09/10/07 Poco Lena

The name Poco Lena is so common in the cutting industry, that the tragic story behind the mare is often forgotten. I'm Jeff Keane and I'll be back after with a horse story that should be a movie. With the success of Sea Biscuit, and Hidalgo the ballad of Poco Lena could be a blockbuster. Here's Becky. Poco Lena stunned the cutting world from age two by becoming the FIRST horse inducted into the National Cutting Horse Association Hall of Fame and the the FIRST mare inducted in to the AQHA. Under owner Don Dodge Poco Lena wracked up awards and eventually was sold to B.A. Skipper who continued to aggressively promote her. The hauling took it's toll and the mare foundered but being tough she continued to compete. After one successful cutting B.A. shipped her home while he followed in his private plane. He was killed when his plane went down and no one knows why the horse shipper simply abandoned the truck and trailer. For four days Poco Lena and her companion were locked in a hot trailer without food or water. Only Poco Lena survived, gaunt and severely foundered. It was arranged for her to receive care at a California ranch. Barely able to walk the mare lived for three years on the soft turf of ranches' front yard. She was then bred to their stud Doc Bar and produced her two famous sons Doc Olena and Dry Dock. Poco Lena produced only two foals in her lifetime. Yet the impact of her contribution to the quarter horse industry is the stuff of legends. I'm Jeff Keane