Chinook's Story
Foaled on April 8, 2003
Chinook came to Dunrovin under difficult circumstances. Power, SuzAnne's beloved partner for over 15 years, suddenly died and left SuzAnne with a broken heart and needing a new guide horse to lead horseback trips into the backcountry. While most of the horses from the Dunrovin remuda could have fit the bill, SuzAnne didn't want to take any one of them out of commission for guests, so she started the long process of finding a new horse. However, she had a problem: while riding one of her horses in the arena, it fell on top of SuzAnne and badly injured her leg. This meant that not only was she without a lead horse, but she was also out of the saddle all together. She would have to enlist assistance from her many friends in Montana's horse world to not only find the right horse, but to "test drive" it for her.
The word went out and soon a horse in Bozeman, Montana rose to the top of the list. With her good friend, Coe, along to do the riding, SuzAnne went to Bozeman to meet the horse. He impressed both SuzAnne and Coe, so she brought him home for a test period. His beautiful, fast gait and his sweet personality won SuzAnne's heart in no time.
He had much to learn to become a lead horse Dunrovin ranch. That first summer did not go smoothly as he was literally thrust into situations for which he was not totally prepared: he was young and vigorous, but he ran from cattle, he spooked at all manner of wildlife, he lacked the conditioning to negotiate the difficult terrain, and he really didn't know how to control or balance his body when facing obstacles. But he gave it his all. After each fall or stumble, both he and SuzAnne got up and tried harder.
Once the summer season was over, SuzAnne had more time to dedicate to just him and his needs. They spend lots of quality time together learning to trust and enjoy each other's company and building his physical strength and conditioning. He spent a couple of weeks at a cattle ranch getting accustomed to being around them. SuzAnne took time to just play with him so that every encounter between them was not focused on work or training. It worked! He is an excellent lead horse with a very warm personality and lots of go. SuzAnne began to occasionally allow other members of the Dunrovin staff to use him as a lead horse - and they quickly saw his many merits and often requested him whenever they could.
His name had been Jazzy when SuzAnne bought him - a name that did not resonate with her. Mulling over possibilities, it was Sterling who suggested Chinook - a warm breeze during the winter of SuzAnne's grief over Power. It has proven to be the perfect name. He did, indeed, breath new, fresh air into SuzAnne's life after losing Power. Chinook has captured not only SuzAnne's heart and admiration but that of the Dunrovin staff as well. Now that SuzAnne's medical issues have taken her is permanently out of the saddle, he is the horse who teaches me to guide the trail and how to open gates along the way. They love riding him!
Chinook developed moon blindness during the big Lolo Peak Fire in 2017. the disease caused him to lose all sight in his right eye. This does not impair his abilities( as evidenced by this photo of SuzAnne riding him south of Glacier National Park in 2018). While he must wear a special UV filter mask to protect the sight in his left eye, his disability does not slow him down. He continues to be the consummate lead horse, getting the entire string of horses moving at exactly the right pace to negotiate every trail.
Chinook's athletic physic together with his people-pleasing personality and shinnying light sorrel coat made him a prime choice by artists for the initial Equine Art Extravaganza This lovely photo of Chinook and his handler as they shared a special moment along the Bitterroot River has become iconic of Dunrovin.
Distinguishing Features
Chinook color and his ever-present UV filter mask give him a totally unique look among the Dunrovin Herd. Only one other horse, Garnet, routinely wears a mask to also protect his eyes from developing moon blindness. Chinook's beauty shines through regarless of this masked face.
Luckily we have this fabulous photo taken by Debi Lorenc of Chinook's soft amber eye with long eyelashes and framed by his blond bangs. It is a pity that this is normally now necessarily hidden from view.
Add to Chinook's Story
Chinook has been at Dunrovin for over a decade, during which D@D community members have watched SuzAnne head out on the trail or coach the drill team while riding him. What have YOU noticed about him? What can you add to Chinook's Story? Please share your impressions, observations, and experiences regarding Chinook in the comment section below.
Each time you post a comment, your name will be entered into a drawing at the end of our project to create a post for every Dunrovin Horse. The drawing winner will receive a plaque with an upside-down used Dunrovin horseshoe to hang above your door for good luck as is the Irish tradition).
I rode Chinook all summer in 2021 as a guide horse while working at Dunrovin and he taught me so much. Not only about my equitation skills but also about myself.
Chinook can be a nervous fella around the other herd members and in unfamiliar situations but he exudes confidence at the front of the line on a trail. Being a first time ever horseback trail guide, I had a lot to learn and was nervous about taking groups of people out on the trails behind Dunrovin. Chinook worked with me every step of the way and was an excellent mentor and partner. I learned how to open gates on horseback, traverse rocky terrain, and navigate a river in the calmest spots with his guidance.
He speaks to you with his ears while you’re on his back, alerting you to upcoming birds or deer, and will work his way across a river or rocky beach with ease. Truly miss working with him and would be honored to be entered into a drawing to win one of his well-worn horseshoes to display in my home.
Love that Chinook…he has a beautiful coat and tail…he is mild mannered..but takes charge in the saddle….and like you said,,he can do many things the other horses have not learned to do yet..he is one of my favorite horses at Dunrovin…..
I like seeing Chinook’s chestnut coat and flaxen mane in the Montana sun.
I, too, adore the photograph of Chinook’s gentle eye and flowing forelock.
Finding solace for the death of a pet through a new animal friend is an act of courage and love.