What I believe was the last Rainbow Springs Cowboy, Dave Springer has passed away. He is survived by his wife Vicki Edmondson Springer. They were living in St Petersburg at the time of his passing. He was known for his story telling about the history of local cowboys & cowgirls that competed in the rodeos. He will be remembered as a local historian. He remembered names, dates, events, who won, everything you would want to know about different events.
I first met Dave 30 years ago when we hired him to break a horse for us. At the time he was working at the Rainbow Springs attraction Daily Rodeo. He rode twice a day and made $10 per show. They would ride bucking horses and most of the time get thrown off because that’s what the audience came to see. He camped out in Rainbow Springs most of the time. He had a dog with him.
Dave knew everyone and everyone knew him. Some liked him and some did not. But I remember the stories he told about the cowboys and cowgirls. I also remember the stories he told about the local cowboys and their competing to win the top rider.
I remember one day while working with the horse in the front yard my mother-in-law sprayed something with the water hose. The horse spooked and Dave almost lost control but he stayed on. When it was all over he rode the horse over next to my mother-in-law and said thanks. “Now that I have the horse right here to watch you do it, do it again”. The horse only reacted a little. The next week when he was working the horse, the horse reacted badly. Dave rode by me and said “I’ll see you at sun down”. He rode the horse for hours, wore him out and then he started listening. Then he rode back into the yard. The horse was dragging but was listening. I think the horse was better good after that.
Dave was always good at remembering names and dates of riders competing in the Ocala rodeos. We lost a real historian that lived in Dunnellon in the 1980s while Rainbow Springs was still a top notch daily attraction, with animals, activities, glass bottom boats, rodeos every day and sometimes two shows a day.
One of our historians is gone. May he rest in peace.
Rainbow Springs changed hands several times and finally the state of Florida bought it to persevere and protect a piece of the natural springs. There were developers trying to develop it for private use. Right now you go in and walk around the springs with the trees and natural native plants and flowers for a couple of dollars for the day. The springs itself is a large pool of multiple, gorgeous blue waters, abundant with fish. You can see clear to the bottom. Pick a good day and visit Rainbow Springs.
