RIP Cardanita

This is my old girl Cardanita last week. I know no one else can see it in her sun-bleached face, but I still see the horse I bought ten years ago, even when I look at these pics of an obviously old horse. I still thought she was beautifulI also think she looked so much like her daddy--the great Peponita--one of my favorite horses of all time. Look how similar their heads are.

Nita came along when we first decided that if we were going to bother to breed horses, we were going to do it the best we could. We took some advice from one of the top breeders in the cutting business, who we met on accident. He suggested buying ONE good mare, even if she had to be old, or too young--and work from her, rather than spending that same money on more than one average or just barely above average mare.

That started us off--and Cardanita was one of the first we bought. We bought her from Tom Lyons, who had owned her forever and bred her to some great horses, including Smart Little Uno that he also owned. On a related note, he also owned and trained Grandpa, back in the day. Anyway, the broker on the deal was Cletus Hulling Jr, who unbeknownst to us at the time, was from this area. He was super nice to us, and when we would run into him in the future, he always remembered her. When we finally met Tom Lyons later, when he was selling one of Nita's daughters, he was very nice to us as well, and shared some stories about Nita back in her day.

Nita in June--still plenty of weight on her--

just one month before we put her down.

Nita was old when we bought her, and had already had ten babies, so was already swaybacked, but checked out really well reproductively and was fat and shiny. She was open though, and 18 or 19 years old. She was almost pitch black and had the most beautiful eyes--she just looked wise to me. I make fun of people who think they can tell much about a horse based on looking at their eyes--the "kind eye" story--but back then, I swore I could know her just by looking at her.

Nita in May--still shaggy, but still fat

Taking care of someone else's baby, in May

Since I had myself this fancy broodmare, I had to make some big decisions on who to breed her to. That was how we got involved in the High Brow Hickory Syndicate. I gave up my in-ground pool money and bought a breeding share of him, and we were on our way. Nita and another even older mare, San Peppys Noche (a daughter of Mr San Peppy), BOTH got in foal that year on the first shipment of semen. Can you imagine? I think Noche was 22, and Nita was 19, I think.

Before we even knew what had happened, we were in the business. I was so excited, you cannot know. The more I got to know Nita, the more I loved her. She was just a class act. Even-tempered, quiet--just a great horse. I fell in love, and stayed that way.

The next spring, both girls foaled--Nita first. I am superstitious about naming things before they hit the ground, but I had one in mind the whole time--High Dollar Gamble. That is certainly what that baby had been--it was awfully risky to invest that kind of money in an old open mare with a swayback, especially with people who were just getting their feet wet in the game. He was awesome. Ultimately, we sent both those babies, Gambler and Angel, to the cutting trainer and sold them as two year olds.

Nita was bred back to HBH, but did not get in foal. She had to go to Texas the following year to be bred, and they thought there was no way in hell she would get in foal, and stay that way. But she did, and Gypsy was the result. I wanted to keep Gypsy from the beginning-- I had saved the name Gypsy for something special ever since I read those books about a horse named Gypsy when I was little. We needed the money though, so I consigned her to a good sale and sent her to the cutting trainer when she was 2 to get ready.

All good plans though....she got hurt within her first few weeks. The trainer thought it was a stifle injury, but it turned out to be a broken pelvis of all things. Gypsy came home to heal--and here she will stay, as she has proven herself to be worthy with her first two babies, especially the roany pony this year.

And now I need her more than ever, since we have lost Nita.


These photos were taken on Tuesday nite, which was supposed to be Nita's last nite. Weather delayed the situation until Friday though. Even through this sheet, you can have some idea of how much weight she had lost--in the space of a month, she lost well over 100 pounds, probably more. This was in spite of plenty of Strategy and great pasture. Even skinny, Nita was very happy--she had been stalled waiting for the vet, and she HATED it. She had a very raspy voice, like a three pack a day smoker--and she would holler holler holler and circle in her stall. One nite of that made me feel terrible--that is no way to spend your last day. So I put her in the front pasture where I could catch her easily. She has always played a game where she makes you chase her, then will stop at the furthest possible point and say "you win. now come get me". I could not let her get too far, or rish not being able to catch her when the time came.

