​Morgan Sport Horses — Ponies & Small Horses Bred for Performance

Please note: all Blissoak horses measure between 14.2 hands and 15.3 hands. They are ponies and small horses bred for athletic performance — not for height. If you require a horse of 16 hands or above, these are not your horses. If you are looking for a bold, correct, intelligent sport horse or pony with exceptional bloodlines and a personality that will make you smile every single day, read on.

The Major General, FEI 2* — foundation sire of the Blissoak breeding program. 1994–2023. Major was not interested in posing for conformation shots; he was an action horse. His favorite move was gravity defiance.

The Breeding Program
The Blissoak breeding program began in 1978, 60 miles west of Des Moines, IA, when a fourteen-year-old Michelle Blackler and her mother, Regina Gilson, went looking for a show horse and came home with a seventeen-year-old broodmare in foal instead. That decision set the direction for the next four and a half decades.
Regina spent years studying the lines she loved: the attitude, bone, and substance of Trophy, and the athleticism and regality of Fleeting's son Black River Major. She also had a deep admiration for Fred and Jeanne Herrick’s lines established at Saddleback Farm. She bought a Trophy granddaughter, bred to Black River Major, and on Memorial Day, 1994, produced The Major General — a horse who would become the foundation sire of everything that followed. Michelle met Major at Christmas of 1996. They both stopped dead at the sight of each other. It was, she will tell you, as if they had known each other in past lives, suddenly reunited.

The Major General at three years old, 1997. Eastern Iowa. The beginning.

In 2004, Regina handed Michelle the reins of the breeding program. It took her nine years to be in a position to fulfill it, busy as she was campaigning horses, training for outside clients, and lacking a foal-friendly property. When the stars lined up on a Grant Wood Hillside in Eastern Iowa, she added Renée Page's high society lines to her mother's Trophy, Fleeting, and Saddleback foundation — and began producing horses that reflected everything both women had envisioned.

The Major General training a client in hazards at Catalpa Corner Horse Park, Iowa City. He preferred to go over the covered bridge the clever humans built — but when his driver asked nicely, he went in without hesitation.

Major passed in 2023. His last foal was Theo. His son Nimbus has since been gelded — in the European tradition: if you get what you want, geld them. The breeding program is currently on hold while Michelle pursues a new facility. What remains is a closed line that will only be reproduced through his daughters and granddaughter: horses sired by The Major General FEI 2*, carrying bloodlines that have not been fashionable for decades and are, for exactly that reason, extraordinary.

The Major General, 1994–2023.

“These bloodlines have been described as proven FEI bloodlines. Going back to the well would improve Morgans for the open market considerably. My Mother and I have stayed steadfast in conformation for rugged athletic performance rather than fashion — and in size, because adding height by deliberate means sacrifices conformation. Sports cars are not big, their engines are.” Michelle Blackler
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Bloodlines represented across the Blissoak horses: Fleetwing · Trophy · Senator Graham · Pecos · In Command · Noble Flaire · Black River Major · Saddleback Supreme · Thunderbay · Beamine · HVK Bell Flaire · Beamington · Aquarian Supremacy · Century On Command · Senator Barr

If you are interested in an FEI quality pony or small horse, a visit to the Cedar Rapids Corridor in Eastern Iowa should be on your agenda. Michelle Blackler Equestrian is currently located 15 minutes from the Eastern Iowa Airport,  30 miles north of I80, 4 miles north of Hwy 30, 1 mile east of Hwy 13/151.

