Marjorie & Richard Gilmore are the owners of Wellgreen Farm located in Downs, Illinois.  They are pictured here with their youngest son, Adam (age 19) and their oldest son Ryan Gilmore (age 24). Richard and Marjorie named their farm (Wellgreen) after a location in Scotland where Marjorie's great grandfather, who in the early 1900's, originated from.

Marjorie started riding at the age of 9 years, with her father. He used horses to drive cattle in and out of the pasture. Marjorie has many memorable times, learning to ride with him. It wasn't until 1992 that Marjorie started focusing on expanding her knowledge of horses and she went on to educate herself in the skills of western pleasure, english, gaited horsemanship skills, equine management, conformation, horsemanship, equitation, showing, and optimum horse care.  

In 2001, Marjorie decided to expand the equestrian program and formed Wellgreen Farm Riding Academy; a program which offers professional adult and children's riding lessons, our very popular horse leasing program, boarding, challenging trail rides, for both businesses and children or adults, horsemanship classes, equitation classes, natural horsemanship training programs, the basics of riding, groundworking exercises and more.  At Wellgreen Farm, they take pride in providing top quality, well bred horses, that receive the highest standard of care.  We have hand selected the riding horses for temperment, conformation, ability and performance. Wellgreen Farm also incorporates into their programs the Paso Fino horses that are known for their smooth, natural gait and bonding nature. Marjorie has shown the Paso Fino horses competitively, winning first place in Paso Fino Performance at the Illinois State Fair and demonstrating her Paso Fino at the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Library Fund Raiser. She has shown competitively at numerous high level AQHA, IQHA, IBHA, ABRA, PFHA Midwest Classic, Illinois State Fair, county fairs and more in WP, HUS, Performance, Pleasure, Halter, Showmanship, Equitation, Horsemanship, and all around classes.  She has helped several of her students who learn to show as well. 

On July 15, 16 and 17th, 2011, we are hosting a Larry Whitesell Horsemanship Clinic.......techniques that can be used with any horse that focused on collection, and leg yielding and moved us to working in snaffle bits and horsemanship skills while riding and working on the ground.  We learned so much from Larry!  Thank you! 

My feelings on horses and horsemanship skills is that none of us are ever done learning.  Whether it is your horse or ours, good horsemanship skills are a commitment.....and learning how to ride correctly takes riding instruction and practice which takes time and money.   And to do right by our horses, means we have to keep learning ourselves. 

They have so much to give and ask for so little in return.  The life skills horses teach us are too numerous to mention and they love you unconditionally.

As we embark on this journey to ride in harmony with our horse, we must consider the horse in everything that we do.  No one could drive that point home better than world renown trainer and clinician,

Larry Whitesell of Baxter, TN. 

Correct riding skills take time to master and are key to communicating effectively with your horse.  And no matter what kind of horse you are riding or what kind of discipline, it is important to ride with the lightest of aides if we truly care about riding in unity with our horse.  Horses respond willingly when we offer to keep them in balance, working underneath themselves, rounding their back to carry a rider, and guiding them through the light hands of a snaffle bit and NEVER EVER bringing the horse out of balance or inflicting fear or pain of any kind.  In addition, rewards for a job well done are key.

For me, it has been a life long journey to be the best that I can be when riding or working with horses; both on the ground and on horseback.  This journey is one in which I will never be able to learn enough in order to be in perfect unity and harmony with my horse.

In return, they are giving, forgiving, and always wanting to please.......forming a union like no other. We are at one! 

And, at the end of the day, and some of them are very long days, it is my horses that keep me whole, they strengthen my soul, and speak to me in a language all of their own. 

They are my best friends, my confidants, and my loyal partners. 

Life without horses, for me, is truly unthinkable. 

Yes they are my passion!  Yes, they are a committment and a lot of hard work!

Yes, they are worth it!  I wouldn't want a life any other way!  Marjorie  

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On July 21st, 2009, Marjorie and Richard hosted and certified with the Richard Shrake Clinic.  Marjorie certified in the Richard Shrake Clinic, along with 12 other people and horses on Resistance Free Training. 

Marjorie also attended a 10 day hands-on Clinton Anderson Clinic as well in Milstad, Illinois..

Marjorie is a certified instructor with North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), which she earned in October of 2004.

Wellgreen Farm (Marjorie & her students) have competed successfully at AQHA, IBHA, ABRA, IQHA, Youth Charity, Midwest Classic, Illinois State Fair, McLean County Fair, local fun shows and local county fairs in disciplines of Hunter Under Saddle, Showmanship, Western Pleasure, Halter, Equitation, Showmanship, Horsemanship, English, Barrels, Poles, Games, Jumping, Trail, Paso Fino Gaited Performance and Pleasure Classes. 

Two of our horses attended Findlay University in Findlay, Ohio for their western pleasure equestrian program and we have placed several of our horses in good homes across the country. 

Following is a horse that Richard and Marjorie raised on their farm. This mare has numerous Register of Merits in about every discipline, and over 600 points to her name and was Reserve Grand Champion in All Around at the World Show and 5th at the World  in Open.

. She is the mother of a filly born May 28, 2009 out of ER Hot Chex.

............I'll be waiting for you!