
Coal Creek Onyx -- (Lindon Gates x Triple S Ebonella)
Onyx was a little solid black mare foaled in 1982. We attended a large Morgan sale in Iowa and wanted to buy a couple mares. We ended up buying Onyx and her bay daughter, Coal Creek Justice, in the fall of Onyx’s 9th year, and she came bred to Caduceus Casanova. She brought some old breeding close up – UVM Gates and her dam was an inbred Blackwood Correll daughter. Very little handling, if any, had been done with Onyx and we called her the “wild mare”. She was very underweight so we worked hard to get her in good shape in time for foaling and worked on gaining her trust us so we could be present for the foaling. In the spring of 1992, Kells Moonlight Serenade arrived. Onyx allowed us there during the birth. She as always standoffish toward strangers but we basically could do anything with her. Many more foals followed. On December 9, 2004, Onyx was carrying her 17th foal. She quietly wandered to the end of the pasture, lay down, and decided it was time for a final nap. There appeared to be no struggle and Onyx was buried where she lay. I am fortunate to have 3 daughters yet – Coal Creek Justice, Kells Moonlight Serenade, and Kells Maija Blessed Event, plus grandchildren, to continue on her legacy.