Ragtime, a miniature horse catapulted by a zoning battle to a Hollywood movie and TV career, died unexpectedly Tuesday, five days after moving from California to Colorado.
An investigation has been launched into what caused the death of the 29 1/2-inch-high chocolate pinto – star of the 1998 movie “The Adventures of Ragtime,” a Super Bowl Cracker Jacks commercial, and numerous TV and video appearances.
“It wasn’t his time to go,” said Patty Fairchild, who had owned the horse since he was a day old. “This took my heart and ripped it up.”
Fairchild and her husband, Rich, are in the midst of moving to Castle Rock from Simi Valley, Calif., to be closer to their daughter and her family. The walkout basement of the family’s new home has a bedroom for Ragtime.
The 19-year-old mini arrived with his mate, Sassy, by truck on Dec. 28 at the Peyton home of the Fairchilds’ friends.
“He was in good condition and in good spirits,” said Beverly Kahlenberg, Patty Fairchild’s sister. “He was just a little off his feed.”
A veterinarian was called. Ragtime was given fluids through a tube in his nose to his stomach as a treatment for colic. Within an hour or two, Ragtime was dead.
“He had been running and playing with his son, Cory, and eating apples and carrots and was just normal,” Kahlenberg said.
A necropsy was performed at Littleton Large Animal Clinic. Rich Fairchild said doctors told him there was no obvious cause of death. Blood and tissue samples have been sent to Colorado State University for examination and testing, which is expected to take three to four weeks.
“We are just stunned,” Rich Fairchild said.
The tiny horse lived in the Fairchilds’ home in Thousand Oaks, which prompted the city and homeowners association to go to court in the late 1980s to evict him.
The Fairchilds prevailed, Ragtime continued to have the run of the house, and show business beckoned.
Comedian Joan Rivers invited Ragtime on her talk show after the ruling, President Reagan called to compare notes about horses, and there was a co-starring role on the new Lassie TV show, Patty Fairchild said.
Ragtime was a well-mannered ham. “If there was a camera, his nose was in it,” Patty Fairchild said. “He was extremely spoiled.”
The horse brightened the day during visits to nursing homes. Ragtime was known to dance, especially to rap music. “He also loved speed bumps so he could pop up in the van,” Patty Fairchild said, although he preferred limos.
Ragtime also could untie shoelaces, open gates and pull blankets off people. He ate dog food, drank an occasional beer and liked watching himself on TV.
During his appearances, Patty Fairchild used only a gold choke chain on Ragtime. “He was a delight to everyone who saw him as he worked with no halter and did everything I asked,” she said. “And he loved to work.”
Patty Fairchild had plans to star Ragtime in another movie, one about angels. Now, she said, “he will be part of that in spirit.”
Ragtime will be cremated. Private services are planned.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
