Levi was foaled in 1987 in Evanston, Wyoming. Bred by R.L. & Diane Galloway, the mare was sired by Lena's Levi by the great AQHA Hall of Fame sire, Doc O'Lena and out of Cassie Day. Levi's Dam is Cow Patty, a champion producer by Joker Spanish Fort, an ApHC Medallion & National Champion sire.

Levi's pedigree also includes 9 Hall of Fame Champions that include AQHA and ApHC inductees. She goes back to Three Bars four times, and Texas Dandy twice. Her impressive pedigree reads like a who's who of the equine world; super stars that excelled in halter, racing, and cattle events. Greats that include the likes of Doc O'Lena, Doc Bar, Poco Lena, Sheilwin, Lightning Bar, Poco Bueno, Casbar, Joker B, Rocket Bar(TB), King 234, and Blue Vitrol.

I acquired Levi in 1991. She had been trained for the cutting arena by Roger Ott out of Bakersfield, California. I showed Levi for two years in the breed and open cutting shows. I can, without reservation say that during those two years working cattle, I had never had so much fun in my life!

If you look up one horsepower in your old Funk & Wagnall's, you'll find a photo of Levi. Never had I really understood the true meaning of one horsepower. I gained my absolute respect for that power, at my very first practice cutting on Levi.

Fifteen head of cattle were driven into the center of a 120' round pen. After the cattle had been settled it was determined that I should work first, *GRIN*. Levi slowly walked forward as her chin whiskers dusted the ground. At her sides, I kept a constant tattoo as she inched her way into the herd. We made a deep cut for our first work. In slo-mo, we drove a little knot of cattle out of the main group, then shaped up our cut, and waited for the group to filter back to the main herd.

Levi's stealth paid off; in no time we had our first unwitting volunteer. The remaining calf had his back to us, completely unaware that he was alone and that we were standing directly behind him. His attention was fixed on the turn back horses and riders along the perimeter of the pen. All at once the calf realized he was on his own. He wheeled around and faced Levi and I, then proceeded to let out a loud bellow. He doubled in half as he attempted a getaway back to his herd mates. Levi went from head hang'n zero, to Houston we have liftoff! The calf tried running but was matched move for move as the mare dropped out of sky in hock drag'n, dead stick stops, and then she splattered in the dirt, and crawled around on her belly as that calf tried to dive on through. She held that cow until he signaled his surrender with a mournful little low. We released him to a hail of cheers from the sidelines.

What an absolute thrill to ride on instincts. In the cutting pen, on a great horse, you, the cow, and your great cow pony, become one. As the dance goes, you experience no pain, no cold, no heat, just in 'being' the dance. There is nothing I can compare to the high of the cutting pen. It was for me, one of the greatest highs of my life, and truth be told, I've never recovered from that very first rush.

Levi produced 6 foals in total. They have earned State, National, and year end high point titles in the ApHC events of Cutting, Working Cowhorse, and Reining. They have also earned ROM's in all of these events.

1996 Mare ~ Jazzalee Quixote by Hickoryote (AQHA) Currently being shown in Sr. Cutting & Sr. Working Cow Horse 1997 Stallion ~ Badger Lee by Badger Starlight (AQHA) (see Badger Lee's story on our site page; As The Hot Walker Turns) 1999 Mare ~ Chips Loretta J by Zippo Pine Chip (see Loretta's story on our site page; As The Hot Walker Turns) 2000 Mare ~ Chips Annalee by Zippo Pine Chip Status unknown 2001 Mare ~ Chips Diamond Lil by Zippo Pine Chip Status unknown 2003 Stallion ~ Regal Lee by Regal Eclipse (AHA) Levi has been retired from both showing, and as a broodmare. She nearly lost her life three years ago delivering a stillborn foal. She produced a beautiful, Appaloosa coat patterned Arabian cross colt the next season. We bred her one more time to Zippo Pine Chip in 2004, and later that same year she aborted the foal. Again, we came very close to losing her. We've decided that's enough for Levi. She's now living out a quiet retirement, is much loved, and well taken care of, and shall be unto the end of her days. That of course is, God willing, and the creek don't rise.