By Margaret Ring
On a cold February day in 2006, I bought a big red three-year-old gelding from Cliff Hartman Farms. He was unshown, and was going to be my first "select" horse. I would say he was just an average horse, but was quiet, big enough to be a hunt seater, and didn't seem to have any issues. As with so many of them, Scott turned an average horse into a remarkable horse. One short year later, on another cold February day, Sonny was Amateur Hunter Under Saddle Champion at the Dixie National Quarter Horse Show.
We lost Sonny when he was euthanized at my home on June 22, 2009 after complications from colic surgery. In the too-brief three years I had him, he took me many places, usually with grace and style. I miss him terribly.
With Scott's help, Sonny was able to take on many new events in addition to hunter under saddle and equitation, including horsemanship, showmanship, trail, and western riding. At his last show, he got two seconds out of 13 horses in the Novice Western Pleasure - with his 16.2 hand self sucked up and loping around. We had also begun the pleasure driving, although it didn't appear that it was going to be the big guy's favorite event. Sonny's accomplishments include:
AQHA Superior Amateur Hunter Under Saddle
AQHA Select World Show Qualifer 2007, 2008 and 2009
AQHA ROM Junior Hunter Under Saddle
61 AQHA Open/Amateur HUS Wins out of 121 shows - a 50% winning ratio
Multiple year-end high points - AL QHA and NWFQHA
18 AQHA All-Around and Reserve All-Around awards in 2008
AQHA Open points in four events
AQHA Amateur points in seven events
Class Winner 2008 Gold Coast - Select Equitation
I am very sad over the loss of this great horse - he seemed so perfect for me. But I want to thank those who helped us along the way, and who loved Sonny almost as much as I did, and who have given me many heartfelt words of condolence and encouragement. I do have a few favorite memories of some great rides, of a spectator commenting that others in the class need to stay away from the lady on the red horse because "that team is poison and makes the others wither away," of Scott once saying Sonny was the best horse on the show grounds (probably followed by "if you could learn how to ride him" - but I have forgotten that part.)
Sonny's life was too short, and I regret that he had to go through the pain of two surgeries. Sometimes things are just not meant to be. But I know he is trotting that big trot up in heaven, and dragging someone out to the pature so he can graze. I will always be grateful for the hours of pleasure and the great sense of accomplishment he gave me. Thank you Scott, and thank you to the Big'un.
