In Memoriam: Marlene Beran
On Monday, October 31, 2022, our Morgan community lost longtime AMHA member, well-known breeder, and friend, Marlene Beran who passed away at the age of 88. Marlene created, operated, and cherished her Big-Little Morgan Farm in Esperance, New York for over six decades, standing the wonderful stallions, UVM Enchantor, The Preacher, and UVM Lash. She focused her breeding program on the government lines, as she felt they produced beautiful Morgans with stamina, intelligence, soundness, and athletic ability. Marlene believed, first and foremost, that the Morgan is a family horse and that their great versatility provided a place for everyone. She loved the Morgan horse and spent many years breeding and showing the best of the best.
Marlene was quite remarkable. She purchased her farm at age 21 which was most impressive for a single lady in the 1950’s. It was a 96-acre property on a quiet, country road surrounded by forest preserve, perfect for trail riding and driving her Morgans. She named it Big-Little Morgan Farm which was how many referred to the Morgan horse at that time. While employed full time at General Electric, Marlene educated herself on pedigrees, developed her breeding program, cared for her farm (with no farm employees), and worked her way through college at night to earn her degree in engineering. After 43 years, she retired from General Electric in 1996 giving her time to truly enjoy the farm and driving horses with her companion and later husband, George Pins. In addition, Marlene also enjoyed her 1845 farmhouse, collecting early American furniture and antiques, gardening, reading, and folk-art painting. George said Marlene was once accused of “trying to live in the nineteenth century. She took that as a compliment.”
The farm and Marlene were featured in an article by Susan M. Gregory in the March 1997 edition of The Morgan Horse Magazine. Susan beautifully documented the horses of Marlene’s program. The first stallion purchased was UVM Canez, who, unfortunately, passed away at the age of three. Marlene then acquired UVM Enchantor who became the farm’s foundation stallion. O-At-Ka Sealect Lass joined the farm as its first foundation broodmare. From there the farm grew and grew, producing many notable Morgans with 71 carrying the “B-L” prefix, and an additional 25 in her program. Marlene told Susan that her most successful cross was B-L Superfection (Chasley Superman x B-L Enchantress). This wonderful show mare went on to become an even greater broodmare, producing Issues ‘N Answers and B-L Jubilee Flaire. Many of Marlene’s horses were successful show horses while others excelled in a multitude of sport horse disciplines. She loved every one of them, but her favorite was her mare, B-L America, also known as Cotton.
“Aunt Mar,” as Marlene was known by niece Scherri Edwards, was a main figure in her life and the person to which Scherri attributes her great love and respect for equines. “She got me my first pony at age 3. At age 4, she entered me in my first horse show. I loved going to the shows with her. As a kid I would stay on the farm awake all night just waiting to pack up and leave the next morning!” said Scherri. “Her farm in Esperance was not as fancy as the rich and famous she mingled with, but people came from all over this country as well as others to get the B-L Morgan Horse! Marlene was highly respected in the equine industry and I am so proud of her and thankful for all she has given me to help me continue on my own journey. For my high school graduation, I received my own B-L Morgan - B-L The Saint. Saint and I were a team for many years. Her lifelong commitment to the horse industry will never be forgotten.”
Marlene’s early years were spent on her grandparents’ farm in Crown Point, New York. This is where her love of horses began and where she was laid to rest. Marlene was pre-deceased by her former husband, Stanley Beran, and leaves behind her loving husband, George Pins, her beloved niece, Scherri Edwards, many friends, and a lasting Morgan legacy.
