Prides Coin Cash

“Red Hawk”

Red Hawk is Scott’s charge and constant companion.  He is used for trail riding and used to do some pleasure showing.  He even produced a gorgeous filly for us before he was gelded.  His height and presence command a “look at me” attitude.  He is a valued member of the herd and is cherished at this ranch.

Red Hawk’s story is incredible.  He’s a rescue that has turned into a true success story.  Some friends of ours used to go to Tennessee to bring back Walkers to resell in Arizona.  On one of their trips back, they were leaving from looking at a horse to buy when they saw a large, black, windowless trailer standing alone in a field.  The trailer moved.  They went over to it and opened it to look inside.  There was Red Hawk.  He had no food or water and was extremely emaciated and dehydrated—when our friend did a skin pinch test, it stayed pinched for a full minute.  The owner told our friends that he had no where else to put him, but we are certain that he was just waiting for him to die so he could be paid for the carcass.

Scott and Red Hawk at the B.L.E.S.S. Your Horse Clinic
Scottsdale, Arizona, January 2008

When Red Hawk was brought out of the trailer into the sun, he blinked and squinted as though he hadn’t seen daylight in a very long time.  But the most amazing part was when he walked out of the trailer and put his head on our friend’s shoulder with a sigh of relief.  Our friends didn’t care what it took—they had one slot left in the trailer, and they knew they had to bring him home.  Red Hawk loaded quietly into the trailer and, to our friends’ relief, made the long trek from Tennessee to Arizona in tact.

When our friends got back to Arizona, they weren’t sure what to do with him because he was so sick.  Then they thought of us.  They knew we wanted a big stallion, and because he was 15.2 at 14 months, they knew he was going to be huge.  They called us and when we went to see him we instantly fell in love with him.  He was so sweet and kind, and very grateful that he was getting good food and loving attention.  We bought him and started nursing him back to health.

Scott and Red Hawk get detailed instructions from Bucky Sparks

B.L.E.S.S. Your Horse Clinic, January 2008

Red Hawk went through sand colic, epiphicitis, warts, and an allergic reaction to some vaccinations before he finally got well one year later.  He was a real trooper throughout the ordeal, always patient with us and the vet and always willing to let us do anything to him.  He took to starting under saddle with no problems whatsoever and was always a gentleman to the other horses around him, even as a stallion.

Red Hawk’s story illustrates why that even though we had to geld him, he will stay with us for the rest of his life.  He is completed devoted to us and totally trusts us.  He loves trail riding and showing and doesn’t hesitate to do whatever we ask, no matter what we throw at him.  As Scott’s trail horse, he is strong and sturdy, leading all the rides with confidence and intelligence to spare.  He is extremely emotional and actually gives us hugs and kisses.  He also thanks us every day for being saved.

At play in the round pen, March 2003

On the trail, April 2003

PRIDES COIN CASH

NWHATR 19980012

TWHBEA 9811042

Chestnut, mixed mane & tail

Foaled October 2, 1998

“The Giant,” January 2008

This is a Breyer model we had professionally painted to look like Red Hawk.  The artist found a beat-up old Midnight Sun Breyer model on eBay and fixed it up—it was even missing an ear and she rebuilt one for the model.  We’ve also had models painted to look like other horses we’ve owned.

We highly recommend this artist’s services.  Not only is her work perfect, but her prices are extremely reasonable and competitive.  Be sure to check out her website, Sorraia Gardens, on our Links page!

After winning his first blue ribbon, April 2003

Red Hawk’s sire’s sire

Coin’s Hard Cash

1987 WGC

Red Hawk’s dam’s sire

Delight’s Solitude

(Photos used with permission from Bansidhe Graphics  CLICK HERE FOR THE WEBSITE)

Red Hawk’s sire’s grandsire

Pride’s Gold Coin

We were told by someone who knew Pride’s Gold Coin that Prides Coin Cash (Red Hawk) looks almost exactly like him.
(And we think so, too!)

Prides Coin Cash

Pride’s Gold Coin

Hanging out at home, September 2006

Phone: 602-686-3376

Email: katphoti@silverphoenixranch.com

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Silver Phoenix Ranch, LLC Website  ●  © 1999-2008  ●  All Rights Reserved

Red Hawk at almost 2 years old and a mere 16 hands.
September 2000

In the show ring, October 2002
This was his first time to show and he placed in all his classes.

Watching the clinic, January 2008

Learning to soften and rebalance himself.  Ridden by both Bucky Sparks (left) and Scott (right).

B.L.E.S.S. Your Horse Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, January 2008

A word about Red Hawk’s name: Our friends who found him in Tennessee gave him this moniker, and we believe it was meant to be his name and have never considered changing it.  Andrea’s mare at the time we bought Red Hawk was named Apache.  These two names were the beginning of a tradition for us to give all our horses names that were Native American, color-related, or bird-related in origin, even a combination of any of those three.  Some of the names we’ve chosen are Raven, Starling, Katsina (the real Hopi word for “kachina”), Emily’s Golden Eagle with the barn name Kwaahu (the Hopi word for “eagle”), among others.

 

It is recently that we realized the significance of Red Hawk’s name as a Native American totem.  As various Native American Tribes believe animals are sacred and represent certain qualities, so do their associated totems.  Below is the red tailed hawk totem, and Red Hawk certainly lives up to it.

Visionary  ● Messenger  ●  Illumination  ●  Peaceful  ●  Observant

 

“The hawk is a messenger of insight, adaptability and openness.  Hawk aims to initiate and lead, and may be impulsive from time to time. This totem want to establish individuality while still being accepted by the group.

 

“Hawk’s piercing shriek tears through the air.  In its shrill cry lies an important message which represents illumination.  Hawk teaches us to scope out the situation and focus on our talents, trying to draw them out.  Hawk learns to see the big picture in order to understand the past, present, and future.  Hawk asks us to be observant of surroundings so we won't get distracted from our path by others.  It also reminds us not to get caught up in minor annoyances so we can maintain our inner balance.”

 

Obtained from www.animaltotem.com/horoscope and http://people.tribe.net

Scott with the Hawks (riding Red Hawk and observing the red-tailed hawk on top of the cactus)