Ridecamp: [RC] passing of a great horse

It is with a great sense of loss that we announce the passing of one of the
most awesome ambassadors to the breed and older endurance horses.  Red, aka
Cochiese, passed away quietly in the arms of Amber and Louise Tuesday Oct.
29th, at 4pm after a long bout with what appeared to be an equine version of
Clone's disease, at the age of 24.

Louise outbid the killers for a 4 year old unbroke stallion at the auction
in Idaho because she wanted an Arab to breed to her mare.  He was used in
Louise's work for the BLM and to cut cattle.  He amazed all of the ranchers
who went out with them at how "he didn't have to rest going up these hills".
When we moved to MO he became a showhorse, winning many blues in various
classes.  He even was a pinch hitter in a first level dressage class.  When
Amber was born, he became her horse, and she spent many hours galloping the
pastures with nothing on the horse at all.  She said she just told him where
to go!  When Amber was 9 and Red was 18, he became her 50 mile endurance
mount!  She rode him 1000 miles in two years, with never a bad step.  I will
never forget the beginning of her second season, when Amber was going to
ride a younger, faster mount.  As we were loading the trailer, she ran back
to the pasture and traded horses, riding Red another season.  Weighing in at
92 pounds, they received one Best Condition and one Best Managed Horse
(although Amber will tell you it was HE that managed HER).  Amber decided to
retire him sound at the age of 20.

Red was loved by all who knew him.  One of his last trips off the property
was last month, where he gave cart rides to the neighbor's 8th birthday
party.  We wish he had been one of those lucky enough to be healthy until
his 30s, but it  was not to be.

"I once had a horse, or should I say, he once had me."


Louise Burton
Firedance Farms Endurance Arabians
Oklahoma
http://pages.prodigy.net/firedancefarms


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