Hard Texas Cash, a stallion owned by Nancy Groover Hodges of Waco, Texas. passed away on Nov. 8, 2017 at the age of 24.

Affectionately known as “Tex,” he was foaled on May 19, 1993 to Tommy Howell and sired by Coin’s Hard Cash. Tex caught the eye of the Wink and Nancy Groover as a yearling. He made his first show ring appearance at the 1995 Texas State Fair, winning the Two-Year-Old Open class.

The black stallion was campaigned sparingly as a two and three-year-old, but that didn’t make him any less competitive. In 1997, Hard Texas Cash and Nancy started off with a set of roses at Mississippi Charity and went on to earn two more wins at the Southwestern Expo & Livestock Show and Woodbury Lions Club. 

The duo went on to garner the Amateur Four-Year-Old World Grand Championship and Amateur Four-Year-Old Stallions World Championship at the 1997 Celebration. 

Tex and Nancy closed out a successful year in the Amateur Four-Year-Old division and made their final victory pass at the Dixie Jubilee Horse Show. He fulfilled all of their dreams as a show horse and the decision was made for Tex to begin his breeding career at Glen Oaks Farm in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Hard Texas Cash would spend the next 13 years as a successful breeding stallion.

Despite a short show ring career, Hard Texas Cash left his legacy through his offspring. He is the sire of several notable show ring stars including: 5xWC Texas Salsa, RWC The Texas Lotto, WGC & 3xWC The Texas Lexus, 9xWC Tijuana Tex, 5xWC Texas Joe Black, 2xWC Tex R Us, RWC Lonestar Tex, 3xWC Terror On The Border, 9xWC Hello I’m Johnny Cash and most recently, Marshall Texas. 

In 2011, Tex found his forever home at the Hodges farm in Gatesville, Texas.

“I’ve never had a horse like him. Winning with him in the show ring was the smallest part of our relationship,” said Nancy Groover Hodges. “He and I were friends and understood each other as real good friends do.” 

Hard Texas Cash was a great ambassador for the breed and will be greatly missed by all who had the opportunity to know him.