09/14/2026
It is with great sadness I must share the passing of our beloved Dutch-a-Roonie. After Dutch came home from the Summer Time Fun Horse Show in August we could tell something just wasn’t quite right. While Dutch was always a grump, this time things just felt different. We had the vet out to do a scope, come to find out Dutch had no ulcers and a super clean stomach especially for being 33! Just past his stomach, in his duodenum, however, we found sand. And lots of it (see last picture). While we couldn’t say yes, this is the cause of his extra grumpiness, we could tell that this amount of sand was certainly not helping matters. Unfortunately, before we even got a chance to clear that up Dutch presented with colic yesterday. The vet was called out immediately and what was found during re**al examination was not compatible with life. What you should know is Dutch taught 2 lessons yesterday morning, a jumping, and a walk/trot on the lunge (one of the up-down kinds). He didn’t give any indication anything serious was going on until the little kids were gone. This horse had given me his heart and soul over the last year and half. I quite literally built my lesson program on his back. I could trust anyone and I mean ANYONE to ride him. He was super easy to get along with in the barn, clean in his stall and would show you he loved you by constantly trying to nip at you (ok that was naughty, but it was also “Dutch”). Dutch has quite literally touched the lives of hundreds of people here at CJS and when away at shows still being in the ribbons against the young bucks! The loss of Dutch and the hole he leaves in our hearts and program will never be filled. Thank you Dutch, thank you for the endless hours you toted everyone around the ring safely, thank you for the love bites, thank you for always looking like you lived your best life grazing in the pasture away from all the other horses when they drove you crazy, thank you being a rockstar at shows, thank you for everything. You will be greatly, greatly missed. RIP♥️