Eowyn's Ramblings

In the 1980s, Dede met a horse, a American Saddlebred Chestnut Overo gelding named "Color of Money" aka Cash aka Cashman. Yesterday, the grand old man's time on this planet came to an end.


I first saw Cash when we visited the farm looking for a stallion for Dancer in 1994. We moved in for several months that summer and got to know the big guy a bit. He was LOUD, not just in color but in sheer noise. He wanted his share of attention (and of course goodies) and made sure that everyone in the barn knew it. As time went on, I got to know him better and heard many stories about him. I got to see Dede ride him a few times. When she was showing him in FEI dressage, early on she was told that she was 'brave' to show a 'horse of color' in dressage (since traditional colors were de rigor at the time). He had come from a 'normal' ASB "training" [torture] facility and had some definite opinions. He hated to be ignored, he was very distrustful of men that he didn't know. He was scared of the dark and when left in the paddock as the sun went down threw quite a hissy fit.

He had a reputation of being 'difficult' at times; he didn't like cats in his stall or his former 'trainer', and managed to climb into his feed-bucket (which was about 4.5 feet off the floor). If Dede did something wrong, he let her know but when she apologized and did it right, he happily complied with her requests. He was her buddy in a similar way that Dancer was mine (she even called him Buddy). I rarely saw her pass his stall without a quick word with him.

When we first met him, he was in full work and was a magnificent animal with lots of personality. Over time, he became quieter (some of that was that the people got better at ignoring him when he banged his door and fussing over him when he was quiet). He sometimes liked being scratched and always expected a goodie when we visited. Sometimes all he got from us was a strand of hay that he had dropped but he had been worshiped so all was good in his world.

He in many ways was larger than life. Several years ago (probably just before I went to the barn) an artist took pictures of him to use to paint a mural in Andalusia Spain. So, a giant image of Cash is on the other side of the ocean. I think it was winter of 2002 when I was looking through calendars at the local Target and found one with his picture in it. Of course I promptly bought it and gave it to Dede. The picture was from the same photo shoot.

In March 2001, Javasaurus went up to the farm with me to take pictures of the foals. He also wanted to play with his new camera and black and white film Here are the two pictures he took of Cash out in the field that day.





In this one you can tell he is keeping an eye on Java whom he didn't know very well at the time.

As he aged, he ran into some serious physical problems. Cushings took a major toll on him and damaged his circulatory system. He became difficult to keep thermally regulated and had a few bouts of laminitis. His colic surgeries (2003 and 2006?) didn't help either.

Dede decided to retire him fully from riding (he had been retired from showing for several years) and let him live out his life as comfortable as possible and spoiled rotten (in the best possible way). As time went on, it became more difficult to keep him comfortable and Dede made one of the hardest decisions. Cash was put to sleep yesterday.

Saturday evening there was a party at the farm (it had been scheduled before the decision was made and I think provided some distraction). After wards, Java and I went down to the barn to see the ponies (and donkey). Cash was there and was (of course) begging. I had checked with one of the barn help and she said he could get treats (we had been asked to NOT talk to Dede about it and let her deal in her own way). So, I gave him some bits of carrot and scratched his face. He leaned into it (more so than usual but I think they had him fairly drugged for pain). As I tried to leave, he watched me go with his head cocked to the side in his "more candy?" look. I couldn't resist and gave him a peppermint and said goodbye.

He has been such a major fixture at the barn for so long the absence will be felt by all of us. Goodbye Cashman. I hope your new home has lots of sun, no scary night-times, and plenty of cookies (and no cats in your stall). Rest in peace old man.