"When we realized AJ’s days were numbered, we started looking for another horse. Thinking that Shauna would need a horse to finish out 4H. Naturally, it had to be another Medicine Hat and eventually we found " Tiny," a 16.1 hands high 3-year-old registered Paint. Shauna, however, quickly renamed him Nacoma—a Comanche name in respect to the Native American Legend of the Medicine Hat Horse.
"It was a real project, juggling the horses. AJ was extremely jealous of Nacoma, so we had to separate the two horses by putting them at opposite ends of the stable. AJ was always exercised and fed first.
"We also made sure AJ never saw Shauna riding Nacoma. We never even so much as had Nacoma’s scent on our hands when we came to AJ. There was no sense needlessly upsetting him about his position in our family. He was always number one!
"Toward the end of AJ’s life, we moved the two horses out onto a friend’s farm. Miraculously, Nacoma and AJ became so bonded that they never let each other out of sight.
"Nacoma, being a much larger horse, became very protective of AJ, no doubt sensing AJ’s failing health. The two of them were kept separate from other horses on the property and Nacoma would regularly rush the fence line screaming and rearing up at the other horses if they got too close to the railing separating the pastures.
"Shauna is showing Nacoma. They do well and have won a few blue ribbons here and there. Nacoma may have a long way to go to catch up with AJ as far as ribbons are concerned, but he’s already won a special place in Shauna’s heart. |
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"Until one has loved an animal,