The first thing she did when I turned her out was go to the corner and holler across the driveway to the pasture where Gypsy and baby were. So I went to get them and gave them back to Nita. Then the game was ON. Gypsy and baby loped circles, and as you can see, Nita went with them. The pics I posted last week of Gypsy and the roany pony were from that same session.

Anyway, Nita Loped loped loped--bunny hop--huh? She was off in her hind end. Hmmm. I wondered what that was about, but figured that she was happy, and was doing what she wanted to do. It made me feel bad to think she hurt when she has never once complained about a thing--but also more sure I was doing the right thing. After all, she was 28 years old. Sure, I could probably fatten her up again--but why? If something else was wrong?

Friday ended up being the day. And can you believe that when I went out to get her, not only had she torn off her pretty dress here, but she RAN FROM ME! Now that is absurd. Granted she did not run far and after about 30 seconds, she said I could win if I would just come get her, and I did.

As many horses as we have had--this is the first one I have had to make the decision on without a trauma or serious illness dictating it. We have lost our share, but it has always been more acute than this. And this was the first I have had to do on my own without Barry (but that is fair, since he had to handle Lucky when she went down when I was in Vegas) other than a baby and those have been clear decisions. It was really hard to do, but the second it was done, I felt better--like I had done something for her.

The vet as always assured me I was doing the right thing, and opined that she may have had EPM, a slight case, the way her topline fell off and her hind end got a little wonky but in a wierd way that did not indicate a particular area that was the problem. That makes me feel better too. And worse, if you know what I mean--but mostly better that I was not doing this for selfish reasons.

I am going to miss her so much--these old ladies teach so much that a young horse just cannot teach us. Nita was a special one, that I will never forget--and can only hope to be so lucky as to have another with her gentle ways in the future. I know that is not an age thing, as I still have Playmate and Rock at 28 and 27 and they are about as gentle and soft and sweet as a tsunami--it was just something about Nita.

I am including her two-generation pedigree thingy just to have a reference for myself--her daughters and granddaughters and grandsons show up at the futurity sales a lot, so this will be a quick reference for me to look back at when their names come up. I have the weird brain that remembers connections, even if it something like her grand-neice also had a baby by so and so, and that person who owned him also owned....that kind of thing. It is very crowded in my brain on these matters!

TWO GENERATION DAMS' PRODUCE RECORD

Cardanita 1856429 1981 brown mare SI: 0 Starts 0 Wins: 0 2nds: 0 3rds: 0 Earnings: 0 Hlt Pts: 0 Perf Pts: 0
SIRE side of pedigree		Peppy San 1959 0114978 sorrel H- 26 P- 180	Leo San 1949 0020113 sorrel H- 0 P- 1
	Peponita 1969 0605028 black H- 0 P- 74		Peppy Belle 1955 0054365 sorrel
		Bonita Tivio 1955 0065940 bay H- 8 P- 48	Poco Tivio 1947 0017396 bay H- 12 P- 19
			Pepper Girl 1944 0005030 chestnut
DAM side of pedigree		Baldy Bull Card 1962 0215861 sorrel	Post Card 1953 0042177 bay H- 13 P- 20
	Card Melissa 1968 0615300 bay		Kenny's Lass 1952 0046724 sorrel
		Poco Melissa 1961 0184448 dun	Poco Tom 1950 0031623 dun H- 1 P- 3
			Rev's Cutie 1957 0072591 bay

CARDANITA - Horse Being Requested

REG. NO.	HORSE'S NAME	COLOR	SEX	DATE FOAL	ST
1856429	CARDANITA	BROWN	MARE	04/01/1981	OK

Additional Horse Information for CARDANITA:

• Deceased
• Genetic Typed

SIRE		DAM		MATERNAL GRANDSIRE
0605028	PEPONITA	0615300	CARD MELISSA	0215861	BALDY BULL CARD

DESCRIPTION	NAME	ADDRESS
BREEDER:	ROGER RAMSEY	GARDEN CITY, KS
OWNER:	BARRY &/OR PAIGE STRAWN	MOUNT VERNON, IL

CARDANITA's Sire Information

REG. NO.	SIRE'S NAME	COLOR	SEX	DATE FOAL	ST
0605028	PEPONITA	BLACK	STALLION	01/01/1969	BC

Additional Horse Information for PEPONITA:

• Deceased
• Genetic Typed

SIRE		DAM		MATERNAL GRANDSIRE
0114978	PEPPY SAN	0065940	BONITA TIVIO	0017396	POCO TIVIO

AQHA Show Totals for PEPONITA

LAST SHOW	OPEN HALTER	OPEN PERFORM	AMATEUR HALTER	AMATEUR PERFORM	YOUTH HALTER	YOUTH PERFORM	NOVICE AMATEUR	NOVICE YOUTH	EQ W/ DISAB
07/1978	.0	74.0	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0

AQHA/Alliance Totals for PEPONITA
Accuracy and completeness of information are the responsibility of each alliance.

