23/02/2022
It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of one of our foundation performance halflinger and great breed ambassador, Mackinac RM, affectionately known as Rex.
Rex came to the farm as a 4 yr old and in the 20 years since then he was a key part of all are activities. He taught numerous children and adults to ride and drive. Even before the farm started to venture into the show ring Rex was there, going on trail rides, overnight camping, doing some work in the farm field, or taking a pleasure drive down the road. He participating in Ohio Haflinger Fun Drives/Rides, going in more parades then we can count, taking Santa to town for the Christmas Celebration and staying to give carriage rides after. He helped haul people from parking to events big and small, for such big event as Horse Progress Days to the small town pancake breakfast. Rex was there for it all.
As the farm evolved to more a more performance farm, Rex continued to show his versatility. His heart to preform and represent the breed really came to light during this time. He shined as part of the Ohio Haflinger Driven Drill Team where he performed in front of thousands of people in many states. The louder the crowd cheered the more Rex would give. We have fond memories of him, waiting outside the gate of any of the coliseums to preform, as all the other horses on the drill team pranced with excitement, Rex was conserving his energy taking a nap. However as soon as the music started and Lou said “get,” Rex would take off like a rocket and give his all in the performance.
He has been in countless breed demonstrations at events like Equine Affiare, Horse World Expo, Kentucky Horse Park – Breed Pavilion, and many more, showing the world what a haflinger could do. He has been of the horses used in Equine Affiare’s, Time to Ride, where people who never rode a horse before got the opportunity to ride haflinger. If we needed a gentle sole for a child to pet or a steady horse to stand for hours on end while a clinician used a horse to demonstrate their topics on, Rex was the one to count on to fill those roles.
As a show horse, he was one of our favorites. Rex was the sixth haflingers to ever earn the Haflinger Championship Challenge Versatility Award where a horse needs to earn 25 halter points, 100 Western Points, 100 English Points, and 100 Driving Points at HCC recognized shows. He was a hard horse to beat in the cones and obstacle classes at the breed shows, and could also be found at one time or another in every discipline the shows offered. From driving, to riding, jumping to contesting he gave his all, especially if Lou was the driver.
While Rex had had may top accolades in all disciplines, he had a real love of driving. When Lou first ventured into Combined Driving, Rex was the easy choice. Rex and Lou could be found flying through hazards at combine driving events and Rex seemed to have a sixth scene of what Lou wanted and would respond instantly and give 110%. When the farm started to play with driving multiples, Rex fell into the wheeler role of first the tandem and then 4-in-hand like he had been doing it his whole life.
Rex had personality and heart to spare, and as much of a goof ball he could be, everyone at the farm knew, when it really mattered, Rex could be counted on. Even though Lou retired Rex 2 years ago, we at the farm still had the pleasure of taking care of Rex and enjoying his antics. Such as in the summer at dinnertime, he was the absolute last horse to come in from pasture. He would stand at the far end of the field grazing acting as if he could not hear you call, but when you would finally walk out to get him. He would swish his tail, tuck his butt and take off like mad for the barn – laughing at us humans he tricked into walking to the far end of the field.
It has been and honor to know and work with such horse and he will go down as one of our Greats and will be deeply missed. Run free my friend and I hope you have many more performances in the sky!
