Amateur in the Spotlight... Margaret Lemke and My Aprils Fame +++/
by Sandy Feuling
In 1996, Margaret began working in human resources and was introduced to Mike Brennan. Mike was a union steward at her work. Horses seemed to be the main topic of their discussions at work and Mike then invited Margaret out to his place to see the horses. Within about a week, Margaret took Mike up on his offer and went out to visit. After looking at his horses, she left with an open invitation to come back any time. Margaret went back the very next week. She frequently asked questions about the horses and Mike was always very willing to answer her.
After becoming close friends, Margaret went with Mike to the different farms the next spring during breeding season. It was a whole new world for her. Mike had to breed some mares for some clients of his and he had some left over semen from The Color of Fame. He called Connie Duff, who owned the Color of Fame and asked if he could breed his mare with the left over semen as he hated the idea of throwing the rest out and his mare was in heat. She said it was ok, and if the mare settled then he could just buy the breeding. Not thinking the mare would settle, she did and out of this came a beautiful Half Arabian mare, My Aprils Fame. Mike and Margaret were disappointed that “April” as we know her, was a solid bay being sired by The Color Of Fame,. They were hoping for a pinto . When April was 2-3 months old, Mike decided he would give April to Margaret. She then kept April at Mike’s home.
In 1997, Margaret traveled with Mike to a smaller farm to breed a mare. This happened to Roberta Lembke’s place, which to date, is one of Margaret’s very best friends.
They first showed April in 1998 at the fall show in Rochester. April was 2nd out of 4 in the Futurity class. She was 2nd out of 2 in the Open Half Arabian Halter Weanling class at five months old. As a yearling in 1999, April went Top Ten at Region X and Region 6. As a 2- year-old in 2000, April didn’t place at the regional level. Margaret, however, was not disappointed. From there, April went to Larry Hoffman at Hesten Park to start her performance career.
I can remember first meeting Margaret in 2002. She was a very quiet individual, seemingly shy. We’d always be down at Hesten Park to ride close to the same time and shared a simple hello. The first show that she made an impact in my life was at Region 6 in Gillette, Wyoming. Not knowing her very well, I remember her being called out as Champion in the Amateur Owner Half Arabian Mare class. Jerry Shall catch-showed April and was named Champion in the Half Arabian Stock/Hunter Mare class. I was sitting in the Hesten Park cheering section and recall Margaret jumping straight up in the air off of the aluminum bleachers, with both of her arms straight in the air and tears in her eyes and she was completely elated. It was thrilling to me just watching the excitement on Margaret’s face. Here is a young woman who two years previously got the gate at a regional show and then winning both regional halter classes.
In 2003, My Aprils Fame continued with her winning ways in halter at a Regional level, in addition to also adding a Top Ten in the Half Arabian Western Pleasure Jr. Horse class at both the Canadian and U.S. Nationals.
| Below: Larry Hoffman receiving a Top Ten on My Aprils Fame+++/ in 2003 |
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Margaret planned to continue with her in 2004, but just before regional competition began, April pulled a tendon. Margaret gave her the rest of the year off to recuperate.
This year, Margaret accomplished a couple of milestones of her own. She received her very first Top Five in Half Arabian Western Pleasure Select Rider and her very first Top Ten at the Canadian Nationals in the AO Half Arabian Stock/Hunter Mare Breeding class. Now that is definite proof that persistence and patience does pay off. She is also heading to the U.S. Nationals in Albuquerque, New Mexico in October.
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| Margaret showing at Canada in 2005 |
I asked Margaret if she could describe in a few words how she felt after she had accomplished her own personal first Top Ten? She replied, “Unbelievable.” That’s the only word she kept reiterating.
Margaret said that through all of this there have been some very rewarding yet difficult times. She said, “You just never know where life is going to lead us and that we should never take this life for granted”. She never would have thought that her work would lead her to where she was today. In knowing Margaret, she has to work very hard to have horses, but she wouldn’t trade it for the world. Margaret told me she has met some of the best friends she will ever have in her life…thanks to taking one man up on his offer to come out and see the beauty of the Arabian horse.
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| Margaret shows a big smile after going Top Ten in Canada |
(taken from the November/December 2005 & January 2006 issue of The MAHA Leader)