Once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky, and all of the stars line up, and the horse gods allow it, you are gifted the one horse. The one horse in your life that literally gallops in to save you. The horse who knows your every twitch. The one who senses your heart and never ever misses a beat. You ride in unison. You breathe together. And when the day comes and the time to say goodbye comes … you can’t breathe and you think that you will never breathe again. ….and you don’t.

Affectionately called “Leon”, registered as He’s From Flyo, came to this family by way of Pratt, Kansas. Born and raised on the prairie of Western Kansas, ridden in the stock yard and roped off, this spicy red chestnut gelding had no idea what being a rodeo queen horse would mean! He had an untamed mane and a nappy fore lock. His hair stuck straight up! He looked onery and wild but he was beautiful!! He was smart and took no time at all to learn patterns, flying lead changes, flags, proudly carrying both the Kansas State as well as the American flag and pushing cows well into the night on hot summer nights. He was up for the job. I knew that he was going to be Erin’s from the minute I saw them together. His eyes glistened and lit up just as much as hers. Leon came into her life to heal her and little did we know, he healed us all. From that day in 2012 on…. They have done everything together.

Leon rodeo queened for 3 years and traveled with his buddy, Thunder for over 15,000 miles in one year! When that ride was over he went to college to rodeo. He patiently became Erin’s rope horse. He rodeoed, Jack potted, and won several prizes and finished in the money many times. He always put her in the right position to make that catch. Leon would let other riders on, but would often be seen with his ears pinned back and sporting his mad face. He didn’t much care for riders who rode out of their hands, he was more of a leg guy. He had a love/hate relationship with Erin’s husband, Ross. The fastest ride is the ride he gave Ian!! We warned him to stay out of him with his legs!! I think Ian referred to him as a “cheetah”!!

After Leon went to college, he came back home to live on the family farm with his newly married family. He spent his days running and grazing and had made a new buddy since Thunder had passed. He and Colonel ran the pasture and jumped and kicked like young lads. Since the babies were born he had taken a hiatus from work. He would come running the minute you whistled. Neighing all the while and saying “hello”. Always eager for a treat and a scratch. He was as loyal as any horse could be.

He was fast, agile and always rose to the level of the rider who was on him. He had a sense for children, he was bulletproof. He was used for the special needs rodeo and absolutely loved each and every little person who rode him. He would stand patiently when Finn walked under him as a toddler! I was scared to death, not Leon. He never moved a muscle.

Last month, he went to the Halloween party rodeo and he wore a sheet! He never moved!! He would do anything Erin asked because he loved and trusted her. The kids were all over him and he loved it.

Today, the weather went from bad to good. Old horses sometimes struggle with big weather changes and the old man did. He has never had any problems with colic until today. And it was too much for him. They did all of the protocols and walked him out and finally nothing more could be done. Erin’s heart will never heal. It will always have a hole the size of that beautiful boy right in the middle of it. She thanked him and said goodbye at 6:43pm. 11-10-24

God gives us gifts. He was a gift. He turned left at the gate and I am sure he was greeted by Pearl, the finest horse woman I knew. Who Erin knew. She will brush that nappy bobbed tail until we get there. Only the best horses go to heaven with bobbed tails.

Until then. I love you.