Red Bear

Sometimes after the arena races we would go through his favorite orange grove. Red Bear knew the “Satsuma” (orange) grew there and they were his all time favorite thing to eat – skin and all.

Now, after all the children have grown up, Red Bear just likes to relax, be nosey, and eat snacks. He also loves to listen to the Latin music that plays as the ferns are being harvested nearby. Mom and dad – the O’Dares – trim his hooves and bathe him while neighbor Ms. Betty “Butterfly” O’Laughlin cuts and cores apples for him. It’s no wonder Red Bear loves his home in Lake Helen.

If Red Bear could speak words, I know he would advise, “Take care of Lake Helen. We’re only passing through.”

He’s a 1/2 quarter, 1/2 morgan,100% champion, a best friend, a babysitter, a brother and his name is Red Bear.

At the young age of 42, Red Bear, also nicknamed Burt, or Old Fart has been part of our lives since1977. Red Bear was a great horse for either the beginning rider or experienced rider but he especially liked to share himself with the two young O’Dare girls – Marie O’Dare who wanted to be the best barrel racer and Bridget O’Dare who just wanted to be a friend. Marie, the barrel racer, showed him at the Lake Helen arena more than 25 years ago! Bridget loved to sit under Red Bear and he loved providing the shade from the sun.

One of the things you must understand is that Red Bear was not a fancy horse – no fancy tack, no fancy horse trailer. And his name serves him well in the cold winter months, because he looks like a fuzzy red bear. I remember when he showed at Silver Sands. He was amongst beautiful, slicked, horses that were kept in lighted stalls with blankets. Red Bear, although fuzzy and red, stood perfectly squared beaming with pride.

At the arena the girls would win the ribbons for the barrel race and other events. Red Bear knew that after they would take him to Handy Way and his reward was two tootsie rolls and a cherry slurpie.