That year he made a few runs (in between run-offs) that made me think he might live up to his breeding and suddenly, I didn't want to sell him! By the time he was 6, I was winning some open rodeos and thinking maybe I hadn't made such a bad trade!! Especially since I'd also had several offers much higher than what I originally wanted for him! Needless to say, the price had gone up! (hehe) His 7th year was my long gone dreams come true. I had always wanted to qualify for the IFR, but always felt I didn't have the horse to do it with and felt I was getting too old to try. Smash changed all that. In 1997, I bought my IPRA card in April (4 months after the season started) and qualified for the IFR in only 4 months (while I was out of school for the summer). That same year I won Rookie of the Year and Drysdales. Smash placed in 60% of the rodeos I entered and placed in the top 3 in 90% of those!!! I set 4 arena records and won around $20,000. I ended up 7th in the final standings of the IPRA and made Equi-Stat's top 100 riders for 1997. What a high!!! I was kind of dreading the next year because I figured I couldn't top that, but in 1998, Smash just got better. He won Barrel Mania 1D champ, placed in the 1D at Drysdales, qualified for the IFR again and won a go round at the finals and ending winning about $40,000 total that year and I once again made the top 100 riders. In 1999, I was trying to qualify for my 3rd IFR and was hauling hard. Smash's performance started going down and I missed making the finals by $200.
It never occurred to me that he might be hurt because he never limped, never refused the pen or did anything to tip me off. I continued hauling him and he valiantly kept bringing in checks, but he was running ever slower. In 2000, my mother became ill and passed away, so I didn't haul him much and he didn't do too well when I did. Finally, by 2001, I knew something was wrong. I've had him to every good vet that's been recommended to me (plus acupuncturists, chiropractors, psychics, etc.) No one seems to be able to help him. He's been injected, blistered, massaged, fed special potions, etc. all to no avail. I turned him out for a year and got him back up recently. He still has trouble turning (he runs fine straight) so he has just been turned out and will be left there for the time being. I may try him again next spring, but as of right now, I'm considering his career over and am working on a 5 yr old that is bred a whole lot like him.
I really miss my traveling partner, but I am so grateful to the Lord for giving me the opportunity to own him. He allowed me to attain goals that I had already written off and as long as I live he will be the standard I compare all my other horses to. In all the months he was running injured (because of his ignorant owner), he never failed to give me everything he had. He has a heart the size of Texas and as you can tell, I love him dearly.
I want to thank all of you for letting me share my story. Good luck in all your races and leave 'em standing!! Hope to see you all down the road! :-)