GoHorseShow is sad to report the passing of 2012 Congress and World Open Champion Performance Halter Gelding, Bimini Twist (Rip). The 2008 gelding by Rockster and out of Shez Phenomenal was bred by Rolyn “Ronnie” Casper, Jr. and owned by Scott and Breda Kennedy. According to Breda, Rip had colic surgery last week, and, unfortunately, did not recover. The chestnut gelding passed away due to a ruptured colon.
“I have been blessed with so many great horses but what set Bimini Twist apart is that he took care of me!” Kennedy fondly remembers. “Because of my health issues, he knew when I couldn’t walk, and he held me up when I couldn’t stand. He let me lace my fingers through the show halter and carried me.”
Kennedy continues, “I bought this horse for my husband as a Christmas present. When I had my ninth spinal surgery, my husband sent him to Jay Holmes to be a rope horse. He was a past circuit champion in the Heading, and a Performance Halter horse. My husband wanted to see Rip and me be successful, and we were. We would like to thank the breeder, Rolyn Casper, Jr., Jay and Rhonda Holmes, and Ross Roark who showed him this year. Without all of these great horsemen, we couldn’t have created Bimini Twist, World Champion.”
Rip and Breda were also 2012 Reserve World Champions in the Amateur Performance Halter Geldings at the AQHA Amateur World Championship Show this past November. Over his show career, Rip accumulated points in the performance halter as well as the roping events.
“He loved it when I sang the song, ‘You Raise Me Up’ by Josh Groban to him,” Breda told GoHorseShow. “Rip was a great horse to be around, but he did play favorites. I would sneak him treats, and get in trouble with Scott all the time. To everyone else, he looked tough to show, but he really was a puppy pretending to be a stud. My heart is broken and I’ll never forget him.”
