Sweet Lil Lena euthanized

Sweet Lil Lena, dam of the cutting horse earners of more than $700,000 and maternal granddam of High Brow CD, 2008 NCHA Horse of the Year and winner of $521,000, was euthanized last week due to the complications of Cushing’s disease. Owned at the time of her death by Dana Harrah, the 1984 daughter of Smart Little Lena lived the last 10 years of her life at Shelly and Rick Mowery’s ranch in Weatherford, Texas (pictured with the Mowerys on April 26, 2009).

“It was a hard decision to make, but it was time,” said Shelly Mowery, who counted Sweet Lil Lena among a band of well-known senior mares that she cares for, including former Non-Pro world champion Jae Bar Maisie, 30.

A full sister to 13-year-old sire Smart Lil Scoot, winner of $266,125, Sweet Lil Lena was one of her sire’s leading producers and rank’s among cutting’s top 25 dams of money earners. Her richest money earners from 10 performers include current sires Sweet Lil Pepto ($218,655) and Pepto Taz ($130,174), as well as Sweet Little CD ($106,085) and Sweet Lil Boo ($70,772).

Bred by Diamond M Cutting Horses of Houston, Sweet Lil Lena earned over $100,00 as an NCHA Futurity finalist with Russell Harrison; as 1988 Tropicana Open champion under Bill Freeman; and as a non-pro finalist for Eli Shtabsky. She was purchased by casino owner John Harrah in 1998 and transferred to Dana Harrah in 2004.

Sweet Lil Lena’s last foal was the 2007 High Brow Cat daughter DBH Sweet Lil Cat.

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I got this article from Sally Harrison's blog at http://www.sallyharrison.com/?p=1156

It is interesting to me for two reasons. One, Gypsy is being bred to her son, Pepto Taz, next week, God willing. So that is interesting.

But it is also interesting, because I spoke to Shelly Mowery recently about this mare. We were talking about old horses, and the struggles they present, but how it is so worth it. Sweet Lil Lena was one that she mentioned specifically. I think this conversation was around the time that I lost my Lucky and was in pretty rough shape about it--she kind of perked me up telling me about some of the oldsters at her place. It made me feel less like I am the only one that always has in the back of her mind the questions about whether this is the day or will I have to decide when it is time. I am sorry for her that she had to make that decision for this great mare, but what better gift can you give one than to let them stop when it is time? This is the sucky part of the business, and the longer you are in it, the more often it happens. It does get easier, but always hurts.

RIP Sweet Lil Lena.