November 15, 2001

This morning a very good friend of ours, Tot Goodwin (Huntsman and Joint-master of Green Creek Hounds, MFHA, Green Creek, North Carolina) lost his barn and six horses to fire. Also lost was a hound and a litter of unborn puppies.

What makes this particular tragedy so hard to take was the loss of six of the finest horse that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Several of these horses I have known for many years and I mourn their deaths because these horses were so very much more than horses; they were friends and they were members of the family.

Fortunately, one horse managed to escape the fire with the help of neighbors who arrived even before the fire fighters did. The cause of the fire is as of yet unknown and arson is suspected from what is so far known. Also, it is fortunate that several of my own horses that were at Tot’s farm were out in pasture at the time and were unharmed.

The loss of Tot’s barn, all of his tack (virtually all of my tack, saddles and equipment went up in flames also) and supplies is inconsequential to the loss of equine life. Tot literally lost everything he owned. Barns can be rebuilt, tack can be replaced, and businesses can be rebuilt, but the horses lost can never be replaced.

To the horses that were lost, Baron, Perky, Bubbles, Nyle, Moriah, Redman, all of you will be sorely missed and your absence will be grieved. You served us well, my friends, rest well.

Anyone interested in making donations to Tot Goodwin to help him get back on his feet after this tragedy can send donations to: