compete next summer in horse shows in the region. The circuit includes shows in New Castle as well as Elmira and Hamburg, N.Y.

"We live in real lap of luxury location, with regional (shows) all around, … We could be showing her all the time, but considering the time and expense it's just not practical," said Therese Wheaton. Show fees are between $100 and $200, plus transportation, food and lodging.

"We are quite proud of Windsor and Dittobay," she said, "(and) pleased that our breeding program as directed by the Pattersons has been recognized as one of the best in the nation for the Morab breed."

To learn more about the Morab breed' visit the Wheaton's Web site at crystalrun.com or contact the Tristate Morab Association at 476-0400 [new phone number 814-587-3005].

This article and photography are Copyright © 1999 Times-News Publishing in Erie, Pennsylvania.