Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.
They will mount up with wings as eagles,
they will run and not be weary,
they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:31

Prior to coming to Stan's, Top Gun's history is a little blurry. He was 6 years old when he was bought in Decatur Alabama and brought to Texas. Stan told me the story that some southern type boys, I'm trying to be politically correct here, had the horse there to sell and were racking him up and down a gravel road by the show grounds trying to sell him. No one really seemed to know where he came from. Stan said the horse went with his nose stuck up in the air and out of control. The people who bought him saw his potential and agreed that Stan Urad was the person to take the horse to for training. His papers only said he was bred by Tommy Burk of Epworth, Georgia. I have never been able to locate Tommy Burk.

The mystery was, the quality of the horse. It was evident in every line of his body and in the intelligence in his eyes. How did he end up on the gravel road in Decatur, Alabama to be bought and brought to Texas? I have to say, God's providence. There was a lady in Texas who needed this horse....and somehow this horse needed her.

This is actually the first professional picture I had made with my horse. I think I had this made just 2 weeks after we bought him in April of 1996.

The rest is history. This is a love story.
It is a love story about how I found the horse I had dreamed of when reading the Black Stallion series by Walter Farley when I was a little girl. He made me feel those same emotions that I imagined Alec Ramsey must have felt about the imaginary black stallion. Except this one was real and he was finally mine, I should say ours, but even Jerry knew this horse was somehow meant to be mine.

This was taken on a rare snowy day in Gunter, TX.

This is Top Gun 5, not in show shape anymore but enjoying the good life.
This is Stan Urad showing Top Gun in the Western Racking class at the State Fair of Texas, 1996. I think this was the first of only 2 times he was every shown western. The second time, I rode him in a Spotted Western Class at a show in Athens, TX....I loved it when the judge came over to me in the line-up and whispered...you know you have the best horse in the class, but he is not a western horse so I've got to give the blue to this other guy....who happened to be my arch rival Dennis Jones on Trey Boy.....So many good times, such a good horse.

This photo of Top Gun was taken the summer before I lost him in December, 2004. The unusual thing about this photograph is that it is almost precisely where he fell and broke his left hind leg.

It is where he was put to sleep.   It is where he is buried.

From: Martha Fillingham <cohuttastables@tds.net>
Date: May 9, 2008 9:48:45 AM CDT
To: 'Mary Anne Anderson' <faithwalkfarm@mac.com>

Subject: RE: Sun's Top Gun - a horse you raised

Hi Mary Anne,

Well, you have found Tommy Burke.  Yes, Tommy was the owner of Top Gun and Prince.  He said he would try to find some pictures of Prince. Tommy sold Prince in 1994 and eventually went to West Virginia. Tommy bought Top Gun when he was 6 months old with Prince from Dr. Bishop, a vet that show in the National Racking shows here.  When Top Gun was 6 Tommy moved his farm and did not have a "stud" safe barn, so he decided to sell him.  When Tommy sold the horse he was already showing and winning at the racking shows, and certainly was fully trained. He showed for 4 seasons and was constantly in the blue ribbons, hence the big price tag on the horse.  Tommy has trained many show horses, and we still have champion racking horses, and Saddlebreds.  I'm sure Stan is a good trainer, but he certainly did not start Top Gun. I guess the bad check that they paid for him with may have affected that initial relationship, and Stan's opinion of the "southern type boys."  That had nothing to do with Tommy at all, another man had the horse, sold, and delivered him to Texas.  Tommy Burke has a fabulous reputation as a trainer here, and yes these are "country folks," but you won't find a better horseman.  

We really enjoyed seeing your website and the pictures of Top Gun, I think he got a fabulous home. You certainly have a beautiful facility and I love your new stallion.   We have 50 acres in the mountains, and do lots of trail riding with our horses...even the show horses, and we still ride on gravel roads.  If I can find some pictures of Top Gun at the shows I will send them on to you.  Tommy had a house fire and lost everything, so I'm not sure what I can locate. We also have a friend with a brother to Top Gun, who was a World Grand Champion.  I can ask for some pics of him also.  Tommy doesn't have any other relatives anymore, he couldn't keep them long...they always sold fast.  It's nice to see where the "kids" go when they leave home. Take Care,

Martha Fillingham
Cohutta Stables
706.851.5198
cohuttastables.com 

Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 7:31 AM

I am writing to tell you how bitter sweet your introduction to your site was for me. I have 3 wonderful horses...Adam, a TB...Dance, a QH, and Aries, a TB x QH. I love them all dearly but I too, had a Top Gun. I began reading your introduction and my heart began beating so hard, I had to get up and go play with my dogs for a while!

I bought 'The Dude' from a horse trader who tried to tell me he was an Arabian cross. He was bone thin and dirty but there was just something about him. I will make this very short...he turned out to be my boyfriend! This was a true gentleman of a horse and my first experience with the Walkers. I never had a moment with him that I was not in heaven! Dude was an amazing horse and one you wanted to bury your nose in his neck and just hang there. Only wings could have made him more.

I lost Dude this past Christmas Eve to a very strange colic. I had had him for 5 years. It was very fast and confusing and I am still hurting so very much. It is difficult for me to even write this to you but, sometimes...you just want to share, and though you do not know me and, I do not know you...when I read your story, I wanted to share mine with you.

We are looking for our own place in the country, now that my kids are all grown, and when we get that, you can bet I will be looking for another Walker to call my own! Surly god doesn't mean that we taste that "sweet" only once. I know there is another out there for me.

I have enclosed a few pictures of my Dude. I found Top Gun so very handsome and though they are so different in color, the way your guy held his head...I saw The Dude.
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful story. For a moment, Dude was here again...my heart was racing again and, I thank you for that.

Sincerely,
Jamie Hofstetter

 

Last Modified 05/07/09
 

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