Patterson horse trainer Merrill Hodges delivered her baby on the same day the foal of her prize-winning mare Silly was born.
Harper Hodges was born April 23 at Memorial Satilla Health Birthing Center, weighing five-pounds, 8.9 ounces. Sharpie, weighing considerably more, was foaled later that same day.
Upon returning home, one of the first things Merrill and her husband, Austin Hodges, did was introduce the two new arrivals to each other.
Merrill sees it as much more than coincidence that her daughter, Harper, and the foal, Sharpie, were born the same day. “Silly was the godsend of my childhood and she just keeps giving to me.”
Officially registered as Smoke More Money, the mare called Silly was given to eight year old Merrill. She did not realize then that Silly would be the gift that kept on giving.
By age 13, Merrill had ridden Silly to a world title from the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. This made her a “proven mare”. Once Silly’s first foal, Smooch, began winning a pile of awards, this made Silly a “proven producer”, a winner that produces more winners.
In the intense world of barrel racing, Merrill and Silly’s specialty, this can make horses worth a life-changing amount of money. That’s why Merrill and her husband, a fellow competition rider, have named their new place More Money Farms.
Mrs. Hodges isn’t slowing down either. “I did my last barrel race when I was 31 weeks,” she says in a nonchalant way, “and competed the weekend after I had my daughter.”
Like her mother, Harper will grow up around horses. Most days little Harper rides in a carrier strapped to mom while Merrill feeds the horses or fills the water trough. Later, the baby might nap in the living quarters of a special trailer parked beside the barn as her mother does more intensive work.
The new mother’s goal is for Harper to ride a “Silly baby” one day, but her daughter will be ready before her birthday twin Sharpie. Like Merrill, Harper might begin to ride as early as three years old. Horses are not broken for riding until their second year and are not ready to run until they are four.
“It will probably be Smooch,” Merrill decides, “She has the same great personality and ability as Silly.”
