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Expert
Posts: 1695
   
Location: Willows, CA | I know that this is a barrel forum, but the passing of this mare is important to just about every quarter horse discipline. Tap O Lena, owned and shown by Phil Rapp passed away yesterday at the age of 25. She
was perhaps the greatest mare to ever step in front of a cow, and she and Phil influenced how cutting horses would be shown for years to come.
When Phil was still a non-pro I watched him show her at the Non-Pro in Oklahoma City. Tap slipped and fell to her belly, with Phil's feet on the ground on each side of her. He had to pick up the reins to stop her because she was still hooked up and was going with the cow when it moved. That is a cow horse.
I never rode her, but when Ray Hunt invited me to ride in the Tom Dorrance benefit in Ft Worth I called Phil to borrow a horse, since I was flying in from California. He offered the use of Tap O Lena, and offered to haul and feed her. I declined the offer of being responsible for his best show horse, but regretted the opportunity lost.
Sorry to drag on, but the Quarter Horse industry has lost one of the truly great ones. |
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 Hugs to You
Posts: 7551
 
Location: In The Land of Cotton | She was nice. Her videos are great to watch. Phil and Mary Ann have made great contributions to the cutting world through their breeding program. I know she will be missed. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 557
Location: Kansas and loving it | Doesn't she have a clone? |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | 3canstorun - 2015-09-15 7:54 PM
She was nice. Her videos are great to watch. Phil and Mary Ann have made great contributions to the cutting world through their breeding program. I know she will be missed.
Both Hall of Fame riders and class acts. As a side note, Tap O Lena was started by Pat Cassidy, who used to work for us doing customer service when we still owned Natural Glo. Pat has always been great with 2 year olds, and gave Phil a horse back with a great foundation. When Phil could get enough cow in front of that mare she was almost impossible to beat. It must be a sad day in Weatherford TX. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas |  |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Her mare line started a dynasty. . . What a great mare, what a sad day.
The cutting industry is unfortunately losing the grand old ladies quickly right now----didn't Little Badger Dulce pass away in the last month or so?
Edited by Chandler's Mom 2015-09-17 12:56 AM
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | I believe there is a clone. |
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Folks on-line