NATIONAL CUTTING HORSE ASSOCIATION

$ 126,221.04

Earned thru 12/31/1995

Achievements for PEPONITA

YEAR	TYPE	DESCRIPTION
1979	OPEN	NCHA FINALS NON-PRO	1st PLACE
1979	OPEN	NCHA WORLD CHAMPION
1978	OPEN	SUPERIOR CUTTING
1978	OPEN	WORLD CHAMPION SR CUTTING
1977	OPEN	WORLD CHAMPION SR CUTTING
1977	OPEN	NCHA FINALS	1st PLACE
1977	OPEN	NCHA WORLD CHAMPION
1976	OPEN	WORLD SHOW SR CUTTING	3rd PLACE
1976	OPEN	NCHA FINALS	1st PLACE
1975	OPEN	NCHA WORLD CHAMPION	4th PLACE
1973	OPEN	PERFORMANCE REGISTER OF MERIT

Detail of CARDANITA's Offspring

+ JR NITA 2598577 Bay Mare 04/01/1987
S- DOCTOR BOND 1572844 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028

+ LONNIE HICKORY 3177846 Bay Gelding 02/15/1991
S- DOC'S HICKORY 0919616 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028

+ NITA HICKORY 3153584 Bay Mare 03/18/1992 Genetic Typed
S- DOC'S HICKORY 0919616 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028
National Cutting Horse Association: $ 1,222.40 Earned thru 12/31/1995

. . HEBERT HICKORY 3745240 Bay Stallion 06/12/1998
S- SONITALENA 2651846 NITA HICKORY 3153584 DOC'S HICKORY 0919616

. . LIL HOLLYWOOD HONEY 3900243 Buckskin Mare 05/28/1999
S- HOLLYWOOD DUN IT 2086591 NITA HICKORY 3153584 DOC'S HICKORY 0919616

. . DUAL HICKORY NITA 4014529 Sorrel Mare 05/21/2000 Transported Semen; Genetic Typed
S- DUAL REY 3258332 NITA HICKORY 3153584 DOC'S HICKORY 0919616
Show: 07/2007 Open- H- .0 P- 5.5 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0
National Cutting Horse Association: $ 24,294.92 Earned thru 03/25/2007

. . . DUAL SPOON 5165545 Red Roan Gelding 05/18/2008 Parent Verified; Genetic Typed
S- HES A PEPTOSPOONFUL 3768647 DUAL HICKORY NITA 4014529 DUAL REY 3258332

. . MH NITA MILLION 4162453 Bay Mare 05/14/2001 Parent Verified; Genetic Typed
S- LITTLE PEPPYS ULTIMO 3487566 NITA HICKORY 3153584 DOC'S HICKORY 0919616

. . SHES A PEPTO HICKORY 4949959 Chestnut Mare 03/28/2007 Transported Semen; Genetic Typed
S- HES A PEPTOSPOONFUL 3768647 NITA HICKORY 3153584 DOC'S HICKORY 0919616

+ UNO ANNA 3209689 Bay Mare 04/14/1993
S- SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028

+ UNO NITA 3314541 Bay Mare 06/09/1994
S- SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028
Show: 06/2007 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0
Novice Amateur- P- .0 Novice Youth- P- .0 Eq w/ Disabilities- P- .0
National Cutting Horse Association: $ 744.87 Earned thru 08/11/2007

+ UNO HELENITA 3417228 Black Mare 06/18/1995
S- SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028

+ UNO ED 3525755 Brown Stallion 06/15/1996 Genetic Typed
S- SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028
National Cutting Horse Association: $ 7,456.37 Earned thru 04/04/2009

+ UNO HOUSTONIAN 3629425 Brown Mare 05/30/1997 Genetic Typed
S- SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028
Show: 07/2000 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0

