Welcome  to my HOME!!
Orchard View Farm
Love those saddlebreds!
Welcome to my home page!!!  Here's a little bit of my horsey life so far....
This is a picture of one of my favorite horses, "Mona."
This is our win at the Signature Show in 1998.  Mona was a ball of fire that day. By the second way of the ring, I just let her go and was riding a walk-trot horse with a mane!  We loved to show at night because there were always gorgeous sunsets. Mona had a beautiful gray filly (sold), then returned to the show ring in Ohio for the 2004 season. She's now retired again and looking forward to being a mom again.
**Update** She's out of retirement AGAIN - now an equitation mount for a 12 year old girl in southern Indiana.
And now.... this is my newest love, Wings!  This was our first show, in Indianapolis in June, 2002.  He was awesome and a powerhouse to ride!  We took 3rd out of 12, but I was not disappointed one bit.  He only got firsts and seconds the rest of the season, including a win at the Milwaukee Pleasure Horse Show!  Wings  has a new owner and will be shown in the Midwest in the 2005 season!!
Katie Bortel showed Wings to numerous wins all summer, including Milwaukee, Crown Point, and Lake County.
Contact Information:
Darlene Mannix   219-324-5827
e-mail   d.mannix@comcast.net
June, 2006 
Updated 6/06 - A lot has happened this year!!  I went back to work, half-time, made the last college payment to Wheaton College (YEAAAA), and somehow still have a gazillion horses here!
I'll try to update all of my pages, but this may take all summer!
CRYSTAL EYES   One of my all-time favorite horses... We showed in walk/trot for a couple of years, then grew her a mane and showed in park. Ever have a favorite horse moment? My best memory was showing in Wisconsin in front of my mom and dad who came to watch me.  We won the class!!  They were so proud and of course, I had the "prettiest horse out there" and was the "prettiest rider."  All those lessons all those years paid off!
My mom died 3 years ago and dad died last year. I am so glad we had that wonderful time together...Whenever I see this picture I think of that time. 
TELEMETRY   What kind of name is that??  I just thought she looked like a MONA.
FRANKLIN M. EDWARDS IS IRISH   Who names these horses, anyways??????  I sold Wings but someday I bet he'll be back with me.  He was a BLAST to ride and show - wonderful attitude and springy trot.  This pictures is from Indianapolis at the Charity Horse Show - 2003 I think!!
JORDAN   "ADVENTURE ROAD"
There comes a time in every serious rider's life when it's time to step out of the comfort zone...for me it was trying to ride a 5-gaited horse!  A friend and I went in together to buy him, and was it ever an adventure!  I learned that 5 gaits takes a lot longer to get through in the show ring than 3!  Jordan was wonderful!  The year we finally got it together (1994) we never lost a class in the state of Michigan!  I like this picture because you can see my husband in the background (guy with the beard). This was at Berrien Springs, Michigan - so of course we won!   I found out Jordan is now deceased - made me very sad!
Jenny and Topper   TROPICAL NIGHT
My oldest daughter, Jenny, joined the horsey-set in junior high/high school.  This is Topper, a fantastic first ASB. She chose to ride western because you don't have to post.  It's too hard to figure out those diagonals!
COSMO   Summit Royal Flame  - fun to ride!