Oak Hombre--aka Grandpa-- Laid to Rest

It is too hard for me to write this, and Glory Ann Kurtz did such a good job of it that she made me cry, so I am re-playing her article about Grandpa here instead. Not that me crying is anything strange lately. It has been some rough times around here lately.

The article can be found on her website at allaboutcutting.com

OAK HOMBRE LAID TO REST AT 29

By Glory Ann Kurtz
Aug. 4, 2009

Oak Hombre in April after he just finished playing with the babies. The royally bred gelding was recently laid to rest.

There’s an old saying that things happen in three’s, and Paige Strawn, Mt. Vernon, Ill., has discovered that could be true. During the past two weeks, she has lost three horses, with the latest being the royally bred and well-known 1980 gelding Oak Hombre, sired by Docs Oak out of Queen of King by King Skeet.

Bred by Mr. and Mrs. Tom Lyons, Grandview, Texas, Oak Hombre was owned by a variety of owners before Barry and Paige Strawn purchased him in June 2002 from M. L. Sherry & Lynn Schoonover, Osage City, Kan. Other owners included Ralph and Rae Dell Shelton, Arlington, Texas, Jack Smithhart, Terrell, Texas, Graham Tyson Evans, Carmel By The Sea, Calif., Dale Gash, Weatherford, Texas and Bryan Jackson, Canyon, Texas.

With lifetime earnings of over $132,000, Oak Hombre split third in the NCHA Non-Pro Derby, was Champion Gelding at the Chevy Nationals, Open Champion at the NCHA cutting at the Denver Nationals, split 4th in the Open of the PCCHA Non-Pro Cutting Stakes, Champion Gelding at Harrahs PCCHA Futurity and the Plains Non-Pro Maturity Reserve Champion.

Oak Hombre shown practicing his most recent occupation, toting Paige Strawn's niece, Gabriella, around on one of her first rides. Also shown is a neighbor and friend, who helps with the feeding.

Paige has favorite memories of the old gelding that she and her family nicknamed Grandpa. “We always called him Grandpa and it must have been prophetic because there was nothing he loved more than helping with the babies,” said Paige. “In fact, on his last night, one of this year’s babies by Meradas Blue Sue snuck through the fence to eat dinner with Grandpa. It was so cute. He loved playing with the babies and it was so funny to watch him go after them in his arthritic way. It’s like he forgot that was not easy for him anymore.”

The other horses Paige had to put down recently were Grandpa’s best friend Kindalucky, who was 25 and another friend, Cardanita, 28.

“A lot of people were involved in his career,” said Paige, referring to Oak Hombre, “and my heart is broken even though I know he was a happy boy right up until the end and had a happy life with us for the last seven years.”

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Isn't that just about the best article ever? Such a fitting tribute.

Thanks Glory for sending him off with the fanfare I am sure Grandpa thought he deserved.