08/12/2026
Stu passed away suddenly this morning. He was acting weird in his stall after breakfast so I let him out into the barnyard within a a few steps he collapsed and died. We are not sure if it was a heart attack or stroke. But it was quick and sudden.
Stu was 17 years old and was with us for the last 14 years. I bought him as a 3 year old right off the track after he was retired from racing due to being very bad at it. After bringing him home I trained him to be a regular riding horse, we learned dressage and his favorite, jumping. Stu loved to jump, he especially loved the cross country course. He was a freight train once he was on course. While dressage was his least favorite, he was still stunning. His copper coat and 4 white socks caught everyone's attention. Plus he was BIG! 17 hands tall and built more like a fancy warm blood than an off the track Thoroughbred.
Stu became an integral part of our family. We traveled many places competing in dressage and jumping competitions. After I had Wesley, riding just wasn't a priority anymore, though I had hoped to return to the saddle. Stu was later diagnosed with kissing spine, so he was permanently retired to live out his days on the farm. For the last 10 years he got to enjoy retirement and just be a pretty pasture puff.
Run those pastures in heaven big guy!
