From Trailer Accident To World Champion – Cadillac In Black Humanely Euthanized

By Diane Chilton-Harper

On January 4, 2023, Cadillac In Black, belonging to Kyla Jackson of Vacaville, California, was humanely euthanized due to founder.  The black horse with no white markings had foundered right before Christmas and was under the professional care of Dr. Hannah Carter at Dr. Tony Rocconi’s Mid South Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery in Tioga, Texas.

Cadillac in Black, sired by World Champion and World Champion producing sire Radical Rodder and out of World Champion producing dam Diamonds and Denim, was foaled in Texas by the owner of both mare and sire, Diane Chilton Harper.  Foaled in 2011, he was first purchased by Jamie Radebaugh of Flower Mound, Texas in 2012 at the Reichert Sale.  The yearling came home from the sale and proceeded to have pigeon fever.  The disease made the little colt slowdown in growth, but not in heart.  He was started by Matt Klingsporn under the guidance of Vicky Holt.

Jamie and Caddy begin showing in 2014. Jamie even showed the little gelding in Hunt Seat Equitation. In 2015 Jamie and Caddy were 3rd in Showmanship at Halter, Level 2 and 4th in Hunt Seat Equitation, Level 2 at the AQHA Amateur World Show. At the world shows, the all black smallish gelding and his petite, raven haired owner, Jamie, started getting a following of fans. They finished their Amateur Superior Showmanship and Superior Western Horsemanship in 2016. Jamie and Caddy also in 2016 had another great Amateur World Show with a 6th in Hunt Seat Equitation, Level 2. In 2017 they also finished his Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation Superior, as well as being Congress Champions in Amateur Trail Level 1.  That year Jamie and Caddy were also 4th at the Amateur World Show in Showmanship. Jamie and Caddy showed under the auspices of Bruce Vickery and Anthony Montes. The team gained 402 AQHA Points.

In November 2017, Kyla, Maureen and Mark Jackson purchased Caddy.  Kyla qualified for the 2018 AQHA Youth World in Showmanship.  But on the way from California to Oklahoma City in July 2018, Caddy was in a horrid trailer wreck. The family made a decision to wait for next year to make sure Caddy recovered from the accident.

In 2019, Kyla and Caddy won the AQHA Youth World Championship in Western Horsemanship, Level 2 and earned a 7th place in Showmanship at Halter, Level 2. They also earned his Youth Superior Western Horsemanship. Continuing under the training of Bruce Vickery and Anthony Montes in 2020, Caddy became an AQHA Performance Champion.  At the 2021 AQHA Youth Show, they claimed a 7th in Showmanship at Halter, 14 – 18 and the next year at the 2022 AQHA Youth World Show a 4th in Trail, 14 – 18. Also in 2022, they were 2 time Congress Champions in Showmanship at Halter, 15-18. Caddy and Kyla accumulated 395 points. Petite blonde Kyla and the now fully-grown Caddy were still gathering fans. Caddy’s and Kyla’s fun personalities showed through days of horse shows. At one show, the Jacksons got a ‘horse whisperer’ to listen to Caddy and she said (whether you believe in this stuff or not) that he loved showmanship most of all because he like to be ‘naked’ since he was so beautiful and everyone could see that.

After seven superiors, $12,085 in money, and World Phow placings, his total AQHA point accumulation was 1,229. The Jackson family made the unbelievably painful decision to put Caddy, age 12, down based on the condition of his founder and his diagnosis.

Cadillac in Black was laid to rest at the Chilton-Harper ranch in Pilot Point, TX, next to his sire Radical Rodder and near his dam Diamonds and Denim.  He rests in peace with his equine family and was loved by his human family.

Diane Chilton-Harper

11547 Dane Rd.
Pilot Point, TX 76258
214-223-4188 cell
www.radicalrodder.com
rrodder@aol.com

Home of Radical Rodder 1991-2019
AQHA World Champion, Senior Western Pleasure