Larks Oneforthemoney was born special as one of the only horses by an AQHA Superhorse and out of an AQHA Superhorse. This gorgeous 16.1 hand bay stallion out of 1988 Superhorse, One For the Record, and by 1985 and 1987 Super Horse, Rugged Lark, was destined for greatness until injuries ruined his chances of making a name for himself in the show arena. Despite these setbacks, Lark is set for a comeback in the breeding arena. Thanks to Lark’s owner’s Dan and Kristin Patton of Westar Sport Horses for providing GoHorseShow.com with in-depth and inspiring details of his recovery.
Lark’s Story
In 2000, Larks Oneforthemoney, made his bid for his own stellar show career. Lark was bred by the Kaplow Family in collaboration with Carol Harris. His mother, One for the Record was one of the most influential show horses of the 1980s, winning numerous World Championships and culminating her career with the all-elusive AQHA Superhorse Award in 1988.
Lark was starting to follow in his mother and father’s successful career path when he was crowned Top 10 in four events at the All American Quarter Horse Congress and was 3rd in the Jr Working Hunter at the largest horse show in the world. In 2001, he was sold, with the goal of competing at the AQHA World Show in over fences classes. His new owners had visions of a Superhorse title. They took him to a few USEF shows to prepare for his bid for stardom, and qualified for the AQHA World in Sr Working Hunter in just one show. Much to their dismay, only two months after arriving at his new home, he injured his leg in a pasture accident and Lark was retired.
After four years as a minimally utilized or advertised breeding stallion, Lark was sold at the Congress sale. Dave Festa was the happy new owner of what he described as his “dream horse”. Lark went to live with the Festas, being riden by Dave and his grandchildren. Unfortunately, Dave was soon injured by a 2-year-old colt, resulting in a severe back injury. Dave could no longer care for, or ride his beloved Lark. Lark stayed in Florida, with a caretaker and was put out to pasture, breeding only a handful of mares each year with no advertising. Years later, Dave was forced to put his beloved Lark up for sale.
Larks Tenuous Arrival to Westar Ranch
Larks Oneforthemoney lived in Florida until April of 2010. With great anticipation of a stellar foal crop from an amazing stallion, and out of our best mares, Westar Ranch purchased Lark in the midst of the 2010 breeding season. Westar hired a major transportation company to transport him in a semi across the county. We anxiously awaited the arrival of our Quarter Horse over fences stallion, the only stallion by and out of a Superhorse! Much to the dismay of everyone at Westar, during Lark’s 8 day trip, he suffered a terrible accident, resulting in his struggle for life.
Lark arrived at Westar Ranch, was unloaded from the trailer late in the afternoon and placed in a paddock so that he could move around after his long trip. Lark was stiff and did not lift his head above wither height, so he was moved from the paddock into a stall, to be monitored closely. Early the following morning, Lark was no longer able to lift his head further than 4 inches off of the ground. He could not eat, nor could he drink. He was very depressed and did not seem interested in his surroundings, but stared blankly at the stall wall. Concerned for his life, a veterinarian was called to assess Lark’s condition.
The Doctors
Lark was in a severe state of depression when the veterinary team arrived, Dr. John Herning and his partner Jackie Anderson. Lark was dehydrated and his neck and face were swollen and hot. He could not raise his head and if forced to do so would violently tremor and collapse. He was not interested in food and would not drink or eat. Colic or trauma to his head and neck were of great concern, although first, the fact that he was in shock and severely dehydrated, were more concerning to the Veterinarians. It was critical to stabilize him before determining exactly what was wrong. Carefully, so as to not move his neck, a catheter was placed into the vein in his neck and warm fluids were given. Lots of warm fluids!
As the hours passed, Larks four new owners began to realize that this was not a stuggle for Lark to be able to breed again, but a struggle for his life. He fought, and kept fighting for his life. This stallion that had only entered our lives a few weeks before and who we had only just met, was now struggling before us. We were helpless. We focused on saving his life.
As the veterinarians worked to save his life and stablize him, a nearly frantic call was placed to Dave Festa, Larks previous owner. We not only needed to let him know what was happening, but we also needed to ask any words of advice about this great horse. Naturally, Dave was devastated that his dream horse was fighting for his life, so far way. He told us to try giving him a peppermint.
