We are sad to report that Congress and NSBA World Champion, Suddenly Extreme passed away Monday due to complications associated with colic surgery. The 2011 sorrel stallion known as “Karl” was in Oklahoma City preparing to show at the AQHA World Show when he colicked. Unfortunately, he passed away Monday.
“His first surgery was Friday morning,” his owner, Ruth Rowe told GoHorseShow. “He rebounded well until Sunday afternoon. They took him back to surgery at four o’clock yesterday and there was nothing they could do to fix the problems. He fought hard but it was just too much for him.”
Rowe told us that she called Andy Cochran (who showed him in 2014 and 2015) to come to the Oakridge Equine Hospital in Oklahoma City to say goodbye to him. “Karl was just so smart, sweet, and charismatic. You could always pick him out of a crowd,” Rowe told us while fighting back tears when talking to us at the AQHA World Show. “He was so easy to train and was very athletic. Even when he was breeding mares, he was always a gentleman and never misbehaved. He was quite the charmer.”
Trainer, Chad Evans, was planning on showing him in the several events at the AQHA World Show where he was a Superhorse contender. The talented stallion is currently leading the nation in the Junior Western Riding with 78 points and second in the Junior Trail with 153.5 points. In 2015, he was the Level 2 Western Pleasure Champion at the AQHA World Show with Cochran.
At the NSBA World this year, Karl had an impressive show. He showed in five classes and won five trophies.
His all-around success came as little surprise. In 2014, Suddenly Extreme was Congress Champion with Andy Cochran in the Three-Year-Old Limited Open Western Pleasure and Reserve Congress Champion in both the Open Three-Year-Old Western Pleasure and also the Green Western Pleasure. He also had wins at several other futurities including the Tom Powers.
Suddenly Extreme was by Extremely Hot Chips and bred by Betty Rich of Wewahitchka, Florida. In May of 2014, Rowe bought Karl from Nick Weiss of Johnston, Iowa. He had amassed over 400 AQHA points and earned over $50,000 in NSBA Futurity earnings. He also had superiors in both the trail and western riding.
We offer our condolences to everyone who was involved with Karl over his incredible career. Unfortunately, it was cut short way too soon.
Photo © KC Montgomery, Shane Rux, Impulse Photography
