BY SHELBY VOHSEN, JOUNIOR JOURNALIST
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Rebecca Halland,16, from Edmond,Oklahoma,with her horse,Smart Little Coach. A year ago, Rebecca lost "Toad's" full brother. |
No words can describe the special bond between horse and rider, but what happens when that bond is broken? Youth exhibitor Rebecca Ann Haaland just found this out.
Last year, after coming home from the National Reined Cow Horse Association’s world show, Rebecca’s leased horse, Buster Leo Lena, had to be put down. The reason for the euthanasia was a strange one.
After he got home, “Buster,” an 8-year-old gelding, showed signs of colic. The Haaland’s trainers, Marilyn and Pete Peters, rushed him to the veterinarian. The veterinarian diagnosed Buster with colic and tried to put a tube into his stomach, but couldn’t.
An x-ray revealed that his esophagus had ruptured at the base of the stomach, and its contents were leaking into his body. There was only one decision to make, and the Haalands decided regretfully to put Rebecca’s horse down.
A few months later, Rebecca bought a new horse. He happened to be Buster’s full brother, a 10-year-old gelding named Smart Little Coach. Both geldings are by Little Dors Lena and out of Misty Lee Okie by Kim’s Okie Leo, bred by Doris Oakes of Seiling, Oklahoma.
“They were both quirky,” Marilyn said. They are polar opposites as far as looks go – Buster was sorrel and a lot bigger than his bay brother. Buster was laid back and liked to open gates. Toad, not gelded until the age of 5, is energetic and “likes the ladies.”
They both have earned more than $9,000 through NRCHA competition. Buster qualified for the 2003 AQHA World Championship Show in junior working cow horse and Toad was the 2003 NRCHA open two-rein world champion.
“Neither of the brothers could wait for the cow work in shows,” Rebecca said.
Although she is no stranger to showing, this year is Rebecca’s first year showing at the Ford AQHYA World Championship Show. She’s showing Toad in working cow horse.
