Obituary - Rhoda J. Hoenmans
Monday, June 27, 2016
On May 31, 2016, the Morgan horse community lost a devoted friend to the breed. Private, gentle and unassuming, devoted to her horses and her family, Rhoda J. Hoenmans left knowing both were established and would be looked after.
Whitemud Crossing Farm was a life-long dream come true - to live surrounded by her horses and see generations be born that embodied what she loved best about the breed; a stunningly beautiful horse with intelligence and kindness, that she herself could handle at home, then see them go off to be great show horses, or great family horses. Both meant she succeeded at her goal.
After just over 20 years, and, with the guidance of a few along the way, Rhoda was able to see a few of her homebred horses achieve World Championship status after being strong contenders and winners at the regional level. Horses such as Whitemud Fine & Dandy (Stand And Deliver x Whitemud French Minuet) 2014 World Champion/Grand National Junior Horse Classic Pleasure Driving (owned by Dianne Lents); Whitemud Midnight Lace (Stand And Deliver x Whitemud French Minuet) 2013 Reserve World Two-Year-Old Pleasure Driving; Regional Champion Whitemud Sky Captain (Stand And Deliver x Whitemud French Minuet); Whitemud High Society (Astronomicallee x Whitemud Vanity’s Bonfire) 2013 World Champion Two-Year-Old Park Harness, Whitemud Touch of Blue GCH, 2009 Ladies Classic Pleasure Saddle Reserve World Champion with Carol Fletcher, and Whitemud Dixie DanceKing (RFF Stars N Stripes x AEB Solique) - 2006 World Champion Three-Year-Old Park Saddle (owned by Rhoda Hoenmans), 2009, 2010 Grand National Youth Park Harness Finals (owned by Patricia Lloyd).
Cutting her teeth and learning to appreciate the breed with her first acquisitions in 1993, Morgan horses became a primary focus in her life. Never forgetting that first reaction of meeting her first filly, and being struck by the friendliness, intelligence and beauty she always strove to attain the breed standard in physical, as well as mental, character.
Rhoda was delighted to have acquired stallions that embodied what she valued in both talent and temperament such as Liberation Rhythm N Blues, Philharmonic and RFF Stars N Stripes - all of them spent time at home in her pastures and getting daily mints and pats from her. From them, Rhoda was able to build a broodmare band that was bred to such outstanding sires as Astronomicallee and Stand And Deliver. A couple of her first mares to influence her program, acquired as junior horses, Anamosa and CN Just A Thought, still reside in retirement at Whitemud Crossing Farm. They have all earned their place…
Rhoda wouldn't want flowers or accolades - she would want others to help those in need. In her last year, she was able to bring home a mare she bred, that was in need, through the help of Morgan Safenet, www.morgansafenet.com/contact-us.html. Rhoda’s family is a supporter of this organization as well as the University of VA Cancer Center, www. healthfoundation.virginia.edu/honor-someone-special.
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