CH High Expectations passed away today, October 27, 2009, at the age of 24. Born May 11, 1985, he was the son of Truly Stonewall and out of Crazy Lady, by Buck And Wing.

Bred and owned for the first four years of his life by John Pauley of Ohio, High Expectations came to prominence on the national scene with Kristen Myers in 1990, winning a 22-horse split of Junior Exhibitor Show Pleasure at Louisville. Purchased that winter by Carol Hillenbrand, he would win two more World’s Championships over the next two seasons before going to his longtime home at Royal Scot Stables. Shown in Equitation by Donna, Kristen, and Tom D. Pettry over the years, he was a full brother to another Pettry equitation mount, The Estimator. He was Tommy's mount for his win in the 1998 NHS Good Hands Finals. Supremely gifted, he also earned an Amateur Three-Gaited Over 15.2 World’s Championship with Donna in 1996.

High-headed and marching down the rail, he was a premier Equitation horse for many years, living out the last decade of his life at Zubrod Stables.

Anyone who ever saw this grand gelding hit the show ring will not soon forget that image.