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Remembering 
Dial A Red Rooster

July 2005

The Barrel Racing World lost a superstar last month.   On behalf of Barrel Horse World we express our deepest sympathies for the Steinhoff's and Nancy Powell who loved this amazing horse and their help in writing this story of tribute.

The last day of Dial A Red Roosters life was as exceptional as the rest of his life.    The super horse had just won the previous day’s race at the Drysdale NBHA Super Show in Tulsa Oklahoma.  The next morning,  June 5, 2005  gave no clue to what was about to occur.   Rooster was warming up as usual – routine provides comfort.   Eleven-time World Champion Tanya Steinhoff was enjoying Roosters antics in the warm-up pen. She knew his playful attitude indicated he was both comfortable and confident, ready to lay down a super run.   As usual, Garry escorted his daughter through the starting gate when her name was called.    Then everything changed forever.  Two strides after Rooster took off to make his final run,  Garry Steinhoff knew something had gone terribly wrong.  

“ I heard a snap and knew something wasn’t right”, he recalls.

Tanya heard it too and looked back at her dad even while she was still running to the first barrel.   Rooster ran only 4 more strides on his own before Tanya eased him to a stop.  She quickly dismounted.   Dad was already running toward her – and when he arrived at her side he worked quickly, stripping the saddle and trying to settle the horse.   The NBHA grounds crews assisted while spectators and competitors alike prayed.  It was real quiet.

“I knew it was bad right away and I told Tanya to leave the arena.” said Garry    Time seemed to stand still.   There was no hurry to resume the show as the entire show staff did everything they could to assist.  The audience remained quiet.

The crowd's worse fears began to materialize when a trailer was brought into the arena.  Rooster was removed and taken to his stall.

While in the trailer with Rooster, Garry called Roosters trainer and previous owner Nancy Powell.

 “ Tanya called me from every show after her run and let me know how he did.  This time the news was gut wrenching.”,  remembers Nancy. 

 “ They knew the word would spread fast and they didn’t want me to hear it from anyone else” said Nancy.

Tanya refused to be sheltered from the truth and resisted her parent’s attempts to protect her from the harsh reality of her injured horse. 

“This is my horse and I’m going to take care of him”, she insisted.

Gary knew his daughter was mature enough to handle what he feared could be the worse day of her life.

 “I’ve always taught my girls to handle the good with the bad”, said Gary.  “It was her choice to stay with the horse”

Steinhoff family vet Dr. Ron Marcotte of Vinita was called and made the emergency trip to Tulsa.   He administered pain medications and did an emergency evaluation.

Radiographs revealed a break in the bone above Rooster’s hock.   Marcotte recommended the horse be hauled to Oklahoma City for possible surgery.     The Steinhoff family loaded a sedated Rooster into the trailer and made the hurried trip to Equine Medical Associates in Edmond.  Debbie and Tanya rode in the trailer with the horse.  Eleven-year old Tierney rode up front with her Dad, while younger Taylor returned home to help take care of the other horses.   

The trip to Oklahoma City was intense for mother and daughter as they literally wrapped their arms around Rooster and held him throughout the entire trip.  Dr. Stephan Hanse was waiting for Rooster when they arrived and wasted no time in diagnosing the extent of the injury and coming to a conclusion.  Through tears in his own eyes Dr. Hanse gave the Steinhoff family the news they dreaded.   There was nothing they could do to help Rooster.  

The decision to euthanize Rooster was immediate.  At approximately 9:15 p.m. the super horse, Dial a Red Rooster, was put to sleep. 

Tanya and her father went to visit Rooster one last time. 

They looked down at a peaceful Rooster as he lay at the vets, and took the moment to stroke his face one last time.  He was a legend in the barrel racing world, but he was also Tanya’s best friend.  It was an overwhelming moment of grief.  Anyone who has had to make this kind of decision knows the pain.

Dr Hanse had no words to express his feelings for the family at that moment.   There was nothing he could say to ease their grief.  The horse’s pain was gone, but the pain of a young lady and her parents as they stood in that room . . . was difficult to bear.

Debbie, Garry  Tanya and Tierney drove home from Oklahoma City in silence.  

 “ As a parent it’s heartbreaking,” said Debbie. 

“ I can fix most things for my kids, if a nail breaks, I fix it - they cut themselves I can bandage it.  There is nothing I can do in this situation.    I can buy Tanya another horse but I can’t replace Rooster.  He is simply irreplaceable.”

“He was one of kind,” said Garry Steinhoff.

 “ We had a lot of hopes and dreams for the horse.   Tanya would have liked to join the WPRA at 18 and try to qualify for the NFR.   He was a tremendous and outstanding horse”

Tanya is healing.  Everyday gets better and the hundreds of cards the family has received from around the world helps the healing process.    There are barrel racers the Steinhoffs have never met who have sent poems, drawings, cards  and countless prayers their way.   One fellow barrel racer who has never met the Steinhoffs sent Tanya a video of Rooster taken at the BBR finals.     

Eleven-year old Tierney put it in perspective. “God only gives us what we can handle”

These Steinhoff kids are tough .  Tierney herself is recovering from a concussion she suffered on Fathers Day when the horse she was riding tried to jump the wall on the first barrel.  Tierney refused pain medication at the hospital and at home.   

And each day that passes the kids do better.   Tanya rode Designer Red at Ada last weekend and held back nothing.    She is staying busy with different activities, including bowling with her 4-H group.  She has started driver’s education and will celebrate her 15^th birthday in July.   Roosters grave is decorated with rocks, flowers, and barrels from different shows where they competed together.    

And a neighbor is welding Roosters name out of his shoes to mark his grave.   

Roosters original owner and trainer, Nancy Powell, l was also greatly saddened and realized the depth of the loss because of the personality of Rooster.

“We raised him,” said Nancy Powell.  “ He was a loveable 'people' horse. The horse would buck and carry on but he was a real people horse.   You could even pet him when he was laying down in the pasture.”

It didn’t take Nancy two weeks of barrel training to realize she had something special.

“I told my husband after two weeks, I really thought I had something.  He looked at me and said,  “ I don’t see any signs yet”.   

”Rooster knew my voice and would start nickering when he heard it.” recalls Nancy.

 After Tanya stepped into Rooster’s life, he bonded with her and would nicker for her as soon he heard her voice. 

“ Alot of people wanted to buy Rooster.” Nancy said.   “If I wasn’t going to ride him I knew that Tanya was the one for him”  I hate this for me, but I hate it worse for Tanya.   I was used to him not being around.   Tanya was with him all day.” 

Nancy has also received much appreciated cards and calls from around the country.

Garry and Debbie are overwhelmed and grateful for the kindness showered on their family. 

“The support was tremendous.” said Debbie “ Tanya looks forward to getting the mail and reading her cards.   We appreciate everything that people have done for us”

Tanya will take her time finding a new horse and the family has received many gracious offers to loan them a horse till they do.     Tanya took a super horse and made him into a superstar.    No doubt she will be mounted on a great horse again.  Some things just take time to heal. 


Gail Mattern - BHW