Originally published in the October 1995 issue of Sundance Newsletter

GO MEYER KIM

By Jennifer Wardrop

The Folgate family of Dakota, Illinois have a favorite horse. Her name is Go Meyer Kim or “Kim” as she is called. Kim came into the Folgates lives in 1975, six years after they started raising Appaloosas. Kim is very special to the Folgates for many reasons.

Kim has been a consistent performer, the kind of horse that gives 100% all the time. She performs on heart alone when the body is telling her there is nothing more to give. Kim has been easy to care for and doesn't require any extra special attention. Kim has versatile. She competed at horse shows in more than one event, and stayed sound throughout the years.

She has provided that once in a lifetime experience we all dream about as children and as adults.

Kim is the kind of horse anyone can depend on, whether a novice or professional. She is not a Sundance bred mare, but she is an Appaloosa. She has produced several foals that any breeder would be proud to own and show. She is the horse that the Folgates use to measure all their other horses., and why not? She is a mare that has proven her versatility, a mare you can count on to perform, and a mare that always gives her best effort. You probably think I'm talking about a “Super Horse”, maybe, maybe not, but Kim is a special individual for the Folgate family.

Kim was foaled March 28, 1973 by the mare Miss Medora that was owned by Harvey and Cheralyn Wolf of Freeport, Illinois. Harvey and Cheralyn had taken a trip the summer before to Sheldon, North Dakota, to the Sheldak Ranch of Dave and Kim Utke. The Wolf's bought two mares, one was Miss Medora and she was bred to the stallion, Go Meyer Jim. The Wolfs had the hopes of producing a foal that would become a race horse. The following spring Miss Medora presented them with a black and white leopard filly they named Go Meyer Kim.

During the next two years while Kim was growing up, the Wolfs did research into Appaloosa horse racing and decided it wasn't for them. So when Kim broke to ride as a two year old, the Wolfs decided to show her in regional Appaloosa club shows. It soon became apparent that Kim had a lot of talent. The Wolfs decided to enlist the help of Jim Folgate for showing the beautifully spotted leopard mare.

Jim is known for being a “natural” at riding horses. Thus began the partnership of Jim and the spotted leopard mare. She was shown in halter and western pleasure her two year old year in the Mississippi Valley Appaloosas Club. By the end of the year, Jim and Kim had earned year-end high point titles Halter and Junior Western Pleasure. Her three year old year, Kim was shown in Junior Reining and English Saddle Seat pleasure. By the end of 1976, Kim tied for High Point All-around mare for the Mississippi Valley Appaloosas Horse Club. She earned the title by becoming the High Point three year old Halter mare, the High Point Junior Western Pleasure horse, the Reserve Junior Reining horse and tied for fifth in the English Saddle Seat Pleasure.

There was one other event Kim participated in during her three year old year. The Mississippi Valley Appaloosa Club didn't offer cattle classes, and Jim Folgate liked Cutting Horse events. When Jim and his family first got interested in cutting, they just started chasing some cows around. Chasing the cows turned out to be so much fun that Jim decided he ought to find out the right way to do it. He took some lessons from a cutting horse trainer, Jim Marshall. It didn't take Jim Folgate long to get the hang of cutting. Since he became proficient with the cutting, the Wolfs decided they wanted Jim to train Kim to cut cattle.

For a mare that didn't have any cutting horse blood in her pedigree, Jim found Kim to have a remarkable talent at chasing the cows. Kim's progress was so good, the Wolfs decided to show her in the Junior Cutting Horse classes that the Blackhawk and Southern Wisconsin Appaloosa Horse Clubs offered. Kim earned honors at cutting in 1976 by being the Reserve Year-end High Point Cutting Horse with these two clubs.

As 1977 rolled around, both Jim and the Wolfs decided to concentrate on cutting. Showing horses was a hobby and like most hobbies, there is only so much time and money one can spend on it. Part of the plan was a trip to the National Appaloosa Horse Show in Syracuse, New York, to show Kim in Junior Cutting. This would be the first time for both the Wolfs as a owner, and for Jim as a rider to compete at the National Show.