He said, “If anything will get him to come back to you, it is a peppermint, he loves them.” As Lark stared blankly at the wall of his stall, we searched the barn for peppermints. Finally, finding a handful, we stood in front of Lark’s stall. At the crinkling of the peppermint wrapper, Larks expression changed. His eyes no longer fixed on the wall in front of him. He could not move his head, but the pure joy on this face was evident. We all smiled at his happiness and although he was still connected to tubing with fluids running into him, covered with blankets to keep him warm and unable to lift his head, we knew inside his body, Lark was still there! He happily and gratefully ate the peppermints, then as the hours went by, he began to pick at alfalfa leaves and finally drank out of a bucket on the floor.
After two weeks, Lark could lift his head for very short periods of time about 2 feet off of the ground. He was taken for his first walk with a rope around the base of his neck, walking once around the outside of the barn, passed the other stallion, passed several mares. His personality showed true when he carefully, cautiously walked without pulling. He returned to his stall and we decided that the 80 mile journey to Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine could be scheduled.
When Lark arrived at WSU and was evaluated, we sat in silence as the vet told us that Lark’s first cervical vertebra was indeed fractured. Not only was it fractured, but the left side was in about 100 small fragments. The bulge on the right side was actually the “normal” side, but because the vertebra appeared 30-40 degrees twisted on its axis, that side was sticking out more than it normally would. She was not certain, but after consulting on the radiographs with a radiologist and three surgeons, they all felt that there was a fracture through the center of the vertebra as well. She was very concerned that if Lark were to breed, he would sever his spinal cord, ending his life. We were devastated. We had come so far, Lark was alive. Lark was recovering, but Lark may not ever breed again.
Eight weeks in a stall, 10 bags of peppermints, lots of brushing and as much hay as he could eat; that summed up the next two months at Westar Ranch for Lark. His owners’ dreams of Lark returning to the show ring to perform in training and first level dressage, dreams of Lark being inspected by the American Warmblood Registry, dreams of Lark siring lots of foals in 2010, all became dimmer as the days rolled on. Dreams changed. Dreams that Lark could go outside, that Lark could walk without fear of falling, that Lark could wear a halter over took all those other dreams. Lark became our Hero, Lark became our focus and Lark became the most important horse in our lives. Lark became our inspiration. The entire ranch begain to know who Lark truly is, his spirit never wavering.
As the days passed, Lark was able to lift his head to wither height and keep it there for longer periods of time with only minimal tremors. He could eat out of his feeder and drink out of the stall waterer. Finally, after 8 long weeks, Lark was visited by Dr. Rouse, an internist in Spokane, WA. Dr. Rouse told us that Lark could go for daily walks up and down the barn aisle. He was still not to wear a halter, but he could step out of his stall. She gave strict instructions that Lark was to remain at his current weight for the next few months and he was to walk for 5-10 minutes twice daily for another 4 weeks. We were elated at the progress and happy that Lark could come out of his white walled box stall.
Our stallion, with his crooked neck, only four months after fracturing his first cervical vertebra was inspected by The American Warmblood Registry. A true testament to Lark’s disposition was the fact that only two weeks prior to the inspection, Lark still could only lift his head to wither height. As inspection day came closer, we decided that he was ready to “strut his stuff”, even for a brief time. He was a true champion as he stood beautifully for the conformation portion, then walked and trotted for the in-hand portion. Our hearts sank as he was turned loose and trotted to the jump chute wanting to jump. What a horse! He took it all in stride as we told him that he would not be jumping that day. He did his best trot around the arena, receiving a first premium award and approval for breeding by AWR. That same day Kelly Barnes of Kelly Graphics took the best photos that have ever been taken of this amazing horse. His spirit shined through!
Lark amazes everyone he meets that he is the happy horse he remains to be! He has faced much adversity and as 4-year-old Emily Patton says about Lark, “Lark is Gentle and Kind. He is dependable and always willing to work!”. He is a true example of his breed, The American Quarter Horse.
In 2011, he is breeding to a limited booking of mares. His breeding fee this year is $1250 which includes the booking fee. Find out more about this stallion’s amazing recovery and details about breeding your mare to this talented stallion with a one-of-a-kind pedigree by visiting his website here.
