01/28/2026
It has taken me a week to be able to write this post. Buckle up, it's unapologetically long.
Last Wednesday, we lost Ollie in a tragic and completely unexpected pasture accident. Whether it was the ice that caused it or something else, I will never know. Something happened while he and Rocky were playing, a break high in his left hind leg and possibly spinal injuries as well. He was unable to rise or even really attempt to rise. We made the decision to put him down.
O.G. Hunter (better known as Ollie or Ollie Bollie Bo**er Breath) came to our farm in May of 2022. He was skinny and hairy and seemed like a kind, honest gentleman. His previous owner had called him OG, but we wanted something different for him. His expression said "old man", so we tried on a few old fashioned names, but it was Jaiden's suggestion of Oliver that fit. He was Ollie from that moment on.
Ollie was supposed to be very meek and submissive. In his previous home, he had gotten so beat up by his pasture mates that they put him in with a toothless old gelding, and that's where he stayed. Apparently, he took this new farm here as a chance to reinvent himself. From the first moment turning him out with Sammy, he decided to be confident and take over the world. He and Sammy had an understanding, as did he and Forrest. When Forrest went blind, Ollie pushed him to start using his other sense or be kicked 😳, but it worked.
When we had to put Sammy down in 2023, I charged Ollie with watching out for Forrest and being kind to him, as well as keeping our very cheerful extrovert, Rocky, in check. He took both jobs very seriously. Because of his good stewardship, Forrest learned to relax and play with both Ollie and Rocky. Ollie also was good about telling Rocky when enough is enough.
When we had to put Forrest down in 2025, I told Ollie he had done an excellent job, but he no longer had to worry about Forrest. He took a deep breath and visibly relaxed, then walked out to be the glue of the remaining herd.
He was the boss, but a good boss. He was Bailey’s best friend, playing old man bitey face and hanging out with him, napping side by side. Sometimes he would seek out Bailey to play with specifically, and they would go off behind the shelter to hide from Rocky 🤣 I would joke first thing in the morning, he needed time to "warm up" so he would get his morning roll, have his morning drink, play old man bitey face with Bailey, and then go play with Rocky. Rocky had no such chill. He waited at the gate for Ollie to appear.
He was Rocky’s best friend. They would play and play, so hard. Rearing straight up in the air playing "wild stallions", epic bitey face, running around showing off. When Ollie had had enough, he would just stop and walk away. If Rocky didn't take the hint, Ollie would turn and back towards him as if to kick. They had made a game recently of seeing how long they could stand on their hind legs. They were pretty good at it, but I did worry about the possibility of injury.
He was Tully's soulmate. She adored him. Following him, napping next to him, sharing the waterer with him. You could tell he was annoyed by her sometimes. He would warn her off and even bite or kick at her when she was too much, but mostly he let her be with him. She would lick his legs or just stand by him. She would go up to him nickering and whinnying and strike out with her front leg. He thought she was weird and would all but roll his eyes as he walked away, but he always allowed her to follow (even after she accidentally clunked him in the jaw once and made him bite his tongue 😬). She is the most lost without him. Bailey has Via and Rocky has Willow, but Tully is alone.
The worst part of this loss is watching them grieve. They all got to say goodbye and Tully and Rocky were with him as it happened. They both knew it was bad as they were trying to get him to get up. All of the horses have spent time looking across the field where I imagine our heavenly herd gathers to run and play and visit. Tully even whinnied to them when we first put her back out after he was gone. They are adjusting, but it won't be the same. Now I have 2 separate herds, Rocky and Willow in one, the 3 Thoroughbreds in the other. No longer the "Ollie shuttle" going between the groups. It feels off balance, incomplete.
And of course, Ollie was integral to the lesson program. He was my main "teach people to trot" horse. He had done that job with such grace, never letting me forget that we had a "working partnership" and he tolerated me 🤣 That he did the job because HE decided to. So many memories and so many students taught in what feels like a very short time.
He had already cheated death once. Before we adopted him, he had experienced a 3-day-long choke and was about to be euthanized when one of the vets tried one last time and saved him. So he had 4 years longer than he would have. Still, it doesn't seem long enough. He would have been 22 in April, and while 22 is old, it's not THAT old.
Feel free to share your memories and photos of Ollie in the comments. He was a special guy, teaching so many lessons. How to steer, how to "stop", how to trot, how not to get nipped, how to pick up feet when the horse says "not today" 🤣, what does EOTRH look like. So many lessons about Thoroughbreds and MN race horses, showing off his lip tattoo and watching Paul Allen announce one of his few winning races.
He is racing again now, with his old friends and some new ones. RIP, O.G. Hunter 4/10/2004 to 1/21/2026. Until we meet again at the Bridge, Buddy. I will watch over your herd for you.