The trip to Syracuse in 1977 turned out to be a big thrill for both the Wolfs and the Folgates. Kim earned the title of Reserve National Jr. Cutting Horse. It was definitely a show to remember. Thoughts about going to the 1977 Appaloosa World Show in Oklahoma City , were just that, thoughts. The Wolfs were regular working people. They had a farm to run and a family to raise. They had not made any plans to have Kim shown at the World Show. A long trip to Oklahoma was more than the Wolfs had planned on doing for the 1977 show season. And most folks in Northern Illinois are getting ready for winter. It isn't the best time of year to be traveling

However, Jim felt that since Kim had done so well at the National Show in Syracuse, she should be given the chance to be shown at the World Show. After a lot of talking on Jim's part and a lot of thought by the Wolfs, they decided to let Jim take Kim to the World Show.

The trip to Oklahoma from Illinois proved to be typical for that time of year, cold, wet, and drafty. Jim and his wife, Bert drove from Illinois to Oklahoma without stopping. Needless to say, after spending 15 hours in a trailer, Kim was a tried horse by the time she reached Oklahoma. Hoping to get some much needed rest for Kim after such a long, cold and tiring drive was not to be. The stall was awful! It was open on two sides and was located in a spot that was subject to the weather, which was cold, wet, and drafty.

Jim knew his horse was tired and needed some rest. Doing the best he could he wrapped the stall in plastic to keep Kim comfortable. The first day in Oklahoma, Kim ended up off her feed and sick. The call Jim made to the Wolfs back in Illinois was not encouraging. The trip appeared to be for not. Kim was sick and she would have to compete in the first go round of cutting within 24 hours. A decision was made, that as long as the mare didn't get any worse, Kim would compete in the Junior Cutting at the World Show

But neither Jim nor the Wolfs had any hopes of it being much of a competition for Kim. She appeared to be feeling better the day of the first go round of the Junior Cutting, but it was clear to Jim the mare was not her true self. The fact that Kim was feeling better was encouraging, but any thoughts about being competitive were seriously in doubt.

The first go-round Kim mustered a phenomenal performance and scored 211 points for her effort. She had won the first go-round! Still Jim wasn't optimistic about their overall chance at competing. Kim still didn't feel good even though she was improving. The next day for the second go-round Kim again found that extra something deep down and scored another 211 points, which again gave her the win!

The cutting competition is based on a cumulation of three go-rounds, Kim was the the horse in the lead after two go-rounds, but loose one cow during the third , the finals, and you could walk away with nothing. Knowing Kim had already given two outstanding performances on heart alone, Jim didn't think the mare could physically pull off the win. She'd have to produce another top notch ride and score well doing so.

The finals came and Kim again went deep within herself to produce another quality ride, the score she and Jim earned was 205.5, The total score for all three rides was 627.5, enough to win the 1977 Champion Junior Cutting title by 8 points.

When Jim made the phone call to the Wolfs back in Illinois. It took him several minutes to convince them that Kim had pulled off the performance of a lifetime!

Oh what a thrill it was for everyone. It was the first time the Wolfs had a horse compete at the World Show. It was the first time Jim had ridden at the World. Kim seemed to dot he impossible. Needless to say, Jim bought Kim from the Wolfs shortly after their return home.

Kim has over the years produced some very nice foals. Only two of her babies have been shown. One is Giver A Nine, owned by the Wolfs, and Mighty Gunner, a stallion [Ed. note: now a gelding] that the Folgates own. Giver A Nine is a black leopard like her mother, and was trained and shown in cutting, but not to the same extent.

However, this daughter of Kim earned year-end high Point Honors in Cutting for the Blackhawk Appaloosa Club.

Mighty Gunner was shown in the Mississippi Valley Appaloosa Club's futurity events through his 2 year old year and competed successfully.