In Honor of My American Warmblood Horse, Glenord’s Rocket Dancer a.k.a. Rocki

Last Updated on February 6, 2025 by Teri Rehkopf

This site is dedicated to my registered American Warmblood horse, Glenord’s Rocket Dancer, aka Rocki, who passed away in September 2020. She was my Clydesdale and racing Thoroughbred Appaloosa mare. She was my baby for 26 of her 28 years. Rocki was a Lifetime USDF/USEF member horse.

I registered Rocki as an American Warmblood. She was out of a champion Budweiser Clydesdale sire – Clan Butter Glenord’s Glened, crossed with a racing Thoroughbred Appaloosa mare, Rocket to Antares (going back to Native Dancer). I named her Glenord’s Rocket Dancer or Rocki for her barn name.

I have ridden all of my life, and I am an absolute horse fanatic! I have ridden most disciplines. I had been a member of USDF, USAE, USEF, USET, and NFDA for many years.

Rocki was the most amazing horse – she would do anything, and she was bomb-proof, even when she was a baby. I rode her mostly in Dressage and in English Pleasure and Equitation and had also been working on Western Riding patterns, which I find are very similar to Dressage. But alas, I have a back issue now that only allows me to ride Dressage since it is more upright and uses core muscles more. She was my absolute love, and I had her for almost 22 years, from when she was 2 1/2 (1993 mare) until she passed in September 2020.

Rocki was with me from St. Johns where I bought her, then to my places in Jacksonville to Keystone Heights. She was with my trainer, Kathy Daly, in Gainesville when she was 3 1/2.

A few years later, she sadly had gotten EPM, so she was on stall rest and walking for almost a year. I couldn’t stand not riding and showing, so I bought another horse from my trainer, J. R. Khan.

Khan and his almost 2000 pounds stepped on my right foot and broke the toe area. The foot doctor said I needed surgery, and I had to be off my foot for 6 weeks.

That wouldn’t do for me! I had 2 horses to feed and care for. Instead, I wrapped my foot, put magnets on it, and used a boot made for such. It eventually healed, but I can’t walk far without it really hurting. A new doctor said I need a toe replacement, like a shoulder replacement, but the toe!

Read the Tribute to Rocki.

Do you have a horse(s)? If so, for how long? Have you been injured on or by your horse)s)? I love to read your reply in the comments!