Flamingo Bay, one of the greatest over fences horses in AQHA history, was euthanized Saturday due to lameness complications in his front right leg. He was 21 years old.

Flamingo Bay was a 1989 bay gelding by Pago Solano out of Dillions Doll by Kansas Dillon.

With owners Sarah Leppard, Carrie Von Uhlit, Roger Call and Sharnai Thompson, Buster won nine AQHA World Champion titles in Working Hunter, Hunter Hack, Equitation Over Fences and Jumping as well as five Reserve World Champion titles. He also earned 10 year-end High Point titles in those events and earned 1728.5 lifetime AQHA points.

Sharnai Thompson, who purchased him in 2006 from Roger Call, told GoHorseShow.com “I loved him with all of my heart. He was more than just an incredible athlete and show horse, he touched my heart. He really was my friend, the kind of friend you would call if you needed anything in the world with no doubt they would deliver. I miss him dearly. ”

Buster spent the last decade with trainers Jason Martin and Charlie Cole at Highpoint Performance Horses and he had a very special place in Cole’s heart as well.

“Buster was one of those horses that everyone loved to watch," Cole remembers. "He had his own fan club and if he was in the finals at the World Show, Congress or Youth World, his fans would come watch and cheer for him. I was a big fan of Buster’s before he was even a part of our barn. I remember watching him show in the Working Hunter class at the Youth World with Sarah Leppard and he was so beautiful on course and then the next class was the Jumping and he came in like Rocky, ready to take on the world!”

Ryan Painter, one of the most accomplished AQHA over-fences riders said of Flamingo Bay, "Buster is one of the most amazing animals I've ever ridden."

Cole went on to add, “So many people had a part in Buster’s life. He was a great teacher and partner for Roger Call, Carrie Von Uhlit and Sharnai here at Highpoint. He will be missed but he had an incredible life and career. He was loved and cared for until the end by Sharnai and the whole Highpoint crew.”

Here’s a short list of  his many titles:

2007 Amateur Reserve World Champion Working Hunter
2007 Amateur Reserve World Champion Jumping
2007 Reserve World Champion Senior Working Hunter
2006 Select World Champion Hunter Hack
2006 Select World Champion Working Hunter
2005 World Champion Senior Working Hunter
2005 Select Reserve World Champion Working Hunter
2005 Amateur Reserve World Champion Working Hunter
2004 World Champion Senior Working Hunter
2003 AQHA Performance Champion
2001 World Champion Jumping
2000 Youth World Champion Equitation Over Fences
1999 Youth Performance Champion
1999 Youth World Champion Working Hunter
1998 Youth World Champion Equitation Over Fences
1998 Youth Reserve World Champion Jumping
1998 Youth World Champion Working Hunter
1998 Youth AQHA Champion