Talk:Cass Ole
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Cass Ole is best known for his two movie roles as Walter Farley's the Black Stallion from the movies.
Cass Ole was born in Goliad, Texas on March 6, 1969. Primarily bred as a show horse, before his movie career he was National Champion in Western Pleasure AOTR in 1975, National Reserve Champion Ladies Side Saddle in 1976, and U.S. Top Ten English Pleasure AOTR in both 1975 and 1976. He would win over 50 championships and over 20 Reserve Championships in his seven year show career and was high point winner for King Saud Trophy for the American Hosre Show Association.
An international search for the perfect Black bought horse trainers Glen Randall and his sons, J.R. and Corky Randall, to Cass Ole. After his selection to be the main Black, the Randall's had six short weeks to turn the tame show horse into a wild stallion. In the contract between the movie studio and Cass Ole's owners, it was written that he was not to do the swimming sequence or the running scenes. White Camargue horses were dyed black for the swimming and a dark bay Thoroughbred was found for the running scenes. Even though Cass Ole was not in every scene of the movie, he was still the star that children and adults fell in love with.
After the Black Stallion and the Black Stallion Returns, Cass Ole became an ambassador for many causes. From the main attraction at fund raisers for charitable organizations like the American Heart Association, Epilepsy Society, and the Ophthalmological Society; to lending a helping hoof to raise money for politicians. In 1980 he received the Humane Society Award for The Prevention of Cruelty To Animals at the International Horse Show in Washington, D.C. He was also invited to the White House under President Carter and President Reagan, specifically for the Inauguration for President Reagan. Internationally, Cass Ole traveled to Italy twice, Sardinia, Algeria and Morocco to give special performances.
With all his charity work, Cass Ole was less than stellar as a breeding stallion. He would sire over 130 foals while standing stud at San Antonio Arabians. None of his offspring have shown the same chrismatic appeal that was Cass Ole.
On June 29, 1993, Cass Ole was humanly euthanized after suffering from a severe case of colic.