Date of Birth:  1968  [Date of Death:  July 21, 2005]

The Ranger Foundation is mourning the loss of Gary Owen who passed away this past July.  Gary, who was almost 40, was having a very hard time during this tough summer heat wave.  Ranger volunteers gave him extra special attention with medicated baths to sooth his itchy skin and keep him cool.  Gary colicked and the vet determined that he suffered from an intestinal tumor.  Gary passed quickly; he didn't suffer.  His friend Poco sadly misses his presence.  

GARY'S PREVIOUS BIO INFORMATION:

How horse came to Ranger:  Before coming to the Ranger Foundation in the fall of 2001, Gary worked for 20 years at Valley Forge Military Academy doing everything from lessons, to parades, to playing polo. We are told he didn't give beginners lessons cheerfully.

Interesting characteristics or anecdotes:  

A horse’s name very often goes with the horse as it is bought and sold throughout its life.  Not much is known about Gary prior to his life at Valley Forge, but the origin of his name is interesting and worth mentioning.  Gary Owen is an 1800’s Irish tune that originated in the Irish town of Garryowen.  It was a favorite drinking song of the British Army, and was later adopted by the U.S. 7^th Cavalry headed by General George Armstrong Custer.  The unit had many Irish troops, one being Captain Myles Keogh who came from the town of Garryowen and introduced the song to Custer. Gary Owen was played by the 7th Cavalry as they entered the Little Big Horn Valley on that fateful day.  Only Keogh's horse (Comanche) survived the battle. Gary Owen is still the song of the present day 7th Cavalry.  Play the Gary Owen song!

Special care needs:  Gary is blind in one eye, has trouble keeping on weight and requires extra grooming.

Favorite Ranger Buddies: In retirement, Gary’s main mission in life is to keep track of Poco, a lovely little palomino mare, the love of his life.  He spends his days lazily grazing and napping within a tail-swish away from wherever Poco happens to be.  Occasionally she wanders into his blind spot, which sends him into immediate hysteria, shrieking and racing about, until he locates her - usually still within a few feet. 

Gary passed away on July 25, 2005