Sincere Condolences Following the Passing of AQHA Stallion, The Rock (2011-2017)
Lorretta and The Rock (The Rock FB page)
By: Brittany Bevis
It is with great sadness that we must relay the news of the passing of yet another great sire in the industry. The 2011 red roan, AQHA stallion known simply as The Rock was euthanized this morning following post-surgery complications from an elective procedure.
The Rock was by the celebrated sire, RL Best Of Sudden, and out of Lopen Good Bar. Although he passed entirely too soon, at the age of six, he amassed an impressive show record during his time spent in the Western Pleasure pen, which was his speciality.
In 2013, he was crowned the 2-Year-Old Open Intermediate Western Pleasure Champion at the AQHA World Show. Also that year, he was Top 10 in the Quarter Horse Congress NSBA 2-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure Futurity. In 2014, he was named the NSBA Reserve World Champion in 3-Year-Old Intermediate Western Pleasure and Reserve World Champion in 3-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure. That same year at the Congress, he was in the Top 3 of the 3-Year-Old Non Pro Limited Western Pleasure and Top 5 in the 3-Year-Old Open Non Pro Western Pleasure. That’s only a few of his many achievements.
Most recently, though, his influence on the next generation had begun to take effect with many of his first foals hitting the show pen. At the 2017 Tom Powers Futurity, Shezarockingoodbar was named the Western Pleasure Super Sires Champion in Yearling Longe Line with Mac McGinnis.
Though his loving owner, Lorretta Magnuson, is deeply saddened following the loss of her beloved stallion, she takes solace in the fact that his legacy will live on through his offspring. “He was my love,” she says.
We fondly remember when The Rock graced the January/February 2017 stallion edition cover of The Equine Chronicle.
Scroll below to read his cover story from that edition.
Jan/Feb 2017- ON THE COVER
The Rock
Like a rock, I was strong as I could be
Like a rock, nothin,’ ever got to me
Like a rock, I was something to see
Like a rock.
– lyrics by Bob Seger
By: Brittany Bevis
Taking a cue from American singer-songwriter Bob Seger, the 2011 AQHA stallion by RL Best of Sudden and out of Lopen Good Bar is definitely something to see. During his brief time spent in the industry thus far, the 6-year-old, red roan stallion has amassed an impressive show record and is already hard at work siring the next generation of great Western Pleasure horses.
Some of his more notable accomplishments happened early on in his career; for example, winning the Intermediate Open 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure at the 2013 AQHA World Show with Scott Frye in the saddle. Other titles earned include a Reserve Championship in 3-Year-Old Intermediate Open Western Pleasure and in 3-Year-Old Limited Non-Pro Western Pleasure at the NSBA World Show in 2014. He later went on to claim top placings at the Tom Powers Futurity, Little Futurity, and All American Quarter Horse Congress before retiring in 2015.
Proud owner of The Rock, Lorretta Magnuson of Magnuson Farm, LLC, is beyond thrilled that his first foal crop is on the ground this year and that his foals are already taking after their daddy in form, function, and fabulous personality. Lorretta’s love for a good, roan horse began long before she met The Rock. She’s been involved in the horse industry for nearly 37 years along with her daughter, Gretta Graceland, and granddaughters, Lorretta Bowser and Victoria Janusch. The spark that led to the creation of three-generations of horsewomen was ignited years ago with the birth of a red roan gelding named “Dusty” on the family farm. Now, more than three decades later, it’s another special, red roan that has stolen Lorretta’s heart and given Magnuson Farm renewed purpose to help mold the future of the Western Pleasure horse for generations to come.
During the first two years standing at stud, The Rock bred a full book of 100 mares each season. That’s quite a feat for a young sire whose first foal crop hit the ground in 2016. “It’s been a pleasant surprise, given today’s market,” says Stallion Manager, Mike Hay. “Every time this horse was at a horse show, he was extremely popular. He has such a kind eye and is so quite and soft moving. He really attracts attention to himself. Mrs. Magnuson has done a great job of promoting him and getting him out and available to the public with all of the programs he’s in. The public has really accepted him,” he says. Some of these programs include the Western Pleasure Super Sires, Southern Belle Breeders, Tom Powers Futurity, APHA Breeders’ Trust, NSBA, and Michigan and Iowa futurities.
“Nowadays, you’re breeding for a very educated market, much more so than 10-20 years ago,” Hay says. “Almost every mare that we breed to has won something herself or is very well-bred. 99% of the mares we breed are Western Pleasure-bred and have impeccable bloodlines.”
Something Hay has witnessed early on in foals is The Rock’s ability to pass on the correct conformation he received from his father. “What I think he has done, and I’ve seen it in 30-40 foals myself, is that he’s shortened up the backs of every mare, which is a really important thing,” Hay says.
The Rock’s breeding career is expected to take off in 2017 as well because now he’s available for international shipping. Hay says, “We’re now shipping frozen semen to Europe, and we’re in the process of shipping to Canada. We ship cooled semen there now, but this will make things a little easier.”
The Rock is currently standing at Pilot Knob Quarter Horses in Pinnacle, NC. For more information about breeding to The Rock, contact Mike at 336-368-5235.
