GoHorseShow.com has learned that Hope By Invitation, one of
the greatest pleasure horses in AQHA history, died July 4. Owner Jerry
Srickland of Jonesboro, Arkansas was reached for comment Monday and said
“We
are shocked. We were not expecting this at all. She was very healthy.”
The 2001 bay mare by Invitation Only and out of Zippos Tuff
Gal, was ironically at the vet’s in Texas for stem cell injections that day. “It appears as though her heart wasn’t
getting enough oxygen and her upper valve was restricting blood flow. They have run tests but due to the holiday
there’s a slight delay. We will know more soon.”
Hope By Invitation was a 3-time AQHA World Champion and 2-time
Reserve World Champion. She won the 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure with Jeff Long
in 2003, the Junior Western Pleasure in 2006 with E.H. Pait, and a year later
she won the Youth World with Denny Strickland.
She was also Reserve World Champion in 2005 in Junior Western Pleasure
with Pait and Reserve World Champion at the Select World with Jerry Strickland
in 2006. She accumulated 831 lifetime
points and won nearly $120,000 in lifetime earnings.
“We always dreamed for a horse like her,” Jerry added. “She was so much fun and took us to the top
level. Her name “Hope” became famous and
she gave us a lot of hope. We are very
sad but we are going to keep on going.”
Our condolences to Jerry, Vickie and Denny Strickland as well as E.H. and Arianne Pait, and everyone else who loved this beautiful mare. She will be missed.
Hope By Invitation
2009 World Show Senior Western Pleasure – Third
2008
World Show Select Western Pleasure – Third
2007
World Show Youth Western Pleasure – Champion
2006
World Show Jr Western Pleasure – Champion
2006
Congress Maturity Western Pleasure – Champion
2006
Congress Jr Western Pleasure – Champion
2006
Congress Western Pleasure 15-18 – Reserve
2006
World Show Select Western Pleasure – Reserve
2005
Congress Maturity Western Pleasure – Reserve
2005
Congress Western Pleasure 12-14 – Champion
2005
Congress Jr Western Pleasure – Champion
2005
World Show Jr Western Pleasure – Reserve
2004
Congress 3 YO Western Pleasure – Champion
2004
Congress Jr Western Pleasure – Reserve
2003
Congress 2 YO Western Pleasure – Champion
2003
Congress 2 YO Ltd Western Pleasure – Champion
2003
World Show 2 YO Western Pleasure – Champion
