NUGGET
IN LOVING
MEMORY
IN LOVING MEMORY

1981 -2010

QH x ARAB GELDING
14.3H
Nugget was my first horse. He was
young and green broke..VERY green. I
don't recommend children start with
green horses but he did teach me a lot
quickly...LOL. We had many
adventures over the years and I can't
say I've had any other good friend as
long as him.

In OUR younger years we'd ride for
hours often on trails and with friends
etc. When alone I admit I'd simply talk
to him and have my own conversations
with him unleashing all my childhood
and later teenage stresses for him to
hear as we'd mosey through woods and
fields.

Unlike most horses he had two seasonal
coat colors. In spring and summer he is
solid copper penny gold and in the fall
and winter he is light gold with dapples.

Even when young I knew how incredibly
grateful I was to have him. I was a bit
of a loner and hence he was my best
friend. When I was young I promised
him I'd keep him safe with me forever.
I even remember the day I had this
"conversation with him". He'd injured
his pastern as a stick had punctured it
in the pasture. The vet had a tough
regimen of things I had to do to keep it
from forming scar tissue and a limp for
life. In the midst of my walking him
during that, as my vet had said would
need to be done daily, I remember the
hot tears streaming down my face and
my worry that he wouldn't get better
and in the midst of my begging him to
get better and begging God to help him
get better I plead that I'd always take
care of him and keep him safe. I am
happy to say he fully healed from that
ordeal.

Sadly many horses age and their
owners sell them on and their fates are
not good. Even as a child I knew this
and hence the promise. I wanted to
make sure I gave Nugget a long happy
life as he gave me so much in my
younger years and well I certainly owed
it to him.

I almost failed to keep my promise.
Near my high school graduation years
my family made yet another move and
I was told Nugget could not come. Prior
to this we'd moved from Michigan to
Missouri in 1990 taking Nugget with us
and this time we were to go to Ohio. I
suppose they felt I'd outgrown him as I
was in my high school years and my
mind wasn't so much on horseback
riding then as I was "distracted". That
said it never for a second changed how
much I loved him.  This was a very
tough time and in the end it resulted in
him being sent to a relative's home
with the condition that I could have him
back if ever I could afford him on my
own etc.

Well it took years of painful emotions
etc (and that is the nutshell version).
Over those years I'd hear a sad song on
the radio about a lost friend or lost love
and sob and I do mean a deep sob. The
pain of him not being with me never
ceased and I even periodically had
nightmares.  But eventually I was able
to get him back. I moved back to
Michigan on my own for the purpose of
getting a place so I could get my friend
back and ensure I kept my
promise...that he'd remain safe and
happy in his old years.

He still looked really good through 2009.
Nugget also helped bring up our young
horses and teach them manners. He's
always been in essence my right hand
partner.

On a neat note Nugget was one of a few
horses in Michigan chosen by the
Equine Artist Karen Brenner to be
painted as part of her Horses Of
Michigan Project. I am very thrilled
that this old man received such a
recognition.  He was born about 20
miles from where we live now, has
traveled to Missouri and been
successful in a show career when
young. He's come full circle and back
home to Michigan so I think he'll be
very fitting for such a project.

In spring 2010 he shed out and his
muscle tone was gone. Had the vet out
and his rear molars were flush with his
gums. As summer progressed I noticed
his "light" was gone. The light you see
in their eyes when they are enjoying
life and showing interest had faded. He
looked okay or good for 29 yrs, close to
30 yrs, but his spirit was gone and they
say you will know when it was time and
this was his way of saying he was ready.
I decided to let him enjoy the warm
summer but that I would not put him
through another Michigan winter. He
just didn't look like he was up to it and
would most likely not make it through
and so thought it best he feel good in
his last days rather then suffer the
difficulties of another winter. That and
with horses burying them in winter can
at times be a bad situation and at time
impossible.
So on November 3, 2010 we had the vet
come and put him to rest.

This is just a page in tribute to him
over the years. Love you Nugget and
hope you'll be up there waiting for me
when my time comes so we can go for
many more rides.

Kristi

Rhythmic Acres
This picture was taken just after
we first got Nugget home and
unloaded him from the trailer.
This would be in 1985 when he was
5 years old. My dad picked me up
and set me on his back for the
pictures...