. . SMART STEEL ACRE 4156863 Buckskin Gelding 01/23/2001
S- SIXTEEN ACRES 2738351 UNO HOUSTONIAN 3629425 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633

. . NITA SIXTEEN ACRES 4198567 Bay Mare 01/09/2002
S- SIXTEEN ACRES 2738351 UNO HOUSTONIAN 3629425 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633

. . UNO SMARTLITTLE BEAU 4632430 Bay Stallion 01/28/2003 Genetic Typed
S- SIXTEEN ACRES 2738351 UNO HOUSTONIAN 3629425 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633
Show: 02/2007 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0

+ LITTLE UNO NITA 3733186 Bay Mare 05/25/1998 Genetic Typed
S- SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028
Show: 09/2003 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0

. . LIL UNO DUNIT SMART 4483398 Buckskin Stallion 04/15/2004 Incentive Fund Foal
S- DEFINITLY A DUNIT 3561832 LITTLE UNO NITA 3733186 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633

. . NITAS UNO SHINER 4986306 Buckskin Mare 05/24/2006 Transported Semen; Genetic Typed
S- SMART SHINER 3465050 LITTLE UNO NITA 3733186 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633

. . SMOOTH LITTLE NITA 4966246 Bay Mare 04/03/2007
S- SMOOTH AS A CAT 3808235 LITTLE UNO NITA 3733186 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633

. . SMART DUAL BOON 5172624 Bay Roan Mare 03/24/2008 Transported Semen; Genetic Typed
S- DUALS BLUE BOON 4195517 LITTLE UNO NITA 3733186 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633

+ UNO CARDANITA 3837699 Bay Mare 06/10/1999 Genetic Typed
S- SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028

. . ONE SPOOK N CARD 4457883 Bay Stallion 07/06/2003
S- SPOOK N TARI 3833245 UNO CARDANITA 3837699 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633
Show: 05/2007 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0

. . UNO PEPPY MISS 4663218 Buckskin Mare 05/10/2005
S- CGS MR PEP 3880155 UNO CARDANITA 3837699 SMART LITTLE UNO 2688633

+ HIGH DOLLAR GAMBLE 4171366 Bay Gelding 04/03/2001 Transported Semen; Genetic Typed
S- HIGH BROW HICKORY 2075796 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028

+ HIGH BROW GYPSY 4427965 Brown Mare 04/25/2003 Parent Verified; Genetic Typed
S- HIGH BROW HICKORY 2075796 CARDANITA 1856429 PEPONITA 0605028

. . SLYDUN SHILOH 5118611 Bay Mare 04/17/2008
S- SLYDUN HAIDA 4037822 HIGH BROW GYPSY 4427965 HIGH BROW HICKORY 2075796

Summary of CARDANITA'S Offspring

Reg Foals	12	Perf Foals	5	CYR Perf Foals	1
Race Age Foals	12

No Race Information

No AQHA Show Information

Accuracy and completeness of information are the responsibility of each alliance.

AQHA/Alliance Summary	All-time	2009 Total
National Cutting Horse Association	$ 9,423.64	N/A

No AQHA Show Year End Award Information

CARD MELISSA - First Dam of CARDANITA

REG. NO.	HORSE'S NAME	COLOR	SEX	DATE FOAL	ST
0615300	CARD MELISSA	BAY	MARE	01/01/1968	NE

Additional Horse Information for CARD MELISSA:

• Deceased

SIRE		DAM		MATERNAL GRANDSIRE
0215861	BALDY BULL CARD	0184448	POCO MELISSA	0031623	POCO TOM

Detail of CARD MELISSA's Offspring

+ SWEET MISSY POCO 1146087 Deceased Bay Mare 05/01/1975
S- BELL BOY BAR 0674024 CARD MELISSA 0615300 BALDY BULL CARD 0215861
Show: 04/1992 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0

. . MISS DOC BAKER 1885445 Deceased Bay Mare 05/01/1982
S- LITTLE BUSINESS 1481204 SWEET MISSY POCO 1146087 BELL BOY BAR 0674024

. . . CUTTER DALLAS 2653941 Sorrel Mare 04/01/1986
S- SKIPITY STU 0581504 MISS DOC BAKER 1885445 LITTLE BUSINESS 1481204

. . . SKIPA CREEK SUE 2763103 Brown Mare 04/06/1988
S- SKIPITY STU 0581504 MISS DOC BAKER 1885445 LITTLE BUSINESS 1481204