HORSES CURRENTLY FOR SALE

Not Now Cato and Michelle Blackler at Tamarack Show Series, June 2026

Cato demonstrating his beauty as a driving horse at the 2021 Morgan Masterpiece Show

Not Now Cato
[The Major General FEI 2* x Chevals JS Dream Doll] 2013 · 14.2h · Bay Morgan Gelding · $45,000

Cato is named for Inspector Clouseau’s devoted manservant — his job is to keep his trainer sharp,and he has never once failed at it. He is a horse in a pony’s body: short legs, big engine, compact power, bold uphill movement with exceptional heart and lung capacity. Trained through Second Level dressage, schooling above, and experienced in driving. Handy in hazards for combined driving. He will take care of children and timid adults under supervision, and he will challenge a skilled rider to be better. Future FEI champion in the right hands. Bloodlines: Black River Major · Aquarian Supremacy · Fleetwing · Topp Barr · Saddleback Supreme · Century On Command · Trophy
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NOTE: Cato is currently in active training and competition in the Midwest with Michelle. He is available for purchase by a buyer whose program can continue his development. Schoolmasters of his quality and temperament are rare.
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Blissoak Spyder debuting at Second Level 2026

Spyder enjoys jumping, he is a natural.

The Blues: Spyder and Sidney at Sorensen Dressage in 2024

Blissoak Spyder
[The Major General FEI 2* x Kiss N Run,Thoroughbred] · 2016 · 15.3h · Black Gelding ·  Morgan TBX $35,000

Spyder is elegant, substantial, and in possession of warmblood movement at a Morgan price. Trained through First Level dressage, showing 2026 Second Level, started over fences. Extremely affectionate, with an uncommon ability to read his rider and give exactly what is asked: a big dressagey trot, a smooth fluid canter, as forward or as quiet as needed. Ideal for a petite adult amateur in a serious dressage program, with future eventing or working equitation potential. 

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Blissoak Nimbus — recently gelded, available for the right program. Carriage Championships in 2025.

Nimbus training the lengthened trot in the grass school at home, 2025

Blissoak Nimbus
[The Major General FEI 2* x SMS Baylilly] 2017 · 14.2h · Black Gelding (recently gelded)
$25,000 — price will increase if placed with a professional Hunter Jumper trainer

Nimbus has Fleetwing, Topp Barr, Beamine, and HVK Bell Flaire on the third line of his pedigree. When the Morgan Showcase featured him on social media, that was the detail they led with — because anyone who knows Morgans knows what it means. He carries the blue bloodlines of the Blissoak program in concentrated form.
Charming temperament, exceptional conformation, gravity-defying movement. Natural propensity for jumping — nimble, quick, and brave — with foundation dressage training for driving and early work under saddle. He wants his own person, and he loves to jump. A pony jumper trainer is a strong match. So is a dedicated adult amateur who wants something extraordinary.
Bloodlines: Black River Major · Thunderbay · Fleetwing · Beamine · HVK Bell Flaire · Senator Barr · Trophy · Beamington · Noble Flaire
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allbreedpedigree.com/blissoak+nimbus
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Blissoak Oban — Mr. Morgan Horse

Trotting the Air, Weathervane Model, Gravity Defiance: Oban is the top of the lists

Blissoak Oban
[The Major General, FEI 2* x SMS Baylilly] 2020 · Just under 14.2h (for permanent pony card) · Bay Gelding
$12,000 — price will increase with further training

Oban is Mr. Morgan Horse. Classic beauty and symmetry, substantial bone, laid-back personality, and a suspension in his movement that has no business existing at his height. No photo has yet done him justice — new images coming.
Extensive dressage training for balance, rhythm, weight distribution, and bend. Ready to hook or back. He is the kind of horse that makes experienced horsemen stop and look twice, and makes beginners feel like experts.
Bloodlines: Black River Major · Thunderbay · Fleetwing · Beamine · HVK Bell Flaire · Senator Barr · Trophy · Beamington · Noble Flaire
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allbreedpedigree.com/blissoak+oban
New photos, videos coming.
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Billy is a beauty, but he is the boy next door, too. Lovable, ready for any adventure.

