Earlier this month was the birth anniversary of a famous Arabian horse most people have seen, loved, and enjoyed watching. Cass Ole was born March 6, 1969, in Texas. His name came from his father’s (AM Cassanova) with a nod to his mother’s (La Bahia, which is Spanish for “the bay”). Cass Ole became better known by his stage name “The Black” in the 1977 movie, “The Black Stallion,” based on the book written by Walter Farley, and the sequel, “The Black Stallion Returns.”
Cass Ole was a naturally black Arabian stallion, but he had a white star just above and between his eyes and four matched white socks on his legs. He was purchased from his breeders to become the show horse for an accomplished young girl equestrian. Walter Chapman trained Cass for the showring, and Francesca Cuello was his young rider. The pair and their trainer won over 50 Championships and 20 Reserve Championships in his seven-year show career. He was the National Champion AOTR Western Pleasure horse in 1975, the Reserve Champion Ladies Side Saddle horse in 1976, and National Top Ten AOTR in Arabian English Pleasure in 1975 and 1976. He was also the high point winner of the King Saud Trophy of the American Horse Show Association (now the United States Equestrian Federation), and the International Award from the Arabian Horse Association, all before his movie career began.
Kelly Reno was an 11-year-old boy from Pueblo, Colorado when he signed to play the part of Alec Ramsey. He was already an accomplished rider at the time. He spent several weeks with Cass Ole before filming began, so the horse became familiar with him. Famous Hollywood animal trainers, Glen Randall and his sons, JR and Corky, trained Cass for his movie career. They brought Kelly Reno along to familiarize him with the training as well.
For the movie, three additional black Arabian horses did some of the stunts. His owners didn’t want Cass involved in some of the more dangerous ones, like the boat sinking scene in the movie. Kelly Reno rode Cass Ole on the beach and in the surf in the opening sequences of the film. Kelly did nearly all the action shots in the movie that his character, Alec Ramsey, would have done.
Cass Ole had a bridle path trimmed in his mane approximately six inches below his ears. For the movie, he wore hair extensions to cover his bridle path and extend and the length of his mane and thicken it for more dramatic action pictures. His star and socks were died black for the movie. If you look at some of the still photos, you will notice his hooves look white in some of them, not black as they would be if his black hair grew down his legs to his hooves.
“The Black Stallion” movie was a treat for the eyes. The photography was spectacular with the sand, beaches, and ocean as the background while the wild black horse and the young boy learned to be friends. I heard a rumor that the lovely gray mare used in the movie as The Black’s love interest was “discovered” at a horse show in Pomona, CA. He was actually a beautiful grey gelding.
After “The Black Stallion” and “The Black Stallion Returns” were released, Cass Ole became quite a celebrity. He showed up at fundraisers and special events in different parts of the country, from Tacoma, Washington to Washington, DC. He was even a special guest at President Ronald Reagan’s Inauguration and visited the White House during President Carter’s and President Reagan’s terms. In 1980 Cass Ole won The Humane Society Award for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals at the International Horse Show in Washington, DC. He performed before crowds of people in Italy, Morocco, Sardinia, and Algeria. He stood at stud on his owner’s ranch in Texas and sired over 130 foals.
Cass Ole suffered a severe bout of colic on June 29, 1993. His owners had their vet humanely euthanize him to end his suffering, and he is buried on the ranch. He will live on forever in the hearts and minds of us who watched him in life or projected on the screen as “The Black.” Rest Easy, Cass. Hope to see you at Rainbow Bridge someday.
