In Loving Memory of “Its All Good Man” aka The Russ, Russell: 2016-2026
In Loving Memory of “Its All Good Man” aka The Russ, Russell
March 28, 2016 – February 25, 2026
By Vanessa Froman
“You handled it so well.”
No, no I did not!
I went insane, lost my spark, bled in silence, shattered alone, wore a smile that lied better than a mask ever would, avoided people.
I didn’t “handle” it.
I freaking survived it, I had NO other choice!
I did not want to share this with anyone. No one is owed this part of my life, no one deserves to see this part of my soul. But Russell deserves this post and the sharing of my journaling about him. Russell deserves to be honored and remembered.
I share this for him and his heart.
Had I known then what I know now I never would have bought him, but that’s now how destiny works is it? Russell hated showmanship and loved humbling me in my favorite class! He really really hated showmanship in the Stonelea pen at The Premier in Kentucky. Maybe it’s fitting his last breath on this earth was taken just down the road from there. Nothing we did could predict how he would behave or prevent his unwanted behavior once we got to the start cone. It was a total crapshoot. Sometimes he would push his whole face into my hand, or zone out and toss his head when I asked for his attention, or he would try to bite me.
No matter what we did to prep him Russell ran the show in showmanship and I just had to show it! He loved biting the most, even got to leave teeth marks in Jenell’s favorite show brush on his last day here! Yet, we still managed a 7th in Level 2 at the world show one year and he helped we win my first ever top 20 at the Quarter Horse Congress in showmanship. Russell holds that honor, not Becky and not Hank…they still hold the “bubble” record there. When he was good, we were good. When he was bad…well, we sometimes still got in there but oh man it could get ugly.
When you were on his back he was the most honest and safest thing ever. Russell gave me confidence in horsemanship that no other horse ever has. He was our trick pony. He helped us reignite the joy that started my crazy horse obsession. I’m so mad we didn’t get to try skijoring with you this winter! Collin and I would find stupid trick videos people did with their horses and we tried them out on Russell. No other horse would tolerate the stupid crap we did with him just for fun. Hank literally ran away from us while videoing the spinning trick.
During every lesson Jayna would beg for her chance to ride Russell with me so we could “go fast” around the arena. Russell would gallop and gallop and switch leads and spin really fast with our Jayna Rose. She would giggle and we will cherish those memories because of you Russell. Who else is going to let the girls slide off their butt to dismount or hang off the saddle till I could grab them and help them down? We will never have that again.
I tried, we tried, and they tried everything. No matter how much care, science, prevention, or money, it wasn’t enough. I couldn’t save you! I’m so sorry Russell. We don’t know why this all happened to you, I wish we had an answer but there is not answer for why or how. It isn’t fair! No matter how quirky or weird or destructive you were I would never give these years back. I’m going to miss your freaking out in that spot at Cloverdale when we would walk back to the stalls without earplugs in, still don’t know what you heard every time!
Ryan is going to miss you crushing your water buckets at home and breaking them. The whole barn is going to miss you reminding them that I forgot to take your rubber tie out of the stall as you bang it on the wall. I’m going to miss fighting you to not eat the dirt while lunging, you even left this life with one last mouthful! I’m even going to miss you trying to charge out of the stall to get out and see what everyone else in the barn was up to.
I wish we had more time. We had more plans. I wanted one last ride. Again, maybe it was destiny that Collin got your last ride on this earth. I just wish I would have known. Through this all your ears stayed perked and you were so happy with our visits. Even when you were in horrible pain on your last day you were still so happy to see us and wanted to follow Collin around in your stall. It broke me to see you so happy with us while in so much God awful pain! I’m so sorry buddy, I couldn’t save you.
I’m filled with so much anger. I’m filled with so much rage. For the last couple weeks I have just wanted to tear this world apart piece by piece till it looks like how I feel on the inside, destroyed. I don’t have it in me to be nice or positive right now. I am not myself right now and I truly won’t be ever again. I am processing my grief and working to find my new center that grounds me. I am fighting every day to keep the darkness inside of me from spilling out. I gave up swearing for Lent…and apparently my patience too. It’s not going well and I am pretty sure the young plumber who came to the house last week will never want to come back to our house.
I did not want to say goodbye, I did not want Collin to have to say goodbye, I didn’t want to have Jenell be with me petting you as you took your final breath, and I sure as hell did not want to walk away from you to go home and start this new chapter without you. But your body could not go on any longer. Thankfully we were able to help you pass over that Rainbow Bridge peacefully to a better life. Dad will be there to greet you and to help you find Rudy and Ethal…leave Chloe alone, you know she won’t be nice to you. Lol
I can never show my true gratitude for the amazing people we have in our lives who worked so hard to try and help Russell. Dr. Matt at Equine Veterinary Hospital of Northern Indiana, Dr. Brad at GameTime Sports Medicine, Kyle & Hailey (Dr. Brad was right, you are amazing friends…but you are actually family!), Dr. Morrison & his incredibly compassionate staff at Rood & Riddle (they loved on Russell and they fought over who got to groom him and love on him ) and a special Thank you to our phenomenal farrier Joseph Hardy of Equine Fit Farrier Service! You love these horses so much and have come to our rescue more than once, I will never forget what you have done and continue to do for us! You are the best! Your skills impressed a lot of great vets
I’m not the first one to suffer loss like this. Heck, it isn’t the first time I’ve been in this situation. Unfortunately it won’t be my last. We move forward with what’s left in us. We honor Russell each time we throw a leg over another horse. We work to repair the damage so that we can accept the good and enjoy it again. I just need time.
So much for the year of the horse!
Thank you Russell for letting us love you and for taking care of us!
#itsnotallgoodman #Idonotwanttotalk
The Equine Chronicle family extends its deepest condolences to the Froman family and the Jenell Pogue Performance Horses barn on the loss of Russell.
Pro photos in article credit to Shane Rux Photography and Cody Parmenter.
