1970’s and beyond

Lou Willie was an accomplished artist and evidence of his work can be found all over Western Colorado. One of his favorite mediums was scrap iron and old chrome bumpers. Much of his work was bigger than life, like the buffalo that stood nearly 12 feet tall or the eagle with an eight foot wing-span, animals of all types with one thing in common, the chrome bumpers they were made from. These sculptures were grand in size and exact in detail.

The horse was no different as all the rest of his work, it was a beautiful sculpture. When Lou asked the City of Aspen if they were interested in acquiring the sculpture, it took no time for the city council to approve the purchase. It was at the same time that the downtown “core” area streets were being permanently closed off for the new pedestrian mall and the city fathers were looking for ways to “dress” it up with art of all types to go with the trees and flowers. The city wanted to crown the east end of the Cooper Street mall with this grand sculptor. Apparently little to no thought was given to its location and proximity to one of Aspen’s most famous watering holes and the characters that frequented such a place.

With the horse cemented firmly in place and the proud city leaders having gone home for the evening after celebrating their latest addition, the first of many “modifications” took place. The Onion was in full swing that evening, so when the men slipped out no one seemed to notice their absence; it was only after their return that people inquired as to where they had been. “We had an errand” replied one of them. “Went to the Eagle’s” replied another. All that mattered was that they were back and they were “buying.” Everyone was in a good mood, except…

The officers came through the swinging doors with a purpose, like many visits before; the patrons paid little attention to them and ignored them more once they started making demands. “Defacing public property” was the charge and they were looking for someone to pin it on.

At some point in the evening the “tin horse” had dropped a pile of manure under its tail. Real manure, not the “tin” type and the police were not very happy about it. Asking a bunch of drunken people who put the “crap” under the horse was a bad way to start any conversation. Before they were finished in frustration the officers got a quick lesson in the difference between horse manure and cow manure and somehow this horse had “crapped” cow manure.

Over the years, the horse took many “dumps” but the first one was the best and after a while the police finally stopped asking. The horse has moved on as have many of the old “Onion” patrons but the memories live on.