It is with a sad heart to report that all-time great gelding, Forged Impression (Scooter/Tommy) has passed away due to complications associated with old age. He was 31 years-old.
“I only wish words could express what this horse did for me and my life,” says Jenny Jordan Frid, who was his last owner. “I was truly blessed to have owned him. My heart is broken.”
With over 660 points in the Showmanship, it is safe to say that the chestnut gelding was the king of this class in the show pen. Better known as Scooter, he was a multiple Congress and two-time World Champion in this event over the course of his show career with several different owners.
GoHorseShow.com was able to track down three of Scooter’s past owners and had them reflect on their show careers. Kristy King who won the 1988 High Point Youth in the nation and a Reserve World Champion in the Youth Showmanship; Brock Clark who won both the Youth World and Congress in the Showmanship, and Jenny Jordan Frid who won the Amateur World and Congress in the Showmanship with him before his retirement.
Kristy King Scribner purchased Scooter when he was three years old. “We never purchased him to win at the big shows, but he was always willing to do anything. From the start he chewed on everything-especially my Showmanship gloves,” she said. “I would let him do it because it was better than me. We learned together but he taught me more than I realized at 18. He would get into the trailer weekend after weekend and do his job well.” (pictured here at 29)
Kristy also recalls that, “When it was time for me to go to college, I had an agreement with my father that he would have to go. It was one of the hardest things I had to do in my life. I sold a mare that I was showing at that time too but Scooter was different. He has a personality that was forgiving and made you work for your wins. He had a few owners since I sold him, but I was happy to find Jenny Jordan gave him a permanent retirement home. When our show season was over he was more tired than I but he went on to win a few more titles-in pure Scooter style! Horses like Scooter come along once in a lifetime and I’m thankful to be a part of his life.”
Michigan native Brock Clark didn’t have much monetary backing when he was showing, but he made up for that with talent and determination. Clark purchased Forged Impression who he called, “Tommy” from Kristy King, and Brock remembers being intimidated by owning such a well known horse, but that quickly changed when Clark started winning and making a name for himself.
“It was my first year at the World Show, and I found out later that I had won under all five judges in the Showmanship. It was such an amazing experience and not at all expected. Erin Brown was second and our back numbers were so close. I remember losing it and jumping up and down and doing a back flip to celebrate. I also did a back flip at the Congress when I won there too. What was crazy is that Tommy just stood there on all fours and never moved. He was an amazing horse, and I couldn’t believe I had the chance to own him.”
Forged Impression finally found a home for life when Jenny Jordan Frid purchased him in the mid 90’s. Frid won the Amateur Showmanship at the Congress and the World Show with Scooter.
“I was able to accomplish my dreams with him,” Jenny told GoHorseShow.com. “Without him, I may have never won the Congress and the World Show. He was a special horse that loved to show and shined in the spotlight.”
Frid
adds, “Since my parent were trainers, they always told me to never get
attached to the horses because they were always for sale—but I did get
attached to him and I decided to keep him until the day he died. He was
a fabulous show horse and he always showed up when it counted. He was
like a reliable best friend but a little odd,” Jenny says and laughs.
“He had this attitude that he didn’t care what other people thought
about him. Even with his funny quirks, he is the best horse I’ve ever
owned. I was honored to have had the opportunity to show him and he
taught me many lessons throughout the years.”
