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Kadanse

Kadanse Obituary July 7, 2009

Kadanse was in his 20's was often mistaken for a 5 or 6 year old youngster in these pictures. He's a huge horse in a compact body. Standing 14 hands tall, he has good stout bone structure and a powerful conformation. In an emergency once, he carried a large man weighing 220 pounds on steep mountain trails as if he wasn't there.

Kadanse started out as a stallion prospect, and ended up in several bad homes before a friend rescued him and, at about the age of ten years old gave him to me.

His story is a long one; by the time I got him, he was so nervous that he jumped when we tried to pet him and was impossible to catch. By the time we rebuilt his confidence, I had made a commitment to ensure that he always had a safe home with lots of love and attention.

Gavilan has been my main riding horse for years, but I always own at least three horses, so I free lease my "extra" horses to close friends or people I know will give them the love and attention horses crave. I can't sell horses once they become family..

Kadanse at 21

The young lady in these pictures is Cody, who leased Kadanse for most of 2004. Cody had a dream of owning a horse, and Kadanse was the answer to Cody's dreams.

Cody's family was very poor. Her mom struggled for years to earn enough money to live independently. She couldn't afford to own a car, much less a horse, but she still encouraged Cody to pursue her dream of owning a horse.

I met Cody when she came to my Mendocino County tack store asking if I knew of any good but inexpensive horses that were for sale. She announced proudly that she had saved $200, and while she knew it wasn't enough, she was hoping that she was getting close close.

Cody and Kadanse in 2004. He was 20, she was 15.

I explained to Cody that good kids horses usually cost $1000 or more, but that sometimes people were looking for good homes for horses that meant a lot to them and would free lease or sell the horse cheaper if it was going to a good home.

I suggested that Cody make an ad on an index card and put it on the bulletin board, and added that I'd keep my eye open for a suitable horse. Cody lived in the woods outside of Willits, and wanted a horse she could keep in her small back yard, so we also talked about that and identified several reasons why it wouldn't be a good place for a horse to live. I suggested that she investigate inexpensive pasture with good fencing and shelter near her home, and offered help once she had narrowed her choices down.

Over the next few months, I got to know Cody and her family well, and introduced them to people who could help Cody's dream come true. Several members of the local horse community offered her hours of free lessons and riding time, and their support and encouragement turned her into a fine rider. Her dream horse eluded her, but she was becoming a good rider and horse person.

Running barreels at the Potter Valley Rodeo

Finances were Cody's chief hurdle. Cody's family was very poor. Her mother depended on welfare to supplement her low caregivers income and the family didn't have a car, so buying a horse seemed very impractical.

But her family all felt Cody deserved a horse. Cody worked hard in school and got excellent grades; she befriended less fortunate young people and took a strong stand for what she believed in. She worked hard around the house, and baby sat to earn money. She also kept track of the families bills and appointments, because her mother's severe Attention Deficit Disorder made managing simple tasks very difficult.

Her mother desperately wanted her to achieve her goal of having a horse.

I felt bad listening to Cody's dreams, because I had Kadanse at home in pasture. I couldn't let him go into a situation where he wouldn't get adequate care, though, and Cody lived too far from us to come to my place to work with Kadanse. I also worked long hours in my startup retail business, so I didn't have the freedom or extra money to help them. I wanted to free-lease Kadanse to Cody, but I wasn't confident that they were ready for him yet.

Then one day Cody came into the shop with great news - a relative had promised to help her buy a horse! And a local boarding stable had been so impressed with her that they offered to board her horse for what it cost them in feed.

This was what I was waiting to hear. I asked about the stable, discussed costs like worming and vaccinations, listened to their strategy for getting Cody from her home in the mountains to the stable several times a week and agreed that they were ready for a horse.

I offered them Kadanse on a free lease, complete with a new saddle, tack and grooming supplies and vet care, on the condition that I was allowed to coach Cody so that I could make sure this worked out right for both of them.

Cody's Mom started crying, I joined in, and Cody... well, I got the worlds biggest, best, hug. I live for days like that.

Cody was outgoing, hardworking and responsible - she was as mature as most adults and was very devoted to Kadanse. She was also an excellent rider with gentle hands and great balance. Best of all, she loved Kadanse.

Cody and Kadanse learned to compete in gymkhana events, Kadanse taught Cody about Natural Horsemanship and Parelli methods, and they joined Gavilan and I as we explored the local parks and the redwood forests of Mendocino County.

Running barreels at the Potter Valley Rodeo

Cody learning to trim cadaver feet

I was trimming my horses feet, and asked Cody if she'd like to try to learn it so that she could maintain Kadanses feet in between trims, and she replied enthusiastically that she'd love to try.

Martha Olivo planned to tape footage at a local clinic in preparation for a video. I mentioned Cody's interest in trimming, and Martha generously donated the clinic fee of $500 so Cody could attend.

I explained to Cody that Martha started with a lecture covering the history of hoof care, then dissected a cadaver hoof to illustrate hoof form and function. After that, all clinic participants would be given cadaver feet so that they could learn to trim and handle tools.

"A dead foot?" Cody asked, looking worried. "Yes" I replied, "we get them from rendering plants, where people take dead horses if they can't bury them. Will you be okay with that?"

"Ummmm... I don't like dead things, but I want to learn so I'll be okay." Was her answer. I didn't think much about it after that, but when I picked her up before the clinic, her mother took me aside and warned me that Cody "passes out when she sees blood and had trouble looking at uncooked chicken. I wanted you to know! She may be okay - this means a lot to her - but she may faint or throw up!"

Cody did great, she had a few tough moments, but took a deep breath, looked at the very unbalanced cadaver foot she was to trim and swore "I'll never let my horses feet look this bad." Cody learned a lot. She did a little trimming under my guidance, but the real benefit was that she learned to recognize when Kadanse's feet needed work and could describe the condition of his feet in precise detail.

After eight months of "owning" Kadanse, Cody's family finances took a turn for the worst, and Cody let me know she needed to let Kadanse come back to me. She's a super young lady, and I know Kadanse will always miss her.

Living With Ken In Potter Valley

At 22 years old, Kadanse still raced around the pasture when he saw people coming, tossing his head and kicking his heels up.

At Patchworks Farms with Judy Jenkins unti 2007

Kadance worked with homeless and home schooled kids with Judy for several years until his retirement... he loved Judy and the kids very much!