Equine Medicine & Surgery

Who Are The Ancients?

Spud

Born in 1977
Owned by Meredith Hutmacher

Meredith Hutmacher received Spud, an Appaloosa, Cedar Bar Twist, as a birthday gift from her husband. Originally named "Stud," a mix-up by a young child caused him to be stuck with the nickname "Spud" all of his life.

When Spud was young, he was boarded with another Appaloosa named Rosebud, who he was very attached to. Although he had been gelded, often when he was approached to be ridden he would run away, leaving Meredith to ride Rosebud. He was a very stubborn horse.

Even after being sent to a ranch for training, Spud continued to have a stubborn streak. When he was younger he almost always crow-hopped each time he was ridden; but he was also the first horse to cross a stream when ridden on trails with other horses.

Spud really enjoyed chasing cattle. The older men at the arena called Spud a "carnivore" because he liked to nip the cows as Meredith attempted to rope them.

Even when Spud was being shown at halter at the fairgrounds he was mischievous. He once knocked the Hutmacher's daughter's hat off right after she entered the arena. As she stood waiting for the other horses to finish their showing, he dug a hole in the arena that could easily have served as a foxhole for a small child. And when she would ride him and cue him to take his right lead, he would buck.

Several people thought Spud must have either problems with his kidneys or a vertebra that was out. In reality, however, it was just his way of saying, "I will take whatever lead I please, thank you very much." He wasn't destined to be a show horse.

Despite his personality quirks, Spud has been an extremely healthy and sound horse. These days he eats sugarbeet pulp and senior feed. He likes to graze in the pasture with a mare named Dee, but he only chews and then spits out the hay. Perhaps it is his diet and temperament that have given the world many more years with him than anybody ever anticipated.

Help us celebrate!

Tell us the stories of your horse's own old soul, submit story and picture to: comments4equinehospital@colostate.edu