from Cottonwood Farm

Big Rock, IL — Cottonwood Farm is extremely saddened to report that Cole Muffler was humanely euthanized Wednesday afternoon, May 5, and laid to rest just outside the stallion barn that had been his home since 1993.

USTA photo

Cole Muffler was euthanized at the age of 21.

The 21-year-old stallion suffered a debilitating incident in his paddock this past Saturday, and although he had overcome a variety of lameness issues over the past several years, this latest event proved to be unmanageable.

Cole Muffler was an outstanding race horse, winning multiple stakes at two and three, and was so impressive that he was the top rated sophomore in the experimental ratings. However, he proved to be even more remarkable as a stallion. Cole Muffler began his breeding career as a 4-year-old under the care of Cottonwood Farm manager Brent Johnson who supervised his next 16 years in the breeding shed.

The motto at Cottonwood Farm has been “Raising the standard of breeding excellence…again” and Cole Muffler helped us achieve that goal. Cole Muffler is the sire of a Breeders Crown champion, three millionaires, multiple world champions, many Illinois Horse of the Year honorees, and a host of stakes winners.

Among his credits of over $51 million are 132 $100,000 winners and 306 1:55 performers — including 13 in 1:50. A consistent producer of juvenile speed, Cole Muffler was always among the top ranked stallions in 1:55 2-year-old speed. The most honored stallion in Illinois breeding history, he is a member of the IHHA Hall of Fame and has been the ISOBA Pacing Stallion of the Year a record nine times.

“Cole Muffler has been a tremendous stallion, and his influence on the Illinois breeding program will continue to be felt in the years to come,” said Cottonwood Farms owner Terry Hunt. “More than that though, Cole Muffler has been a blessing to Cottonwood Farm and helped us to become one of the leading breeding farms — not only in Illinois, but in the entire country.

“It has been our honor to have been the home for Cole Muffler throughout his entire breeding career. While he is gone, he will not be forgotten by those of us whose lives were touched by his greatness.”

Editor’s Note: Click here to read a story on Cole Muffler from the December 2006 edition of Hoof Beats Magazine.