Range the Hero

[Darolyn Butler <darolyn@swbell.net>]

In hearing Range's and Potato's names mentioned on Ride Camp.... it
reminded me that CeCi & I owed a long overdue public "thank you" to
Range.  I was pulled at Forest Hill in Tevis in 1998 & had to encourage
a very tearful 16 year old daughter to continue without me.  We looked
around for one of our Texas Friends to possibly sponsor her on down, and
could not locate her.  Range was running pretty close to CeCi in
time.... and after convincing him that she really was 16  ;-) ... he
quickly agreed to pick up the sponsorship.  As some of you might
remember, Cassels Marcus, her mount, went down near the river crossing
just a few  miles from the finish.   Range stayed with her at that time,
(as a sponsor is required), but even after the vets reached her she had
to insist that he go on, which he finally did, after the vets assured
him it was ok.  CeCi said he never acted rushed and was totally
concerned & as she put it "There for her" during this scary ordeal.
Everyone should realize that the other four people Range & CeCi were
riding with finished 11-12-13-14.  Range ended up finishing 26th.
What a guy!!!!  Gracious to a fault the next day... when we profusely
thanked him, realizing how many places it had cost him.

BTW... Marcus ended up having colic surgery at 5:00 A.M. the next
morning due to a huge gas pocket.  He made a quick recovery... partially
due to the excellent job that UC of Davis Veterinarians did on him and
tons of credit to the wonderful care he received under Doyle Patrick for
the next 6 weeks there in Auburn.  He was shipped back to Texas in
October... turned out to pasture through Xmas... back in training in
January & ran a successful 50 miler the end of January.  He's run around
400 miles since then, including 150 multi day & a 100 miler as well.
He is my 1st Alternate horse for the Pan American Championship in Canada
a few short weeks away.  So take heart, all who have had colic surgeries
and thanks again Range.
Darolyn Butler


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