Cadillac - The Dude Ranch Horse
Well, an anticipated sad day is fast approaching. My old reliable dude ranch horse is getting retired. Old Cadillac just isn’t holding his weight out on pasture and the mountainous terrain is getting too tough on him. He has so much try in him that I am afraid he will hurt himself trying to work like he did as a young horse. I hate to see him go – he has been a darn good horse for a lot of years. Cadillac has done a lot – been a 1st rate trail horse and cowpony, ponied young horses, led pack horses, been a demo horse at riding clinics, taught handicapped kids to ride, and even refereed polo matches.
He is lucky though. I am hauling him to my friend Cele’s house in Tennessee. Cele is a genius at getting old stock in shape and taking care of them. She will get to ride Cadillac on easier rides and use him in clinics. Hopefully, she will remember that he can still turn out from under you and get gone in a hurry if asked. You have to ride this old gelding.
However, something about hauling an empty trailer back across country galls me. I will stop in Texas on the way back and try and buy two more ranch horses. I doubt I will replace Cadillac – but I will try. If I get a horse to be half as good for half as long, I’ll have my money’s worth.
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It is too bad that your trail buddy will no longer be able to work with you. Though I have yet to find a horse like that for my ranch, my trusty dog had to be put to sleep last year. The trail and the job just has not been the same without her.
I think it would be tough to retire a horse you’ve known and used so well for years. You have to look out for the health of the horse and think about it’s comfort as it ages though.
It is tough is let an old partner like Cadillac go. But he deserves a rest and easy retirement. I still haven’t found a replacement for him. I have lots of horses – but not MY horse. I’ll probably find my next personal horse when I least expect to- that’s what usually happens. Meantime Cadillac has his own specially formulated diet, gets brushed and petted daily, and only has to work short,easy days once in a while. Good life for him!
Wilma
Yes, it is really hard to retire a horse, I used to have a horse and it was really hard letting go.
I haven’t horses since I was a kid, but I’m sure its the same feeling I had when I’ve to retire a dog. On the bright side, old Cadillac probably has a few more years in retirement.
Yes, Cadillac will probably have several good years yet in Tennessee. This ranch is hard on horses and Cadillac wouldn’t take it easy. The old guy has more heart than 10 horses. I still am looking for my personal horse. I do have a new gelding I like- but he has some probelms. He wants to fight other horses in the pasture– bad habit. One bite on a back can keep a horse out of work for weeks. So I am still looking.