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ApHCC # 756
1954-1977
Purchased
as a youngster by Roy O’Sullivan of
Fort
Macleod
, “Mouse” acquired his name from his habit of hanging out in the
back corner of a corral, watching his new owner “just like a
mouse”. By a palomino sire called Sunshine Boy, and out of an
Appaloosa mare called Bonnie, Macleod
Mouse had a mind of his own, and wasn’t easy to train, but once
Roy earned the colt’s confidence, he was all business. His first
show with
Roy
was at the 5th Canadian International Appaloosa Show at
Lethbridge
in 1961, where he picked up some second and third places. The horse
was obviously a quick study, for the following year, Macleod Mouse and
Roy
earned the Champion Performance Horse trophy at the 6th
International Show, a feat they repeated in 1963. When the show moved
to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1964, Roy and Macleod went too, and not
only successfully defended their Performance Champion title, but were
presented with the ApHCC saddle for the High Point Canadian owned and
ridden horse.
Roy
made the trip to
Moose Jaw
again in 1965, and Macleod
Mouse duly made the
Performance Champion title his own, winning for an unprecedented 4th
consecutive year, and adding another trophy saddle to the collection.
The first Alberta Provincial Appaloosa Show was also held in 1965, and
Mouse and Roy took home the Champion Performance Horse trophy from
there as well. At the second Alberta Provincial Appaloosa Show in
1966, the duo tied in performance points with Finnigan’s
Bandoletto. The judge was requested to break the tie, giving the
nod to Bandoletto, with Mouse having to be content with the Reserve
Champion Performance title.
Apart from his show career, Macleod
Mouse was a top rope horse, and really enjoyed chasing calves. At
a Fort Macleod event, Roy demonstrated his abilities by roping and
tying three calves in 13.2, 14, and 14.1 seconds with Mouse not even
wearing a bridle on his head. His versatility was demonstrated by wins
in such diverse classes as Costume, Trail, Reining, Western Pleasure,
Rope Race and Camas Prairie Stump Race. In addition to roping calves,
Roy
used him for heading and heeling and for hazing.
He also sired some pretty useful show and performance stock, including
Macleod M Spots, Macleod E Sun,
Windy Sis, Shane Rock, Buster Boy, Wyalta Buck-shot, and Kitty Gangster. Macleod Mouse
was put to sleep in his 22nd year, on
March 31st, 1977
, on the same day that his last foal was born.
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