Farewell to My Friend, Captain

His grand finale appearance as the Lone Ranger's trusted Silver
His last strenuous ride - Power's Garden of the Galiuro Wilderness April 2009
Watering in the creek at Power's Garden
Mt. Wrightson September 2004
The first big ride after I got him - to the Gila Wilderness June 2003


I had to say goodbye to my dear equine buddy yesterday. He was old, in pain, and couldn't get up. I had observed his decline over the past few months. He was losing weight, and sweating a lot during the day from his pain. I knew the time was coming, but I tried to postpone it. I hoped when the weather warmed up he'd feel a little better. Thanks to Doc Arters for his willingness to come over on a cold morning and humanely euthanize - I really didn't want to shoot him. Captain was just an old ranch horse and not very fancy to look at. He was no pet. He had little use for people and was rather aloof. It hurt my feelings that he never did warm up to me to the point I felt like he had much affection for me or even trusted me much. The only time he'd appear happy to see me was at feeding time. But he was obedient and would go and do as I asked. He was the best going horse I've ever had. He would go places in the rocks that even a mule would balk at. He could step out and walk fast and he had the best rocking horse slow gallop ever. He was so comfortable to ride and I could trust him not to be stupid and loose his head when he got in a pickle. I once found him caught in a fence and another time he fell and get stuck in some boulders (because someone else was riding him and took him in a spot he shouldn't have - but Cap, being the obedient soul he was went anyway) Those are two situations that most horses would totally freak out and hurt themselves and others - but Captain patiently waited for me to figure out how to rescue him. Another thing I always appreciated about him was that I could ride him out solo, away from the group of other riders. Horses, being a herd animal, have a strong instinct to stay with the crowd and some get pretty anxious when separated. I fondly remember once we were in a wilderness area on a service project repairing an historic cabin. The construction crew ran out of some supplies and I was asked to ride solo the five miles back to base camp and pick up some more 2x4’s and nails, etc. We traveled the distance mostly at a trot. He kept his ears pricked looking for the ‘ghosts’ of the forest, but Trusty Captain got me there and back safely with the needed supplies to finish the project.

As he aged and mellowed he became the favorite mount for the grandkids. He responded well for them in their not so skilled manner of giving clear direction to him. And I trusted him explicitly not to do something stupid with them. I only had Captain for a little over 8 years, but my memories are many and dear to me. I thank the Lord for his trustworthy, loyal and obedient companionship. My last words to him were, “Save me a place, Bud.” I hope to go where the good horses are when I die.