Billy has the Moves for any stage: Open or Breed Arena

Blissoak Nobilis Bay
[The Major General FEI 2* x SMS Baylilly] 2022 · Bay Gelding · Just under 14.2h (for permanent pony card)
$10,000 — price will increase with further training

Billy is a born entertainer — hilarious, darling, craving to learn, and enthusiastic about every adventure he has ever been offered. He began training as a long yearling because he insisted. He is the horse that will make you laugh on your worst day and then astound you with his work.
An elegant neck, well let-down hocks, and an elastic way of going that will turn heads in the open sport disciplines. Currently working on a more compressed contact and frame in lines. Ready for light work in harness. Could go breed arena or open — he has the looks and the movement for either.
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allbreedpedigree.com/blissoak+nobilis+bay
New photos, videos coming. 

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This is Ava at four months. She still looks like this but with longer main & tail. She is taking her time and she is still growing: haven't had a stick on her but she is the tallest of the purebreds by some.

Blissoak Ave Regina is worth her price for her blood, let alone her modern Morgan Sport Horse Looks. This filly could define the future of Morgans in Open Sport.

Blissoak Ave Regina
[Blissoak Nimbus x Chevals JS Dream Doll] 2023 · Chestnut Filly · Will not measure for pony · ​ $9000

Ava is named for Regina Gilson — the woman who started this breeding program in 1978 and whose love of Saddleback and Fleeting bloodlines made every horse on this page possible. She is the picture of her beautiful dam with the stretchiness of her sire added. Ava is special, and she knows it, and so does everyone who has met her.
She is a slow developer — three years old with limited formal training, despite her insistence that it is HER turn— and her price reflects that honestly. She is purpose-bred to be a modern Morgan sport horse, and she carries the culmination of Fred Herrick’s, Renée Page’s, and Regina Gilson’s bloodlines. Her great-grandfathers are legends: Black River Major · Thunderbay · Saddleback Supreme · Century On Command.
The right buyer will see what she is becoming and have the patience to let her get there.
allbreedpedigree.com/blissoak+ave+regina
New photos, video coming. She is three, shed out liver chestnut like her dam and starting to fill out, but taking her sweet time by still growing.

Felix loves his Barn Nanny and cuddles.

Felix is going to be a stunner with that chrome on his face

Visiting with the family, all the Blissoak foals are right in the middle of it.

Blissoak Felix
​Blissoak Nimbus x Blissoak Celestine 2026 · Chestnut Colt · $5000

Felix arrived on January 31, 2026, in the bitter cold. For a maiden foal, he is so big and has so much bone. Has demonstrated his Sliding Stops, Jumping, and Half Passes: built for Performance! Once he is weaned we will get some better photos. He is the last foal of this breeding program — a son of Nimbus, the last son of Major to produce offspring before being gelded. More details and photos to follow as he develops.
His papers are worth checking: Black River Major x 2, Thunderbay, Aquarian Supremacy are his great grand sires. The fourth line of his papers has Fleetwing x 2, Topp Barr x 2, Beamine, HVK Bell Flaire, Saddleback Supreme, Century on Command. There are also 6 crosses to Trophy.
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www.allbreedpedigree.com/blissoak+felix

Henry before injuries. [Heart broken breeder.]

Blissoak Rowe Henry
[The Major General FEI 2* x Chevals JS Dream Doll] 2018 ·  14.2h  · Chestnut Gelding · Star, strip, snip, 2 stockings, 1 sock
Modest fee — contact for details

Henry is a beautiful mover with an extraordinarily high entertainment value and an absolute conviction that he is a big, beautiful badass. One out of 3, Henry. He will be an instant family member. He will take care of children and find ways to make them laugh. He believes he can play rough, and he instigates, and sometimes gets hurt.
Henry has sustained  3 injuries: to his left hind and right front fetlock, and his left hind fetlock. He is being offered as a companion and pasture ornament for a modest fee. He may yet come sound with careful management and additional therapies — he is that kind of horse — but he needs to be someone else’s project now, and he deserves an owner who will love him for exactly what he is.
Bloodlines: Black River Major · Aquarian Supremacy · Fleetwing · Topp Barr · Saddleback Supreme · Century On Command · Trophy
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