. . BENITO BAR BAKER 2024555 Deceased Chestnut Mare 04/01/1983
S- LITTLE BUSINESS 1481204 SWEET MISSY POCO 1146087 BELL BOY BAR 0674024

. . GENUINE POCO DOC 2964506 Bay Gelding 06/01/1990
S- COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595 SWEET MISSY POCO 1146087 BELL BOY BAR 0674024
Show: 04/1994 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0

. . POCO TWO DOC 3232901 Bay Mare 03/26/1993 Genetic Typed
S- COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595 SWEET MISSY POCO 1146087 BELL BOY BAR 0674024

. . . TWO DOC POCO 3947312 Bay Mare 03/30/2000 Genetic Typed
S- POCO EPIC 2043773 POCO TWO DOC 3232901 COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595

. . . POCO SMART LENA 4163263 Bay Mare 05/04/2001 Genetic Typed
S- SMART LIKE LENA 2698458 POCO TWO DOC 3232901 COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595

. . . VW POCO TWO TIVIO 4323351 Bay Mare 05/01/2002
S- DRIFTIN' TIVIO 1001913 POCO TWO DOC 3232901 COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595

. . . POCO SI OLENA 4640305 Sorrel Mare 06/05/2003 Parent Verified; Genetic Typed
S- SI OLENA 2484747 POCO TWO DOC 3232901 COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595

. . . TWO DOC BULLSEYE 5072236 Sorrel Stallion 05/14/2007
S- DUHONS QUIXOTE JOE 3384317 POCO TWO DOC 3232901 COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595

. . . DOCCOLONELHANCOCKGAL 5170685 Chestnut Mare 04/30/2008
S- DUHONS QUIXOTE JOE 3384317 POCO TWO DOC 3232901 COOPERATIVE EFFORT 2399595

+ MELO TURFO SEVEN 1299996 Deceased Brown Gelding 06/01/1977
S- DARK TURF 0360595 CARD MELISSA 0615300 BALDY BULL CARD 0215861

+ MELISSA GILL 1429080 Deceased Sorrel Mare 06/01/1978
S- OTOE GILL 0361954 CARD MELISSA 0615300 BALDY BULL CARD 0215861

. . JOVA GILL X0482341 Bay Gelding 05/01/1991
S- JOVA (TB) T0428480 MELISSA GILL 1429080 OTOE GILL 0361954

. . JM LAST X0497839 Bay Stallion 05/05/1992
S- JOVA (TB) T0428480 MELISSA GILL 1429080 OTOE GILL 0361954

+ SAN CARD 1526358 Deceased Sorrel Gelding 04/01/1979
S- MILLER SAN 0351444 CARD MELISSA 0615300 BALDY BULL CARD 0215861
*** Refer to Horse Being Requested for Foals of CARDANITA
+ CARDANITA 1856429 Deceased Brown Mare 04/01/1981 Genetic Typed
S- PEPONITA 0605028 CARD MELISSA 0615300 BALDY BULL CARD 0215861

+ PEPPYS CLASSY GIRL 2018181 Chestnut Mare 05/01/1983
S- PEPPY PAR 1363332 CARD MELISSA 0615300 BALDY BULL CARD 0215861
Show: 11/1993 Open- H- .0 P- .0 Amateur- H- .0 P- .0 Youth- H- .0 P- .0

. . SMART DINAMITE CHIC 4760007 Sorrel Stallion 05/01/2004
S- SMART SUGAR CHIC 3018256 PEPPYS CLASSY GIRL 2018181 PEPPY PAR 1363332

. . MISS TOPSAIL GIRL 4764621 Chestnut Mare 05/09/2005
S- IM A TOPSAIL CODY 2284130 PEPPYS CLASSY GIRL 2018181 PEPPY PAR 1363332

. . PLENTYTOPSAILCODY 5077102 Chestnut Mare 07/18/2006
S- IM A TOPSAIL CODY 2284130 PEPPYS CLASSY GIRL 2018181 PEPPY PAR 1363332

Summary of CARD MELISSA'S Offspring

Reg Foals	6	Perf Foals	2	CYR Perf Foals	0
Race Age Foals	6

No Race Information

No AQHA Show Information

No AQHA Show Year End Award Information