RIP Hard Rock N Haida

Ignore how stupid I look in this photo, my capri pants and lack of shoes, and God knows what else is wrong with me--my doofishness is not the point of this post. It is just the only photo I have of me riding Hard Rock N Haida--aka Hyde. He was Rock's last living baby, at almost 5 years old. Until tonight.

The next few pics were taken of him at age 4 at his trainers in Alberta, Canada--Jasen Hanson Cutting Horses.







Hyde loved cutting. If will to do it is any indication, he proves how hereditary that talent is.

I knew he would be good at it--he had everything going for him. He was sired by Haidas Little Pep--he was the second foal we had by Haida. Hyde though is the spitting image of his daddy, down to the freckle on his nose. Hyde was so laid back that he lived with his uncle Sly until he moved to Canada with his new owners just as he turned 2 years old.I got to take all these pictures last summer when we went to visit him in Canada.




Hyde was found dead tonight in his pasture. We are all devastated--he has the hopes and dreams of so many people wrapped up in him, that it twists my guts right up to even talk about it. He will be missed by so many.

RIP Hyde. You were so loved.

Hyde- in portrait and action

This is Hard Rock N Haida---aka Hyde. He is also owned by Carrie Thompson. My best girl Rock is his dam, his sire is Haidas Little Pep. I dont know who is more proud of him, me or Carrie.

I think he looks just like his daddy.
Hyde has had about 18 months of cutting training, and is pretty solid. He sure has a lot of heart, he just keeps working harder with every step, it is a lot of fun to watch.
His pics had him just after a bath, as he worked up a pretty good sweat showing us his moves on the cattle, but I still like them.

Look at that sweet face.
My indoor shots are not very good, I just need that new lens! And even had I had it, the positioning would have been off, because the building is a small square building with the flag on one side to work--so I squatted down in the corner closest to the flag and tried to get shots of him facing it as he worked, but that is a lot easier said than done from that position.
Then Jason brought in some cattle and worked them from the middle of the pen. I just tried to stay out of the way, and get whatever shots I had a clear view toward.




I think this one with the charlais is my favorite one, even though of course, I snapped just a hair too early and got them both as they started the turn instead of where I should have gotten it.


It was nice to be able to see him, it is amazing how strange it is to see one you raised, after two years of him belonging to someone else. To see how solid he is, and how quiet, is really impressive. You really would never know he is a stallion-- I sure cannot fault his manners.

I rode him for a second--stirrups too long, no shoes on and as my usual doofus self---and it was a big moment for me. I just moseyed as I was so ill prepared for it, but Barry took a couple laps on him enjoying his smooth ride-he actually moves like Rock does, which will make him great for Carrie to lope on.

She is a lucky girl to have him