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Perhaps they are
not just stars in the sky,
but rather openings where our loved ones
shine down to let us know
they are happy.
~Eskimo
Legend
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[Hootie's Foals] [Pictures]
[Pedigree]
We mourn the loss of this
friend and the foundation of our program
on June 6, 2004.
God Blessed Us
"I'll lend you, for a little while,
My grandest foal," He said.
"For you to love while he's alive
And mourn for when he's dead.
"It may be one or twenty years,
Or days or months, you see.
But, will you, till I take him back,
Take care of him for me?
"He'll bring his charms to gladden you,
And should his stay be brief,
You'll have treasured memories
To bring solace in your grief.
"I cannot promise he will stay,
Since all from earth return.
But, there are lessons taught on earth
I want this foal to learn.
"I've looked the wide world over
In my search for teachers true.
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes
With trust, I have selected you.
"Now will you give him your total love,
Not think the labor vain,
Nor hate Me when I come
To take him back again?
"I know you'll give him tenderness
And love will bloom each day.
And for the happiness you've known
Forever grateful stay.
"But should I come and call for him
Much sooner than you'd planned,
You'll brave the bitter grief that comes
And someday understand." ~Anonymous |
Poem by Carl F. Hammond
This is a graphic, and will take a moment to load.
Special thanks to Marlene McChesney of
A Cowgirls Heart for
making this poem possible,
and to Carl Hammond for the tribute!
Because so many people have asked what happened, and because we
hope our experience will stop anyone from putting a stallion in a corral panel
pen (if possible), I'll share the story so I don't have to relive it by retyping
it so often.
Hootie broke his leg in a corral panel fence on June 6, 2004.
I have comfort at least in knowing that it was destined to happen.
You see, one and one half days before he died, we built that fence out of
round-pen panels to house him temporarily until we could put up a welded
pipe fence at our new property. Since we had just sold our old
property, we had to move to a location that was not set up for horses.
When Thomas (my helper this summer) was working on that EXACT SAME JOINT in the fence, I
looked up and saw him and had an immediate feeling of impending doom. I
looked around at other things, thinking something was wrong, and the
feeling went away. But when I looked back at that point where the two
panels came together that he was securing, I just felt sick at my
stomach. After going down and looking everything over, I dismissed it and
went on to working on the fence and building.
Just about 36 hours later,
I found Hootie hanging upside down from that joint between two corral
panels by a broken leg. It was horrible, and made worse by the fact that
the insurance company wouldn't let us put him down until a vet could come,
inspect him, and then call them with his recommendation. Thank goodness
our vet understood. He drove....well....over the speed limit.......to
come to Hootie's aid and end his suffering.
So although I miss him horribly, I do feel that God was sharing
with me that we were going to lose Hootie through this sign a day and a
half in advance. The Bible tells us that we are given signs, but we
often do not recognize them. I'm thankful to have had this sign,
because I know that there is a reason for Hootie leaving us. It may
be a while coming yet, but I feel that it is the Plan for us to begin
again with another stallion, or to quit and enjoy our horses in a
different manner. My belief in this has sure made this a great deal
easier to bear.
~15
hh grullo roan stallion
25% Blue Valentine
Registered at
90% NFQHA
Sire of AQHA point earner and winners in AQHA weanling classes in his first 3
foal crops
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Multiple crosses to
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Plus crosses
to
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Click here to
see photos of many of his foals on one page
"Hootie"
was a grandson of the famous "Blue Valentine," who was a grandson of
Joe Hancock. Blue Valentine is widely known as one of the best producers of
working cow horses in the western US. Hootie was a cross between old Hancock
blood and old running blood, plus newer blood via his dam who was a daughter of White Mount.
Both his sire's and dam's sides of his pedigree are strong on cutting and
other working cattle disciplines, with some halter and speed thrown in as a bonus.
Hootie's pedigree can be traced back on some lines to the 1760's,
including multiple crosses to Steel Dust and some other historic horses.
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Click here to
see photos of many of his foals on one page
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Page last updated:
02/15/10
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