The first horse I ever owned was Star Buck. I got him for my tenth birthday. Buck was a beautiful solid bay 7 year old unregistered Quarter Horse. He was a great first horse and taught me how to ride. He was shown by his owners before us in Western Pleasure and barrel racing. I turned him into a great jumping horse. He loved to jump and would almost jump anything for me. The highest he jumped was 4'4". I almost got to take him to a 4-H show with some English and jumping classes but he bumped his head in the trailer a week before the show. So I took my sister's QH mare instead and brought home 2nd in English Equitation, 2nd in Hunter Over Fences, 1st in English Showmanship and 1st in Hunter Under Saddle. I could have gotten all 1sts with Buck.

    I had Buck for nine happy years. I had to stop jumping him due to split hooves his last two years. So I let my 11 year old sister-in-law ride and take care of him for a while. Buck was taken on April 16, 1998 by the horrible tornado that also took Elkie. I didn't see him after he died. My husband found him in pitiful shape. He was gushing blood and we didn't know if he was picked up and thrown by the tornado or what. My husband put him down immediately. It was terribly sad. But I think back and say, "At least he was a happy horse and we had some many good times together." Buck now lies buried at the corner of one of our horse pastures.