On Wednesday, April 23, Kevin and Amy Smith of Falmouth, Maine had to sadly euthanize, their precious gelding, Off The Clock, better known as Lex due to a badly torn deep digital flexor tendon.
“Our giant, talented, handsome boy touched so many people, winning many blue ribbons and titles, and our hearts,” says Lex’s last owner, Amy Smith of Capall Creek Farm, LLC. “At age 12 he still earned two Top Ten Congress titles with Abby and me. We are thankful to have been a part of his life. I know Heaven will have plenty of his favorite donuts and muffins and he can once again run pain free.”
The 2000 Appendix chestnut gelding by The Coosanova and out of Autum Gaze (TB) was bred by Jennifer Lynn Thompson of Reno, Nevada. Some of his past owners include, Christi Christensen, and the McDonald family.
Lex won several Regional Championships and in 2005 he was the AQHYA Reserve World Championship in the hunter under saddle. He also placed in the Top 10 and was a finalist at the AQHA World Show in the Senior Hunter Under Saddle.
“Lex was just a cool horse,” says Nancy Sue Ryan, who showed him at the AQHA World Show. “He tested you daily but deep down he was a cool horse. I remember at the World Show, he would not walk out of line. I told the judges to excuse my 4-H horse. Slapped him with the reins on his withers and he walked forward and backed perfectly. He left the arena without the Gold trophy that two judges said he would have won….that would be Lex!”
Smith told GoHorseShow that her family bought, Off The Clock in a large purchase of horses from the McDonald family back in 2011. They were unsure if he was sound at the time. Luckily, with some routine care they were able to show him in 2011, and Amy and her daughter, Abby both showed him in 2012. They were ninth at the Congress in the Hunter Under Saddle Maturity and Abby was eighth in the Novice Youth 18 & Under. After those wins, it was decided Lex deserved retirement.
“It was getting harder to keep him sound and we wanted him to enjoy himself. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago, he developed an abscess which was treated, and, yet, he still remained sore. After an ultrasound of his leg, the bad news was revealed,” Smith recalls. “His deep digital flexor tendon was torn beyond repair. It was a hard decision to make but we know it was the right one. This giant horse that touched so many lives with his talent and quirky ways was laid to rest on April 23rd at Capall Creek Farm. There will never be another, Off The Clock.”
