In the summer of 2013, freshman Danielle Keating was studying pre-vet at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. What she didn’t realize was that a simple volunteering opportunity would lead to a lifelong partnership with a very special Morgan mare. Keating had fallen in love with Morgans early in her riding career, so when Medina County SPCA reached out about helping with a group of 30 Morgans seized from a hoarding situation, she and a friend jumped at the chance. 

“It was supposed to be just volunteering,” Keating said. But like many horse enthusiasts, she found herself connecting with one of the horses in the group. When that initial adoption fell through, the rescue called her two days later with another idea.  

“They told me they had just gotten one of their mares back from a foster and asked if I wanted to come see her that day,” she recalled. “They said she didn’t really want anything to do with people and seemed overall uninterested in life. Of course, I dropped everything and ran over there.” 

At the rescue, Keating met a small black Morgan mare named Windrise Lady Vivien. It was love at first sight. “I know it sounds cheesy, but I walked in and she was in the very first stall. I looked at her, she looked at me, and we just walked the length of her stall back and forth. I was immediately smitten and she was mine.” 

A week later, the mare went home with Keating. For the rest of the summer, she focused on establishing a bond with her and building a solid groundwork foundation. During that time, Keating decided the mare deserved a new name to match her fresh start. Windrise Lady Vivien would be known from that point on as Poise and Ivie, or “Ivie.”  

“I spent an entire month doing groundwork with her,” Keating said. “By the end of the summer, she was teaching children how to ride. She’s so good with little kids and reveled in their attention.”  

Finding Their Stride 

Ivie later joined Keating at her university, where she quickly became a barn favorite. “My trainers at Otterbein were phenomenal,” Keating said. When Keating decided to teach Ivie how to jump, they were onboard.  

“They weren’t deterred by the fact that she was a Morgan, which can be a little unconventional in the jumper ring,” Keating said. “Ivie took to it like a fish to water. She absolutely loved it.”  

By their second summer together, Ivie and Keating were competing in the 1.05 and 1.10m classes. “We were flying around the classes and having a grand time doing it,” Keating laughed. “We did this for the rest of my undergraduate career and really had a blast.”  

Balancing ownership and competing during college wasn’t easy, but for Keating, Ivie was more than worth it. “My senior year, I worked four jobs to help pay for her board,” she said. “Two were at the University, and the others were at a veterinary clinic and retail store.” 

While some may think that juggling school and a horse would be overwhelming, Keating found the opposite to be true. Having Ivie at school actually improved both her mental health and her grades.  

“I have such a special relationship with this horse,” Keating said. “Between classes and work, so much felt out of control. The one thing I could count on was time with Ivie. She didn’t care if I showed up in scrubs, if I had six exams that week, or if I only had 15 minutes to spend with her grazing in her paddock. She just cared that I was there and that I showed up.”  

Across State Lines 

When Keating started veterinary school at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, it only made sense that Ivie would come with her. The move meant adjusting to a new program, a new state, and a new competitive landscape. 

“The show jumping scene was smaller in Indiana,” Keating said. “We went to an eventing barn and [Ivie] ended up loving cross country just as much as show jumping. She was a cross-country machine.” 

During Keating’s 2018 fall break, the duo had the opportunity to compete at the Morgan Grand Nationals and World Championships, where they earned two Grand National titles, a Reserve National Title, and a World title in show jumping.  

“It made all my Morgan horse-kid dreams come true,” said Keating. “Even my professors were excited and cheered us on.” 

After their big win, Ivie spent some time semi-retired while Keating completed her internship with Rood & Riddle in Lexington, Ky. In 2021, the duo made their final move together, this time to California. 

“She made that trip with me beautifully,” Keating said. “She was a well-travelled lady by that point.” 

Once settled in their new home, they started competing on the California circuit. Ivie quickly proved her talent and consistency, regularly returning home from shows like the Desert Holiday and The Oaks Finale with blue ribbons and champion coolers. Keating credits much of their success to her mare’s heart and determination.  

“That horse is so competitive,” Keating laughed. “She loves to do it. The second she hears the buzzer go off, she’s all in. She walks into the ring, lays it all out there, and just does her job.” 

For the Long Haul 

Now 21, Ivie still moves with the energy of a much younger horse. Keating is focused on protecting Ivie’s joy and well-being, determined to let her keep doing what she loves for as long as she wants to do it.  

“She doesn’t owe me a thing,” Keating said. “As long as she’s happy doing it, we’ll do it. And when she doesn’t want to do it anymore, she’ll be the world’s greatest trail horse.” 

Ivie also has a soft spot for children. She’s taught beginner and IHSA lessons, and Keating said she’ll make the perfect “grandma horse” someday. Despite the hardship she experienced before coming into Keating’s life, Ivie has always had an open and loving heart.  

“I am so blessed by this horse,” Keating said. “She’s an absolute unicorn. It breaks my heart that she was neglected. But I used to joke that for every year she went without, I’d spoil her rotten for one more. It’s been almost 13 years and she’s just an absolute princess.” 

When Keating first brought Ivie home, she half-expected her to be a project she would eventually sell. She realized that that would not be the case almost immediately. As Ivie continues to grow older, Keating refuses to give her anything but the best life and to keep her home. 

“It broke my heart to even consider her not being mine,” Keating said. “I know she’s not going to be able to do this job forever. At some point, I’ll be riding a semi-retired or retired horse, and I've made peace with that. I love her too much. After everything she’s given me, I can’t imagine her being anywhere else.” 

A special thank you to Danielle Keating for sharing her and Ivie’s story. If you would like to share your own story with US Equestrian, please contact us at [email protected].