JERONAMOS IMPRESSION | 23-YEAR-OLD QUARTER HORSE | ELIZABETHTOWN, KY

Jeronamos Impression, aka “Dillon” is a foundation-bred Quarter Horse who’s 23 years young. he was bred by Johnnie and Pam Barnes of Gilliam, Louisiana and comes from the Impressive line. He is now loved by Sarah and lives at Wild Rose Equestrian Center in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Sarah knows a lot about Dillon’s bloodline and how it relates to the Quarter Horse breed.

“Impressive was known for his muscular and refined form. Impressive earned his full registration as a Quarter Horse in 1971. He was the 1974 Aged Quarter Horse Stallion World Champion, the first in his breed. He sired 2,250 foals, with almost 30 of them going on to be World Champions themselves,” Sarah said. “At one point his owner was offered $300,000 for him and turned it down saying, “Ain’t no one got enough money to buy this horse.” He was highly sought-after for breeding and at one point commanded a $25,000 stud fee. In the early 2000’s he was thought to have over 55,000 living descendants. The interesting thing about Impressive is that he can actually trace his lineage back to Man O War on his sire’s side. So, Dillon (with his old style quarter horse looks, ie big shoulders, big butt) is related to Man O War.”

Dillon is a handsome dun with a dorsal stripe and lots of chrome. These days, his job is teaching and providing comfort to Sarah’s 13-year-old daughter’s mare Flair.

“While he has his drama moments, he has also become the “steady Eddie” for our daughter’s mare, Flair. If Flair is afraid of something, Dillon goes first or we just bring him up alongside her for moral support (and a physical barrier…he outweighs her by 300+ pounds),” Sarah said. “There is very few things he doesn’t do….although he hates to have muddy feet!”

Sarah and Dillon ride Western and hit the trails regularly.

“At my age… he is exactly what I want. Enough get up and go to be fun…but sane. With Dillon, I can make mistakes…he is forgiving.”

Sarah describes the carrot-loving gelding as “honest” and was first impressed with his calm, kind personality when she saw him in the arena at Wild Rose nine years ago during one of her daughter’s lessons. Dillon was used in the lesson and therapeutic riding programs, and Sarah thinks he was ready to be a one- or two-person horse. She insisted on riding him in her own lessons, and fell in love.

Dillon is a character, and a friend to one and all.

“Dillon loves cats,” she said. “The one black barn cat is his buddy and will come and find him while we are grooming and tacking up. The cat rubs up against his face and he blows in its fur. It’s cute. He is interested in all the farm cats….wants to see them up close (some are not very interested in seeing him this close).”

Sarah and Dillon recently finished first in an obstacle course class at the farm’s fun show.

Sarah says she was “a typical horse crazy girl growing up.”

“I’m sure that I asked my parents for a pony every year for Christmas!! I collected Breyer horses, read horse books, pretended I was a horse and dreamed of owning a horse. One of my dad’s coworkers, Walter, had a team of ponies that he would use in the parade and to plow gardens. I wore him out with questions about the horses, asking for rides etc. One Christmas, the year I was in 4th or 5th grade, we came home from my grandmothers and turned on the back yard light and there was a pony with a red ribbon and a bale of hay!

“My parents were stunned…I was over the moon. A pony, finally! Thanks to Walter, we then had a series of ponies and a horse. It was a dream come true for many years. I rode everywhere…on that pony and her successors….I don’t think a day would go by without me being involved in something to do with the horses. I loved to come home from college to see my horse. Then life happened….for a period of time, work, travel and family didn’t allow for a horse…then I was blessed with a horse crazy daughter and here we go again.

“My favorite thing about owning horses is how they make me feel. The calmness that comes from grooming, the freedom that comes with a great ride or even a short gallop…the interaction with such a big animal that is happy to see you and the smell…I love the smell…always have…it makes me feel at home.”

Sarah says her favorite memory of her time with Dillon so far is the first time she knew they had bonded.

“When I first started riding him, I would lead him back to his pasture after our lessons and would have special treats for him. As soon as I slipped the halter off of him, he would walk away and not even look back. He hated the lesson program and all the different riders. I would stand there… looking pathetic, calling his name and hoping he would stay for a cookie or a carrot. This went on for many months.. until finally, one day he stayed! He wanted the extra attention and his treats and I knew…I was his person!”