Where the name Catalyst came from....
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UVM Catalyst
Back in 1996, old friends Bob and Nancy Fetters fell in love with and purchased a two year old Morgan gelding, UVM Catalyst. When "Catman" was on his way to them, Nancy called me and asked me to help her with his training.
Catman was a beautiful, spirited, mischievous black gelding. We worked that fall with the plan of driving him the following year.
In October, 1996, Bob and Nancy took me to the Fair Hill International Combined Driving Event. Up to then, I thought of driving as something old ladies did in a ring. Imagine my surprise as I watched whips and horses gallop up and down hills, through water, around obstacles. This looked fun! I had to do it.
Within two weeks I was taking lessons from Lisa Singer and in a month I had purchased my first driving horse, Whippoorwill Laertes "Zipper".
I started competing the next spring.
Unfortunately we never were able to drive Catman. He sadly colicked and died that spring.
Some time after that, we were talking about Catman, and one of us (don't remember who!) pointed out that he HAD been a catalyst to us all. He got us driving, he got us back together as friends, he introduced us to what now is a very important part of our lives. We have met new friends and had incredible experiences thanks to Catman. And so, the farm was named after him.
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