The Horse Community Rallies in Response to an 8-Year-Old’s Devastating Loss

It was early Thursday morning at the All American Youth Horse Show when 25 year old, BMQ Genuine Solution (aka Cosmo), started to colic.

Seeing him in pain was a rough start for eight-year-old McKenna and her sister, Meghan, who had high hopes for the show at the Ohio State Fairgrounds in mid-May with their best friend, Cosmo.  They both had earned Top 10s in the Small Fry and 11 & Under Showmanship at Congress last year with the gelding, and McKenna was leading in her state of Ohio in the Small Fry Showmanship up until this point.

Cosmo didn’t improve that morning, however, and he was taken to The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center.  Then the worst news a horse owner can receive came to pass: Cosmo didn’t make it.

It was a gut wrenching loss for the girls, but friends Amy and Kylee Williams sprang into action, offering a horse for both sisters to show in the Showmanship.  Meghan decided to show her mare instead, but McKenna accepted their offer, their mom, Audra, explains.

“She had never seen this horse before; she didn’t even know his name. They practiced 5 minutes before the class started, she went in and laid out a great pattern,” Audra says.  “McKenna and Ima Radical Gucci, aka Peanut, walked out with a big blue ribbon! McKenna went back into Walk Trot Western Showmanship Championship and was Reserve!”

Then on Saturday, both girls showed Peanut in their separate age divisions of English Showmanship and both came out with wins, with McKenna going on to be Reserve Champion in the Walk Trot English Showmanship and Meghan finishing 10th overall in the Youth English Showmanship Championship.

Though they missed Cosmo terribly, the offer of such a great horse for the girls to show made life just a bit sweeter in a time of loss.

“Cosmo was one of the best geldings to ever walk this earth,” explains Trainer Steve Mace and one of Cosmo’s former riders, Brooke Edwards. “He taught so many people how to ride, show, and most importantly, how to love this sport. He was the most patient and caring horse. Cosmo was owned by Maria Reichert; she was incredibly gracious for allowing him to be the best partner for so many kids over the years.”

Audra says that she’s extremely grateful for the horse show community jumping into action to help McKenna cope with the devastating loss of Cosmo.

“Thursday, May 12th was the perfect example of why we do what we do, why we choose to show horses,” Audra concludes. “The horse community is tight-knit and they will always unite together, some way or somehow. When tragedy strikes, someone will always be there to do lend a hand and on Thursday, that was Amy and Kylee Williams.”