Beau Slick touched many hearts during his 30 years. He was a hard-working quarter horse who was always loyal to his owners and fellow rodeo cowboys. His independent spirit will be remembered by many.

Beau Slick, a renowned sorrel quarter horse gelding, died on Sept. 30, 2000, at the age of 30.

By the time he was 2 years old, Beau's outstanding conformation, wide blaze, intelligent eyes and independent personality had earned him training in a professional racing stable. He ran top AA time with a certified speed index of 89. But the racetrack was not where Beau achieved his fame. As a 4 year old, he was purchased by my husband, Dalton Snowden. Thus began a partnership between horse and rider that would span the next quarter of a century.

Working in the rodeo arena was Beau Slick's forte. He would both head and heel in team roping and was an exceptional steer-wrestling hazing horse. He also qualified with our daughter, Carrie, for the Central American Rodeo Association finals in breakaway calf roping in 1981 and 1982. Their highest finish was in 1983 as runner-up in the year-end standings. But Beau Slick best loved picking up bareback and saddle bronc riders as well as penning, roping and dragging uncooperative bucking bulls from the rodeo arena.

In recognition, contestants from Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri voted Dalton the American Cowboy Rodeo Association's 1980 Pick-Up Man of the Year. While our family owned and operated Bar S Rodeo Company during the 1980s, Beau was an indispensable member of the Bar crew--helping round-up, sort and pen rodeo stock; carrying flag bearers; and picking up riders during the rough-stock bucking events. Once, without a rider, Beau loaded an outlaw fighting Brahman bull cued only by Dalton's voice commands.

The '90s saw the emergence of a new competition--cattle team penning. Early on, Dalton and Beau Slick made their mark in the sport. They were prize money winners at the Fort Worth Stock Show and finalists and award winners in the Missouri Team Penning Association from 1988 through 1992. Beau won the only trophy saddle of his career in 1993 as the MoTPA Finals Champion at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. It was a bittersweet honor because Dalton had opted to ride a younger horse and loaned Beau to a friend.

Beau Slick was not only a supreme athlete but also a courageous hero. In 1986, he likely saved the life of our daughter, Carrie. She was riding Beau and ponying an untrained 4-year-old stallion when the stallion reared, struck and knocked Carrie under its feet. Once again, Beau defied the laws of nature by placing himself between Carrie and the attacking stallion until she could crawl to safety.

By his own choice, Beau refused to be a pet. Instead, he prided himself on being a working ranch horse for the talented working cowboy.

With advancing age, Beau found Missouri winters unpleasant. In 1997 he moved south when we sold him to Virgil and Faye Ross of Sanger, Texas. The Rosses and Beau relocated to Missouri in 1999. Interment was on the Ross Farm in St. James, Mo., on Oct. 1, 2000. Beau will be missed by his owners Virgil and Faye Ross and remembered by his former owners Dalton, Kay, Carrie and Emily Snowden; appreciative ranchers; and countless grateful rodeo cowboys.