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  • Horse Hall of Fame: Santa Fe

    By Arden Foster on February 18th, 2020

    “One of the most unfair parts of loving horses is that they don’t live as long as we do.” That’s a quote from Jane, in a conversation that began as she was telling me about the peaceful, but saddening, passing of one of the greats of the RTR herd, Santa Fe.

    It’s never easy to say goodbye to a horse that has been so wonderful for so many years. He arrived at the ranch in 1996, and Jane says math puts him at no younger than 31. That is an impressive age for a horse!

    In his years at the ranch, he carried many an adult, teen, and then graduated to the most prestigious group on the ranch: the Cowpokes (6 to 11 years old). And finally, he became the Buckaroo horse, being led around the ranch by the counselor, with little 3-5 year old cowboys and cowgirls safe on his back.  We never worried about him. Ever.  He just did his job and took care of all his riders, no matter the age or ability. He was genuine and kind.

    When Jane announced his passing on Facebook, it was incredible to see the pictures from over the years that people shared, accompanied with heartfelt stories and warm memories. That’s what dude ranching is all about. Not just the scenery, not just the food, but the mark it leaves on your heart. Santa Fe was nothing short of exceptional, and it was very obvious as I read comment after comment of condolences and photos of him carrying riders over the years.

    Jane’s words on him passing: “This past year Santa Fe has been gently retired with another RTR legend, Cheyenne, who has been the final love of his life. When we moved the horses to winter pasture in the San Luis Valley this past fall, we kept Santa Fe and Cheyenne here at the pens near our house on the ranch so that we could baby them and keep a close eye. Every morning as it gets light, we look out to see them close together as always, getting ready for the sun to climb out over Monkey Face. Two days ago, it was the same, and later, they were feeding at the manger that David keeps full for them. Afterwards Santa Fe wandered over to have a nap in the morning sun, and quietly left us. We knew it was imminent, but it still makes us sad as he has been with us for nearly twenty-four years and we love him dearly. We console ourselves with the fact that he truly had a great life here at the ranch, much loved by so many.”

     

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    Our Posts

    • Horse Vocabulary – Part 1
    • Thank you, Chris Collins
    • Wintering the Horses
    • A Great 2020 Season
    • Cheyenne & Her Legacy
    • Key Western Tack & Their Purpose
    • Traveling to the Ranch
    • “Little Britches” Book Series
    • Mornings on the Ranch
    • Branding: History & Today
    • Horse Hall of Fame: Santa Fe
    • Hydroponic Happenings
    • Looking Western, Staying Safe!
    • Movie Confessions: City Slickers
    • 2020 Resolutions
    • 2019 Summer Recap – Horses
    • Christmas in July
    • Photo Blog Highlight: Emma
    • What ARE those? Chaps vs Chinks
    • Foals of 2018
    • Interview: Julia & the Cowpokes
    • Spring on the Conejos with Sam
    • Staff Blog Highlight: Sorrell
    • New Horses on the Ranch!
    • Interview: Lauryn & the Teens
    • September at the Ranch
    • Ranch Raised Horses
    • Friday Night Fun
    • Everybody Swing!
    • Wild, Wild… Rags?
    • Faith, Hope, & Charity
    • Dude Ranch Family – Braden
    • Wintering Horses
    • Working at Rainbow
    • Staff Map 2018
    • “Linda Clean”
    • Pink Friday Tradition
    • Staff Spotlight: Hannah
    • Unplugging at the Ranch
    • The Dog Days of Ranching
    • The History of the Suffolk Punch
    • Ready for June Fishing!
    • This is Me: Max
    • RTR Country Music Playlist
    • This is me: Arden
    • A Week at the Ranch in Video
    • What if I Don’t Ride at a Colorado Dude Ranch?
    • Colorado Dude Ranch: Five Ways to Choose a Guest Ranch for Your Family Vacation
    • Rocky Mountain Adventures on our Colorado Dude Ranch
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    • The Wonderful Life of a Dude Rancher
    • September 2014 Here we come
    • Top 10 Reasons to go to a Colorado Dude Ranch, not on a Cruise!
    • Dude Ranch “Super” Marketing
    • Zorro: The Southern Colorado Dude Ranch Legend
    • A Very Special Dude Ranch Horse Story: Mikey
    • Riding Western in the UK – getting ready for our Colorado dude ranch visit
    • Summer Season 2012 Wrap-Up
    • At Rainbow Trout Ranch at last
    • Season’s End at Rainbow Trout Ranch, High in Southern Colorado
    • Food glorious food………………. Rainbow trout delivers!
    • 83 days to go until I arrive at Rainbow Trout, my Colorado Dude Ranch
    • Spring at this Colorado Dude Ranch: Getting Ready for Guests
    • Getting to the Ranch…
    • The Horse We Shared at the Colorado Dude Ranch
    • More Getting Ready for My Colorado Dude Ranch Holiday
    • My Favorite Colorado Dude Ranch Horse and More
    • Blog of an RTR Guest
    • Teens at the Dude Ranch: The Transformation from Surly to Happy
    • Dude Ranch Dogs
    • The Changing Times
    • Dream Trip to our Colorado Dude Ranch Inspired an Article
    • Pagosa.com article on Rainbow Trout Ranch
    • Teen Program at Rainbow Trout Ranch
    • Peanut Butter Jelly Time!
    • Colorado dude ranch ride coming in
    • A Guest of the West
    • Rocky Mountain High
    • Spring is coming to the ranch


     
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    Dude Ranchers' Educational Trust and Western Museum
    Horse Vocabulary – Part 1

    Learning the vocabulary about and around horses is one of the first steps in knowing more about these wonderful animals. This winter we are going to do multi-part posts on horse knowledge!

    Thank you, Chris Collins

    A man of many talents, we were lucky to have Chris Collins visit us this summer! Thank you to Chris Collins for sharing his time and efforts with us this summer.

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