AQHA Leading Pleasure Dam, Cryin Otoe Charge, Has Passed at Age 35

By: Sands Quarter Horses

Linda Sands of Sands Quarter Horses is saddened to report the passing of their matriarch broodmare, Cryin Otoe Charge, an AQHA Leading Pleasure Dam on March 18, 2014 at the age of 35 due to natural causes. “Spooky” was by the great Sir Otoe Charge and out of Sho Cryin Shame.

After buying the mare from Carl Gastineau of Missouri in 1986, Spooky was shown for years in tough western pleasure competition, sometimes winning classes of 25 or more.

“Her lope and jog were so naturally slow and clean,” Sands says. “We were at the top at most shows. She was a cute little mare that was fun to show and turned out to be an outstanding producer as well. Her movement was ahead of her time; she was a natural at it.”

As a Leading AQHA Pleasure Dam, Spooky’s foals have earned thousands of AQHA points in many performance events. Many are Congress, NSBA futurity and World Champions in performance events and longe line.

In the 80s, when Spooky was nine years old, and before embryo transfer became popular, Sands started breeding the mare to AQHA Leading Sires like Zippos Mr. Good Bar, Shy Prescription, and Investment Asset, just to name a few. The magic cross came with Zippos Mr Good Bar.

A few of her winning foals are:

Congress Champion Zippos Goodfellow is a red roan Zippos Mr. Good Bar gelding that’s currently winning and showing with approximately 1,400 points earned in trail, western riding, western pleasure and showmanship. “Tommy just keeps on going like the Energizer Bunny,” Sands says. “He is outstanding and reminds me so much of his dam.” Tommy has Superiors in five different AQHA events. His most recent wins were with trainer Robin Frid at the March to the Arch show in St. Louis a few weeks ago winning Sr. Western Riding. The pair was first under all four judges out of 27 in the class.

Zip To The Limit is a gelding by Zip To The Country that has over 300 AQHA points, several AQHA circuit championships and ROMs in many western events.

Miss Goodie Good Bar is a mare by ZMGB. She is a multiple MQHA Futurity and AQHA circuit champion that has also earned an AQHA Superior in western pleasure.

Miss Fancy Good Bar is a mare by ZMGB. She was the winner of the Whistle Stop Open Longeline as a yearling and went on to win the Indiana Quarter Horse futurities under saddle. She has qualified for the World Show and earned many AQHA points and multiple ROMs.

Peach of An Asset is a mare by Investment Asset that won many MQHA longe line and pleasure futurities. She is the dam of the 2012 AQHA High Point Green Western Pleasure Horse, Texas Tombstone, then owned by Katie Johnson of Iowa. He now has over 300 AQHA points.

Rosie Good Bar is by ZMGB and is a multiple MQHA and ILQHA longe line futurity champion and AQHA point earner. She is currently in foal to The Krymsun Kruzer for a May 2014 foal.

Cryin Otoe Charge was laid to rest under the big oak tree this week on the Sands Ranch in Rolla, MO. We will miss her so much, but her legacy will live on in her foals and their offspring. Rest in Peace “Spooky.”

The following poem was written for “Spooky” by Linda’s friend and published poet, Charlotte Matthews.

Prayer for Spooky

You, our steadfast

Mare, our

sure

footed

sweet soul.

 

There in your plaid

blanket, may you feel

The sun’s warmth.

 

May you dream of

a grove of trees

where water pools

in eddies and you

drink to your heart’s

content.

 

You, our trusty friend,

wondrous as any star,

dependable as the earth.

 

May you know how much

We love you,

In our

Minds

In our

hearts.

 

Even in places we

cannot see.

 

Peace, sweet Spooky,

Peace.