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Shagya Success Stories
Last page update: 04/14/2009

*OMAN, My Tribute     by Carolyn Tucker

When I think of *Oman, and it has been several years since he passed on, I still feel that he was and is a "Horse of a lifetime". I will always feel that we got cheated and just when we reached the top of the great hill in training and promotion, we didn't get to enjoy the downhill side. The rush of the fun and less stress side. That's life tho! Oman and I spent a great deal of time together.

Most of it was always training or promoting and asking him to do or go etc. He never gave me refusals or got in any trouble. He was always very willing to try what I or anyone else asked.

 Anyone who rode or handled him, remarked about his easy and willing temperament. You could leave his saddle, bridle, blankets with-in reach and he would never touch them. One time I found him standing at the trailer during a show where I had both him and Crescendo for jumping classes. We were switching horses between every class and somehow Oman was not clipped to his trailer tie and I had been gone with Crescendo for the class. I was so relieved that he had stayed at the trailer anyway.

This is one of the fears of showing with a stallion. It is a double stress. One time at Tevis, a mare broke away and came to Oman. I got rid of her but Oman thought she was going to kick and he pulled back and broke his d-ring. He could have chased after her but stayed with me.

This is the type of attitude that Oman always had. He was dependable with his life routine. Many times we would breed then run to an event. He never got things mixed up and knew that when we were out with other horses, it was not breeding time.. We have followed many a mare in heat and he never tried to consider any breeding ideas.

For me, Oman made things easier.. We lived a fast life style.. Busy breeding schedule, busy training schedule, and busy competition schedule. We never missed a breeding call for anyone and we never missed an event due to illness. Oman's training schedule involved dressage, cross country jumping and endurance. We loved to go down the trail but in the beginning Oman didn't see the point of going down the trail. He only went because I asked him. We did a lot of training alone and he was always dependable and sure footed. He began to like the trail and got very good and very sure footed. I got us in places that weren't so great sometimes and he always got us out.

It is difficult to train and show an expensive and valuable stallion.. It is a huge stress... Oman made this do-able.. The stallion owner is always responsible and I can tell you that the mare owners cause all the trouble. Lucky for me that Oman was smart and knew the difference between showing and breeding time. He made our life doable as we were usually rushed. He always gave a great effort. I couldn't have managed it all with out his great temperament and willingness. If I would have had things my way, I would have liked to enjoy Oman in later years without the pressure of always having to perform and perform well etc. I would have enjoyed just riding for the pleasure of it. For NO reason or for an upcoming event!

Oman was a pleasure to have and I loved to just watch him in his pasture overlooking the girls and the property. His routine was to eat breakfast and go to his day pasture until training time or stay all day on his day off. I always loved watching him anywhere.. He was a beautiful horse to look at. Had a beautiful face and wonderful athletic looking body with that dark mahogany bay color.

Oman was just right size wise for the different riding that we did. You need a handy horse that you can easily get on and off all day long for endurance and also a size that is acceptable for dressage and jumping. I would have loved to spend my whole life riding Oman.

In the end I was happy that I was there with him. We walked up to his day pasture when he was so sick and we spent some very special time there together while waiting for the vet. As sick as Oman was, he still loaded into the trailer for the ride up to the vet hospital. The prognosis was not good!

I brought him back home to his day pasture where he remains today with the view of the girls and the whole property. Oman, "Horse of a Lifetime". I've heard it said that you only experience one of those in your life. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity.

Free

Free…Freely he floats as if on air
I watch as he passes – with nary a care.
He’s big, he’s bold, he’s a very dark bay
And he looks so beautiful on this particular day.

His neck is arched, his eyes are bright
I wonder if he knows he a beautiful site.
He extends his front leg and starts to perform
I watch him and think “What a perfect form!”

Floating so gracefully, he’s a site to see
He’s big, he’s bold and he says “Hey look at me!”
From dressage to endurance to just being seen
This stallion of distinction comes from old Germany.

O’Bajan…Bajar…O’Bajar…may be where it begun
But, this beautiful stallion will stand as the great one!
Yes, they’ll bring forth his get in the days to come
And they will do well - *Oman’s daughters and sons!

To Carolyn and *Oman
After seeing him on 1/14/93
From Sandy Cox