09/14/2026
BOOMER
2016 β 2026
Every cowboy horseman's story is filled with good horses, several sorry ones and a few greats. South Dakota's Luke Newsam just lost his great pickup horse, Boomer to colic.
Newsam bought him as a c**t from a West River neighbor whose stock is known for intelligence, soundness and trainability. Boomer wasn't his first from that program.
The first time he sold the sorrel gelding he wasn't fancy broke. He bought him back when he came up for sale. He'd go on to sell the gelding again only to repurchase him after he'd heard he'd gone to bucking. Newsam fixed him, then DID get him fancy broke.
Boomer could do it all and would when asked. Sometimes, you didn't need to ask. He was already there for you.
On September 2, 2026, sunup and Newsam found Boomer in advanced colic. About three hours later, one painful step and a few more painful phone calls at a time, Boomer was worse and decidedly not a surgical candidate. He made the tough call for his old friend.
"There's a dam a good jog from the house, we were headed there when Boomer's ears popped, his head came up and he picked up a trot, then a lope," Newsam said. "I kept up, stayed out of his way. He wanted that last run."
Under the trees at the dam, Boomer's bold, brave yet fragile body was laid to rest. Like a lot of good ones, several hearts lie with it.
