Full story of Whizards Baby Doll “Roxy” born March 15, 2001 died Feb. 8, 2012

Heaven’s remuda improved by one fine mare on February 8, leaving this planet one short, with the passing of Roxy (aka Whizards Baby Doll), best known as horsewoman Stacy Westfall’s bareback and bridleless mount.  She sustained traumatic injury after apparently becoming cast in her stall sometime during the night of Feb. 5.

Many will best remember Roxy from a video that went viral on the Internet in which Stacy rode her with no bridle or saddle, winning the Freestyle Reining Championship at the 2006 American Quarter Horse Congress.  The performance, coming less than a month after Stacy’s father passed away, touched an appreciative audience worldwide.  One person quite moved by the ride was TV personality Ellen DeGeneres, who invited Stacy and Roxy to appear on her show.  Roxy, ever the lady, gave Ellen a memorable ride, and charmed the live studio audience by coaxing peppermints from Stacy. 

Roxy first came to Stacy and her husband, Jesse, for training as a two-year-old.  “I was the first one to ride her,” Stacy recalls.  Not long after her arrival, the Westfalls had an opportunity to buy her, but couldn’t afford to.   “One of our other clients had asked us to keep an eye out for a good horse, so when we couldn’t get Roxy, Jesse suggest he should.”  That client, Greg Gessner, bought Roxy and kept her in training with the Westfalls.

“It was the perfect partnership,” Stacy says.  “Greg believed in us — in Roxy, and Jesse and me.  There aren’t many owners who would let a fairly unproven trainer do something as crazy as ride in a competition with no bridle, let alone saddle.  But he always wanted what was best for Roxy.  He loved her.”

    And Greg never looked back.  “I truly feel blessed by God to have Jesse and Stacy in my life working with me and Roxy.  I never once doubted their abilities or judgment.  And while Roxy was my horse, it was always clear she loved Stacy.”

Roxy was ten months pregnant carrying her first foal on the night she had her mishap.  Greg had her scheduled to move to a foaling facility in time for her early March delivery date, but since the move had not yet happened, she was in a large foaling stall at home.  It was Greg who discovered Roxy in her stall early on the morning of Feb. 6.  Although she was standing, she was favoring one back leg, and her nose and one knee had abrasions, most likely from the struggle to get up after having laid down.  The stall showed signs of that struggle.

Greg called Roxy’s vet, Dr. Curt Honecker, who stopped by and began administering medications.  As the day progressed, and Roxy’s discomfort grew, Greg and Dr. Honecker decided to take her toValleyViewAnimalHospitalinDover,Ohio, where Roxy is well known and loved by the staff.

“Ever heard of the saying ‘You get one good dog in your lifetime?’  Well I think Roxy may have proved that true in the horse world. She truly was a once in a lifetime horse,” says Ashley McCahill an equine receptionist at Valley View.

Over the course of the next couple of days, Dr. Honecker and the staff did their best to make Roxy comfortable.  Sadly, the tearing and shredding of the ligaments and muscles that occurred when Roxy struggled to rise was causing dramatic swelling in both flanks and upper stifles.  Even in a sling, with morphine in her system, Roxy was unable to stand.  Recognizing her rapidly progressing condition and severe pain, Dr. Honecker and Greg chose to humanely euthanize her.

“It was a hard to make that decision,” says Greg.  “But she didn’t deserve to be in pain.  Knowing it was the right decision made it easier.”

The Valley View staff did their best to save the little, sorrel stud colt she was carrying, even though he was 30-days premature.  They performed a C-section, but after two hours of oxygen support, the colt failed to respond and was also euthanized.

“I would have expected this mare to outlast my career,” Dr. Honacker says.  “We’re going to miss her.  Staff and visitors used to sneak back to have their pictures taken with her.”

A registered American Quarter Horse, Roxy (by Whizard Jac out of a daughter of Gunners Rambo) leaves behind a legacy of four offspring, all of whom were carried by recipient mares.  But perhaps her greatest legacy is the glimpse of what is possible between a horse and a human — the image of she and Stacy, forever imprinted in the minds of those who have been lucky enough to witness them — two creatures, human and horse . . . bound by trust and love.

“What made her special was that she was willing to give so much of herself,” says Jesse Westfall.  “She allowed herself to be developed into an amazing partner, a work of art.  Not many horses, or people, are willing to do that.”

Roxy will be greatly missed by many; the Valley View staff, Greg Gessner, the Westfall family and all those inspired by her big heart.

423 Comments

  1. Abby on May 23, 2023 at 3:11 am

    11 years ago I had the opportunity to meet and pet sweet Whizards Baby Doll “Roxy” at Equine Affaire in Massachusetts I have both a signed and unsigned BreyerFest Breyer of her from when she was selected for the celebration horse in 2009 BreyerFest Birthday Bash (I almost had the opportunity again to see her at what would’ve been my first BreyerFest)

  2. Lisa on January 16, 2017 at 11:18 pm

    Been a follower of these great inspirational videos…such a tragic loss…I know the pain and had lost a great loving mare from the same type of accident..she never was able to get up and had to be put down in the stall…RIP ?

  3. Pat on April 20, 2015 at 10:00 pm

    So sad to hear about Roxy. I am moved every time I see that great performance. Great horses are worth a lot in the breeding world. And I doubt there is any better horse to carry on such greatness. It kills me to think the colt didn’t make it. I wish people were as discriminating in their own breeding endeavors.

  4. […] is more text if you want to read more about the two of them at http://stacywestfallhorseblog.com/2012/02/10/full-story-of-whizards-baby-doll-roxy-born-march-15-200…. Yes, it is in part a sad story, because Roxy had a problem and had to be put out of her misery in […]

  5. Jodi on January 22, 2015 at 9:12 pm

    Reblogged this on Jodi's Journey Blog and Art and commented:
    Such a sad horsie story. Roxy was an internet sensation!

  6. Annie Turner, Australia on April 10, 2014 at 9:22 pm

    Its so hard to lose your horse, part of you , the bond is so unique, part of your spark is gone, but think of the love and joy Roxy has brought you and to so many others, People like Stacy have a god given gift I believe that only a few humans on earth possess this gift to give so much of themselves and gain the bond, trust and love of a horse. Its quite indescribable, so the pain of losing that must be immense.
    We have two of our beloved horses buried here at home under a beautiful tree, my daughter’s 37 year old pony died there in my arms of a stroke, I nursed her head in my lap and cried tears on her face as she took her last breath. She carried so carefully my three children through their years of learning to ride. She knew exactly what to do and was completely trustworthy. I laugh when I think of her tied up to the backyard trampoline whilst my daughter jumped up and down, waiting patiently for her to finish.
    Anyway Stacy I wish you all the best with Jac I have been following your progress and it looks like you have given yourself to him like you did with Roxy. Dont be afraid to give your heart and soul to him.
    Annie xx

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