Congratulations on a New Partnership: Morgan Miller and Diime Piece

By Delores Kuhlwein

Congratulations to Amateur Morgan Miller, the new owner of three-year-old western pleasure horse Diime Piece!

The 2021 AQHA black mare by Machine Made and out of Shez Slippin Around, raised by Bret and Candy Parrish, just made a big statement in her maiden career in August as the NSBA World Champion in 3 Year Old Novice Horse Western Pleasure and as the Reserve Champion in BCF Three Year Old Open Western Pleasure – both with Andy Cochran in the saddle.

With such an amazing start, “AJ’s” future looks promising indeed, especially with the 2024 All American Quarter Horse Congress on the horizon this month.

“I am so excited to take her to the Congress to watch her show with Andy Cochran in the 3 Year Old Open Western Pleasure events, and I can’t wait for my opportunity to show her as well,” says Morgan, a multiple champion in her own right who began adding to her repertoire recently to include western all around events, resulting in her winning the Novice Amateur All Around at the 2024 NSBA World Show with No Question Im Lazy.

Expanding her knowledge to Western Pleasure with a mare like AJ is a thrilling opportunity.  “She seems like just an incredible mare,” explains Morgan.  “Every time I have watched her show, I have loved her. She is beautiful – like breathtakingly beautiful -and a phenomenal mover.”

AJ will remain under the guidance of Andy and Katie Cochran of Cochran Quarter Horses, who have been on the hunt for a western pleasure horse for Morgan for some time now.  “She’s such an awesome person and a great customer, and we wanted something perfect for her – not just any horse,” explains Katie.

The opportunity kind of fell into their laps when AJ was sent to them right before the NSBA World Show by Robert and Sasha Smith. It had occurred to Andy while showing AJ that she’d make a really nice horse for Morgan, so they met with the Smiths after the show.

At first, Robert and Sasha didn’t want to offer Diime Piece for sale until after the Congress, but when they changed their minds afterward, Katie says, “It was the fastest and easiest decision we could all make!”

Andy is excited to continue AJ’s 3 year old career this year and build an amateur horse for Morgan next year. “She’s a great fit for Morgan with her presence and movement, and they will have a very pretty look together,” he says.

Morgan and the Cochrans want to thank Robert and Sasha Smith for the incredible opportunity, and Garrett Streit for everything he’s done for AJ, and they are also grateful to Bret and Candy Parrish for raising great horses for the industry.