In Memory - Lester Welch

AMHA Remembers Lester Welch, Written by Heather Smith.  

Lester Welch, in his 90th year, passed away at his home in Brooksville, Florida on Saturday, April 3, after a lingering illness. Lester grew up on a hillside dairy farm above the little town of South Ryegate, Vermont. His love of horses began when he was a boy of seven, suffering from the dreaded Scarlet Fever. “Take your medicine,” his father told him. “Get well and I’ll buy you a pony.” He did get well, and not long after a little black and white pony arrived in the backseat of the family sedan. That was the beginning of a lifelong love of horses. He became a true, natural horseman with a calm, steady demeanor and an ability to convince a horse to do anything he asked of them. 

After graduating from high school, he attended the Vermont Agricultural School in Randolph, Vermont. From there, he was sought by Joe Boulris, manager of the Green Mountain Stock Farm. He was hired by owner Robert Lippitt Knight to care for the many Morgans on the farm. He had the good fortune to work with Lippitt Ethan Ash, Lippitt Victory, Lippitt Sam, Ashbrook, Lippitt Dusky Kate and her sister Duplicate. In 1952, he was drafted to serve in the Army Medical Corp. during the Korean War. (He often referred to this time in life as being an early day “Radar”). 

While he was away, Mr. Knight had dispersed his Lippitt herd. But upon his return to Randolph, Mr. Knight called to ask that he come back to the farm. Many of the Lippitts were re-purchased and Lester was tasked with the care, training, and breeding of the horses. 

In 1963, Lester started his own program at his newly established Ryegate Farm, not far from Mr. Knight’s Stock Farm. He began with two mares from Mrs. Margaret Rice; Meredith Jenifer and Lippitt Georgiana. Lippitt Norman and Lippitt Ashbrook Moro were his first stallions, all the while having his eye on a black colt named Stillwater Indigo. 

It is said that for every horseman there is one special horse. For Lester that was Indigo, who gave him the Lippitt Ethan Ash lines he had come to love. Indigo sired more than 200 foals and helped Ryegate Morgans become a noted part of Lippitt Morgan history. They did everything together; driving single and pair, under saddle, in parades, horse shows, trail rides. Disney Films featured Lester driving a sleigh with Stillwater Indigo and Stillwater Amora in the film “Journey to America.” 

Throughout his life, Lester befriended countless Lippitt and general horse lovers. Always obliging and unassuming, he generously shared his knowledge and time. He would bring his horses out one by one to show visitors and took potential owners on road trips throughout New England to show them other Lippitts. What he would not do is say an unkind word about anyone else’s horses or breeding programs. He was a walking encyclopedia of Lippitt pedigrees, always willing to share his knowledge, explain differences in various Morgan bloodlines and help others begin their own breeding programs. He loved sharing stories of Mr. Knight and his experiences with the horses at the Stock Farm. Many friends have fond memories of gatherings at Ryegate Farm and the annual fall trail rides he hosted, providing horses and overnight camping, sleeping under the stars with horses tied nearby. 

Lester was a key player in the creation of The Lippitt Club as its first president, was very involved in the annual Lippitt Country Show and the Lippitt Morgan Breeders Association. He will always be considered a pillar of the Lippitt community, with countless friends made, horses raised and sold to buyers across the country, Canada and even England.

Lester is survived by two brothers, a sister, two stepsons, numerous nieces and nephews, and a lifetime of friends. His name lives on in the numerous Morgans carrying the bloodlines he worked so hard to preserve. And he’s not done yet; his last horse, Ryegate Dirty Sallie is due to foal in mid-May.

We can’t thank you enough Lester, for all you gave to the Lippitt Morgan community. You will be truly missed. 

For more on Lester's Morgan Horse Contributions read the TMH Article on the AMHA Website here.