Cardinal Stables & Riding Academy

PHONE: 336-399-7099         FAX: 336-351-4974              

Mailing Address:                  P.O. Box 215,                      Pinnacle, NC 27043             

Physical Address:                 427 Snowberry Lane             Dobson,  NC 27017             

E-MAIL:                               cardinalstbl@surry.net        

Beverly McGee                    CHA Certified Instructor    

CK1 aka "Rambo"

Rambo! What a name! A name that says so much. A name that screams ruthless & strong.

But, to me, this name does not hold the same definition as it once did. Today, Rambo is scared & abused. Today, Rambo holds the brands & scars of his past, both physically and mentally.

Please imagine in you will, a majestic, bay roan, towering over you at 16.2 hands. He trots around the ring and appears to be floating. His eyes are kind and you can see deep into his  soul. You can not help but love him, and you can't give up on him!

Rambo came to us in September. I must say we were not nearly prepared for what we were getting into. The first "hint" that we were in over our heads was when Rambo was delivered, they backed the trailer up to the barn door, opened the trailer door, and herded him off of the trailer, down the barn aisle and into a stall which was then quickly closed and latched tight.

As we excitedly went to the stall to see him, we opened the door. Rambo moved as close to the back wall as he possibly could and refused to even look at us. Every move we made frightened him and he would not allow us to get within 10 feet of him. we could see Rambo would need some special attention, but we did not realize the extent of his traumas at the time.

We acquired Rambo with the impression that he was a young, 4 yr old PMU foal that was taken to rodeo, "but wouldn't buck" so he didn't make it in the circuit. This was not the case at all. Rambo, was in fact, a 4 yr old PMU... but, as we later found out... he was used successfully in the circuit for  1 to 2 years. Rambo started bucking in a manner that they found unpleasant, so that is why they decided not to use him any longer.

When the time came to bring Rambo out to ride him for the first time, we called on the skilled, unique and gentle services of Abe,  a friend of Cardinal Stables that specializes in horses with problems or issues. As it turns out, Rambo had never been "touched" before. He had never been haltered, led or tied. Abe had to rope him, and create a path of round pen panels to get him out of the stall and into the round pen. When in the round pen, Rambo would strike at you, kick at you, buck like we have never seen and refused to allow you to get close to him.

Rambo's life was a terrible one! His experience with humans had been horrendous. He had been MADE to hate humans. You see, Rambo was not a horse that "would not ride" or a horse that was "cold backed" and so was then sent to Rodeo. Rambo was harvested off of a PMU farm, along with many others as a foal. He was shocked with cattle prods and herded like cattle from one place to another. He was herded into a bucking chute where a saddle was slapped on his back and a bucking strap applied and forced into a life of misery.

Rambo was so afraid of us. He has NEVER in his life had a good experience with a human being. But, he still had a kind eye and we could see there was much more to this horse than what you could see on the outside. On the outside, were long untamed dreadlocks hanging below his massive neck as a wild stallions would be. His hips holding the brands of his PMU ranch and his Rodeo Home... Rambo is branded "CK1".

The task of haltering Rambo was a dangerous and difficult one. Rambo was used to fighting for his life and he had no intentions of allowing us to get a hold on his head without a struggle. After weeks of daily attempts to get Rambo to accept our presence, he finely reached his nose over and sniffed our hair! Days later, he would let you get close enough to reach your hand out and touch his neck. Another week later, we were able to comb his mane and trim it with the scissors. What an amazing improvement. This may not seam like much to you, but to him, this was exposing himself to a race that had inflicted so much mental and physical pain.

We were later able to attach a lead rope to his halter and after another week, we were finally able to coax him from his stall, through the barn and into the round pen for turnout. This was a major break-through. This massive 4 yr old, 1800 lb, 16.2 chunk of horse was allowing a 5'3" 50yr old lady to lead him with little difficulty out of the barn and into his turnout area.

Now, you may think we are crazy and that this horse will never be anything else but what he was, but, I would have to disagree. You see, he was not just ANY horse... he was a kind horse that struck out in fear, not meanness. There is a difference! Rambo now eats out of our hands and hurries to greet us in the pasture and this 50 yr old lady can lead him anywhere she wants to go.

Rambo, renamed Calvin Klein after his brand "CK1", will now take a bridle, saddle and has even been galloped on the trail, without even the slightest attempt to buck. He has now come to the beginning of the understanding that riding can be enjoyable. He has been ridden on the trails and in the ring. He is treated with kindness and respect and enjoys the outdoors.

CK will never be a horse for just anyone. He will always need the kind, patient and understanding hand of a one owner home. He needs a mature and very knowledgeable handler that strives to see how they can make every day of his life a great one! Rambo can be ridden and can have a successful and full life as a competition horse with the right owner. His movement far surpasses any horse we have ever laid our eyes upon. You hold your breath when you see him move. He has the suspension of an upper level dressage horse, he loves trails and we believe will be great at cross-country as well. Rambo will not try to buck his riders. He has already proven to us, that there is more to him than meets the eye. He does not want to buck, he was MADE to buck. He is now learning that riding is a relationship between him and his rider.

Not all Rodeo horses can be rehabilitated. unfortunately, there were three other horses that came to our farm along with CK1. They were far too dangerous and aggressive to be on our farm. One would literally stand still until you got in front of him, at that time he would charge you. Another would kick furiously with both hind feet if you came within 20 foot of him and if you were ever lucky enough to jump on his back, he would dive to the ground and crash you into it.. Another had scars on his head from crashing his riders into the wall in every effort get them off of him. 

I am not against all rodeos, and rodeo horses. There are many rodeo horses that have had a great life and were treated with respect and kindness and were broke to ride and are ridden consistently. They only buck when a bucking strap is applied. There are other horses that are impossible to use as an everyday horse because they are cold-backed and the rodeo is a place for them. But, taking a foal, with nothing in his past and make him into this is beyond cruel. It should be illegal to do this to these horses. Can you imagine where he would be, had we not decided to work with him, or what would have happened if he had fallen into the hands of an inexperienced handler.

We are currently looking for a permanent one owner home for CK. His price is very fair and reflects our investment in him. We will not be selling this lovely guy to make any kind of profit. This horse is being placed in a home that is healthy for him. CK is 100% capable of a full rehabilitation. He is young and has a lovely disposition. He will excel in dressage and Eventing. He has yet to ever spook at the first object.

We are pleased to announce that CK has found a new home with Deb Stuart, Riding Master VI, and Instructor at Thunder bay Academy in Waxhaw, NC. www.thunderbayacademy.com . Deb has reported Ck arrived safely and settled in nicely to his new home. She will continue to work with Ck to rehabilitate him and promises to keep us updated on his progress with photos and details!!

UPDATE : 8/18/08

Ask About CK1

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