GoHorseShow is sorry to report the passing of all-around champion, Rockin For Certain (Rocky), due to bone degeneration in one of his front legs. Rocky was loved and shown by Keaton and Kili Crawford of Golden, Colorado.
“It’s been a really hard time for us but we’re getting through it,” says Keaton Crawford, who along with her sister, Kili, showed Rocky in the youth division. “He was such a special horse to show, ride and just to be around. He had a one In a million personality. He taught me so much about myself, and I feel honored to have had the chance to show him at all. I have so many great memories of him from getting a NSBA reserve world champion with him, seeing Kili do so well with him and grow with him, and to just be around such a great horse was a blessing.”
Rocky won several high points in the nation and Top Ten placings at the Congress and World Show as well as amassing over 1700 points in several different events including, hunter under saddle, trail, western riding, western pleasure, performance halter geldings, horsemanship, showmanship, and equitation. His former, owner Beau Baird also was very successful with this 2002 bay gelding by Certain Potential. This team amassed over 300 points and placed at the AQHA World Show in several events as well as winning high points awards in amateur performance halter geldings, amateur trail, senior green western riding, senior green hunter under saddle.
“I like everybody else was taken by Rocky the first time I met him,” Baird told GoHorseShow. “I alway said I would love to live in Rocky’s world because it must be all rainbows and butterflies. He was always happy and interested in everything. He always gave me his all in the show ring, but he did love to socialize too. He had a huge fan club that transcended all his owners and will be missed by so many.”
Keaton adds, “I wish so badly we could have had more time with him because every single show we went to I saw improvement and we have such good memories to cherish from every moment we spend with him.”
Kili also shared her thoughts about her equine friend, Rocky. “He was my best friend my partner and just had an amazing soul. Every person he ever met seemed to fall in love with him!” Kili says. “When I went to look at ‘The Rock’ (named after the action star, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson) to buy, I was standing next to my dad and my trainer, Kelly, and we were all watching Bruce Vickery ride him. I leaned in and said this is the one before I even stepped on him. We had been looking for a horse for about a year by then, and, in the two minutes I saw him, I knew he was something special.”
Kili continues, “I bought him because I had wanted a talented trail horse but a surprise came along with that he was a talented pleasure horse too. My fourth show on him was the AQHYA World Show and we ended up 15th–it was a complete shock and still one of the best moments I’ve ever had. I just want to say thank you to him for all he has given me and that every time I step in the arena I do it for him and all he gave to me!”
