The Late Great Oreo:
Jeff's first horse, Oreo was a 14.2 hand Roan Appaloosa gelding.
Jeff trained Oreo according to cavalry standards. To help him get accustomed to battle type situations, Jeff took him to the local skeet and trap range so that he could learn not to be fazed by gunfire.
However, although Jeff trained Oreo, in many ways it was Oreo who trained Jeff.
Jeff and Oreo On the Road
Oreo was a natural cavalry horse and loved reenactments. He was also a natural Confederate. His favorite game was to pick out a Yankee reenactor at random and charge him. Union reenactors at events would have start a 'pot' among themselves -- whomever Oreo charged won the raffle!
Oreo was a natural born
cavalry mount.Jeff and Oreo's first long distance ride was only 50 miles, from Wolcott to Manchester, Connecticut in 1996.
In 1997, they made their second long distrance ride, 250 miles from Wolcott, CT to the final destination of Narragansett, RI, with numerous stops and side trips.
In addition, Jeff and Oreo attended numerous reenactments and participated in a number of living history events, with school classes and local community organizations.As you might imagine, seeing a Confederate cavalry colonel riding through your town might cause a stir. Particularly if your town happens to be in Connecticut or Rhode Island!
Because of this, whenever Jeff and Oreo were on the trail, their living history interpretation served as a focal point, inspiring local people to come forward with their family's own stories from the War Between the States, and show Jeff their family heirlooms, photographs and letters from the soldiers in their families, whether North or South
In 1998, Jeff and Oreo made their first and longest ride -- 1049 miles from Wolcott, CT to Richmond Virginia. Tragically, it was to be Oreo's last.
Jeff was forced to take a detour around Washington, D.C. In the best of times the DC government takes a dim view of people carrying period Colt service revolvers, even if they are black powder. To make matters worse, this was right after the two Capitol Hill policemen had been murdered, and anti-gun tensions were at their peak.
Instead, Jeff and Oreo made their way through the Maryland suburbs, stopping in Bel Air Maryland. Jeff tethered Oreo in a field on a friends farm and went up to the farmhouse to visit and have dinner.
While he was at the farmhouse, someone CUT Oreo's rope and he wandered on to Route 1, where he was struck by a minivan at 9:00 p.m. on August 18th, 1998.
In an effort to save his life he was transported to the Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, Virginia. After consultations with the medical staff, it was judged that his injuries were of the nature that he could not be saved. It was with a heavy heart that Jeff decided to have him euthanized on August 19th. Oreo, who relished his role as "1st Lt. Oreo - 43rd Virginia Cavalry", at least met his end in the heart of "Mosby's Confederacy". A great horse had come home to rest.Oreo's zest for life, sense of adventure, loving spirit, and accomplishments shall never be forgotten by those who were fortunate to have Oreo cross their path.
In Oreo's memory, Jeff set up The Oreo Foundation, to fund living history projects, educational programs for children, riding therapy and the formation of volunteer mounted rescue teams.
Jeff has scattered Oreo's ashes while on rides on Ranger, on visits to battlefields and Civil War sites and trips around "Mosby's Confederacy", so that Oreo will be there, at least in spirit.
More Information:
Overcoming Disability to Achieve a Childhood Dream:
Jeff Smith's Bio.
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