It saddens me to say that this is the final story of a beautiful Quarter Horse Mare who rocketed into the public eye together with her human partner, Stacy Westfall. Among her other stories, this mare boasts a remarkable relationship Westfall - together they performed in unison at the Horse Congress, winning their event. The horse was ridden to perfectlion without a bridle, saddle or reins. We all knew this horse as "Roxy"; her registered name was Whizards Baby Doll.
The Grim Reaper leaves no being out of his sights and he started his claim on this graceful and well-known horse during the night of February 5 as she apparently became cast in her stall, sustaining injuries both traumatic and deadly.
Perhaps most horsemen will recall Roxy in a viral You Tube video wherein she won the Freestyle Reining Championship in 2006 at the American Quarter Horse Congress. She was ridden by Westfall without benefit of saddle OR bridle. She executed her “job” with perfection at that Congress – a performance that endeared her forever in the minds of knowledgeable horse people that appreciate amazing performances.
As a young filly Roxy was started in training by Westfalls. Says Stacy Westfall, “I was the first one to ride her.”
She goes on, “We had a chance to buy Roxy but couldn’t afford her. We referred her to Greg Gessner, who bought her and kept her in training with us. He loved that horse from the beginning!”
Says Gessner, “I feel blessed by God to have Jesse and Stacy in my life working with me and Roxy. I never once doubted their abilities or judgment. And while Roxy was my horse, it was always clear she loved Stacy.”
So the Westfalls trained Roxy, and life went on with this beautiful mare. Stacy Westfall exhibited her in the Congress events, the video was taken and went viral, and before long, everyone in the horse world was buzzing about this remarkable mare. It even caught the attention of Ellen DeGeneres who invited the dynamic duo of Westfall and Roxy to the eventful show.
Four foals, using a surrogate, were carried to term and make up a legacy. But the foal that Roxy herself was carrying could not be saved despite all efforts by Valley View Animal Hospital. From the looks of the large foaling stall, Roxy apparently cast during the night. While she was standing, she had abrasions on her nose and legs, probably caused by her efforts to stand up. The obvious struggle she went through was very evident in the stall.
She immediately received veterinary care but her discomfort became dramatically worse throughout the day. She was moved to Valley View where she was made comfortable. She had sustained shredding of ligaments and muscle tissue in flanks and both stifles. The damage was so severe that her pain was not relieved sufficiently by morphine and pain killers. The most difficult decision had to be made and Roxy was euthanized.
All efforts to save her unborn foal, one month from full term, proved hopeless.
Some lovely creatures leave footprints on our hearts. Anyone who ever saw the famed video, or followed this amazing mare, will never forget her. Without any doubt, Roxy will be greatly missed.
We share the Westfalls’ and Gessner’s grief.
This story and others are written by The Old Gray Mare of www.DressYourHorse.com.
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