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Location: OK | Last week my long time vet and I made the decision that it was time to put GK down. There were several factors that went into the decision and I am at peace with the fact that we decided it was the best thing for GK.
Younger barrel racers will not rember GK but people who have been around for a while and have ran against him will probably remember him as the gutsy little grey with the huge heart. He was THE horse of my lifetime and I owe so very much to him. He traveled with me to several states while my husband and I worked pipeline jobs. He was my friend and kept me sane. I will always miss him.
I would like to hear any GK stories from the people who knew him. |
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 Super Woman
Posts: 1368
 
| He was definitely one of the GREATS!! |
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  The Original Cyber Bartender
  
Location: Washington | Mary Beth, I remember him well. Leroy(one-eyed horse) and I ran against you and him for many years...so many memories. |
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They Don't Know Me
Posts: 3299
Location: Bastrop, TX | So Sorry you had to make that decision. Been there done that, 2 yrs ago had to put my 30 yr old down who still looked and acted like a kid. I had her for her whole life and like you she was everything to me and won so many open horse shows at everything from Halter, trail, western pleasure and then could come back and smoke a set of poles and barrels. She won her last buck for me at 24, but then went on to win an all around you awards for my grandson.
I didn't know your horse, but he sounds like he was a very special once in a lifetime kind of horse. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1343
Location: Oklahoma | Beth, I remember him well. I remember when he was a youngster you had him for sale, didn't you? I was interested but never asked you about him because I thought he was too small for me, LOL. Anyway, I remember well running against him. He was a wonderful horse with a giant heart. |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | Oh, Beth....I'm so sorry. I also heard that my big horse, Viento, had to be put down today, too. Heard my little gray had to be put down a few weeks ago, as well. God must be fixing to have one heck of a barrel race in Heaven. I hope GK and Smash are racing together in the green pastures. They sure made us lots of great memories and sure were a thrill to run. I will miss them all. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 338
Location: Michigan | I'm very sorry to hear of your loss. I remember him and you when you came to Michigan to barrel race. He was a great one. |
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The Original Cyber Bartender
Location: Washington | The first time I saw him and you it was at the Topeka Expo center, after watching a very flawless run, I got up and simply said, second would be nice.
It is so hard to lose the great ones/ the once in a life timers.
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | So sorry for your loss  |
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 Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | He was definately a one in a million horse. So sorry for your loss. |
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 MEOW!
Posts: 4477
Location: High heels in the air... | So sorry MB... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 768
Location: newalla,Ok. | I know that was a very hard decision to make Mary Beth! I guess when we take on the role of caretakers for our beloved pets , we have to take the good with the bad even knowing that it is heart breaking at times. They do give us plenty of love and alot of fond memories . They will always hold a special place in our hearts! He was truly a great one! I always appreciate great runs and you two gave me many to watch!!! Linda W. |
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 Miss Positive
Posts: 3554
Location: Crowder, OK | I am so many great memories of you and GK that I dont know where to start! Every run was so picture perfect/smooth/ and great but I still had to watch every one of them that I could see!
I know you most definately never got in the way of GK when it was time to go in cause there wasnt a horse in the world that was more ready to go do his job! One of those you could just tell, he absolutely loved running barrels and he loved running barrels for you MB! There isnt room on this page to even prob start listing yall's accomplishments, but a few of my favs is yall winning reserve at OFD derby, and yall winning the BFA derby! I wont ever forget you telling me the story of how he had abcesses the wk of the BFA derby and how they had just busted and he still won it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my most fav memory was a big nbha added race at the McAlester RUC. Nancy won it on Rooster, you were second on GK, and I was fourth on Vegas. to me that was of the highlights of my barrel racing career JUST BECAUSE i couldnt believe to be near two such awesome horses our industry had ever saw or seen. it was such an honor.
my heart hurts for you, I know he was one of the most important loved ones in your life. He loved you that much too!!!!!!!!!!! Most def one of the best duos in barrel racing ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RIP GK! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 975
Location: The barn...where else? SW Missouri | I remember him very well. Whenever they called your name I tried to watch he and you run because you were such a great team. He was a truly great horse!!!! So very sorry you had to say goodbye. |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | So sorry for your loss! What a great horse he was! |
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 I Am Always Right
Posts: 4264
Location: stray dump capital of the world | So very sorry for your loss. It is never an easy decision to make because we love our equine friends so deeply. Sending some prayers your way. |
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Location: Wherever Riley is | He was truely one of the greats of all time. He will never be forgotten by many of us.
Sincerely
Vivian |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | GK will always be one of my all time favorites. He had such a huge heart and loved his job. That gray horse is one that always brought people to the fence to watch his runs.
So sorry for your loss. GK was one of the great ones. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 374
Location: Drumright,OK | Oh I'm so sorry to hear this. I remember you ran GK and Nancy ran Rooster at my arena the Cross J here at Drumright when I had put on a futurity several years ago. We were so impressed and knew great things were going to happen to you both with these horses. A few years later, Nancy stayed here with Rooster when she ran at the Cushing Rodeo. Prayers for you
Judy
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10797
Location: Kansas | Never got to see your horse run but I sure saw your name in the results plenty of times. Enough that the name was engrained in my memory. I hate it that the animals we love have such a short life span.
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Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | Here are a few links that I found showing just a tiny bit about GK...he was a seriously cool horse.
http://newsok.com/ogle-rides-to-victory-on-gk-clear-money/article/2564681
http://newsok.com/bird-flies-to-overall-barrels-win/article/2462473
http://barrelracingservices.com/Results2004/sams_shootout1d.htm
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Miss Positive
Posts: 3554
Location: Crowder, OK |
Rachel, those links are awesome!!!!!!!!!! Im sure that Beth will be very grateful you posted them! they were such an amazing team! |
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Location: OK | I want to thank everyone for their posts. It was really nice to hear from people that remember GK. A special thank you to Rachellyn for posting the links. I had not read those in years and truly enjoyed reliving the memories. |
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Rest In Peace, GK CLEAR MONEY