In Loving Memory of Shotz With A Cowboy – 2015-2025

By Delores Kuhlwein

The Gill family is extremely saddened to announce the sudden passing of Shotz With A Cowboy, aka “Farmer,” the 2015 gelding by How Bout This Cowboy and out of Sweet On Willy.

A well-known constant companion and powerful competitor for Tate Gill and Rye Gill for the past five-and-a-half years, Farmer made his mark at the shows like the All American Quarter Horse Congress with his larger than life personality, armed with a love for showing, snacks, and people.

“He loved showing in the Celeste,” reveals Stephanie Gill, mom of Tate and Rye. “He loved difficult patterns and good footing! He once did 3-4 events on one day at Congress and got medallions in all of them. He was so tired but still gave his all in everything! Another day he did six showmanship patterns in one morning and brought his A-game for all of them. He NEVER stopped trying! Funny story though – he actually hit Rye’s boot and knocked him down in one pattern. Then he stood and looked at him.”

The gelding began his show career as a youth horse for Tate Gill (now 21) and Rye Gill (now 13) with zero points as a purchase during COVID, and now his record reflects over 600 AQHA points in youth and amateur. That illustrious career includes Congress medallions, year end placings in AQHA including Second in L1 Youth Western Pleasure and Fourth in the L1 Showmanship in 2024, as well as NSBA earnings.

“The boys did all of that,” says Stephanie. “He is currently 8th in the nation in L3 Showmanship (18 and Under), and first place in Youth 13 and Under.  Farmer was nationally qualified for the youth world in seven events. We want to thank the judges for continuously seeing him and appreciating him. We thank the multitude of show staff that forever put on amazing horse shows where we find family time. We thank our friends for always showing up, especially when it’s tough.”

Tate explains that Farmer was not only fun, but he was a people-horse and always wanted to be part of things.  “He was one of a kind. No horse wanted to be out of his stall as much as he did. It didn’t matter where you went or what you were doing. All I can say is, ‘Thank you, Farmer, for the laughs, the love, and for the ride.”

Rye says, “If there is one thing I’d like someone to know about Farmer, it is how much he cared for me and my brother, Tate. Every time we went into the show pen or even at home, he loved us so much. He always wanted to know what we were doing and always wondered when the next time we would come to the barn again would be. He absolutely loved people and watching us play basketball. There is so much I could say about him, but if I had to sum him up in one word, it would be ‘love.”

Demonstrating remarkable wisdom true to a horseman, Rye also says that “sometimes you don’t have to come up with the perfect words to know that a horse left an irreplaceable mark on your life. Love you, Farmer.”

The pain of losing the horse of a lifetime is, unfortunately, familiar to horse lovers everywhere. What is to be done, however, is to learn from the loss of a great love like Farmer’s.  “Every day is a gift, and we don’t get to decide, so love hard, hug your horses, hug your people, and love HARD,” says Stephanie. “That’s what Farmer did.”

 

Somewhere

Somewhere…somewhere in time’s own space
there must be some sweet pastured place.

Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow
some Paradise where horses go.

For by the love that guides my pen
I know great horses live again.

 

By Stanley Harrison