Jingling for Nikki, you and her doctors.
Sending jingles!
I’m just going to copy what I wrote on Facebook.
My heart is broken. My sweet, overachieving Princess did her usual and tried too hard to do what she thought was what people wanted, and tried to get up before she was ready. We had a lot of luck during surgery. We needed it in recovery.
I don’t know the words to say about such a wonderful horse. She was always such a trier - 200% - unless you asked her to do flatwork, then the odds changed. Sometimes she was great, and sometimes I got to experience the joy of a Redhead Day, in which I could do nothing right and had to profusely apologize for my existence because it deeply, egregiously offended her on those days. She taught me to jump 3’6". She taught me finesse and tact. She taught me that there was nothing like soaring over a big oxer and never coming down.
She defied the odds all the time, first with her colic surgery, then with her newfound love for doing the jumpers. Kip started us out in the 1.20m low junior jumpers, which Nikki thought was the greatest thing ever and I threw up because I thought the jumps were enormous. Nikki didn’t care. She liked it more when I was scared because I would just sit there and close my leg and otherwise hyperventilate and want to close my eyes, which made her job easier than when I tried to help her. We started doing the 1.40m the second year we did jumpers, and did our first Grand Prix the year after that. She jumped in regional and national standard GPs with me for 6 years, doing her last one at the age of 20. She always overjumped green oxers. Sometimes she’d overjump other ones just to entertain herself.
She had passive-aggressive down to an absolute art. She would have been the greatest Minnesotan ever. She always wanted to do things HER way, and if you tried to make her do it another way, she would make sure you knew that you were mistaken. She loved kisses on her double whorls on her forehead and hated them on her nose - but liked to play a game with me where she’d hold still long enough for me to land one on her sometimes - but only a few times.
I’m so glad that the last time I saw her, I gave her as many treats as I did, and hugged her neck despite how much she hated that. I’m sure she owns a PopTart factory where she is now - brown sugar cinnamon ones only, and only brand name - and is galloping around in big fields, whinnying when she “won” her race.
I’m so, so sorry, sweet girl. We tried everything we could for you. There aren’t words for how much you’re loved and are already missed. You truly were, and always will be, my Wondermare.
11 Likes
I’m so incredibly sorry for your loss. Thank you to you for sharing your adventures so generously though the years, and also for always having Nikki’s welfare at the forefront of your mind.
I’m so sorry to hear this. You and Nikki had a great partnership and I always enjoyed reading about your adventures.
Sending all my love to you and your family- I’ve always followed your journeys starting with the ponies up through your grand prix’s with Wondermare. She was truly one in a million and so blessed to have you in her life till the end.
You and Nikki had quite the adventures - hold them dear and Godspeed to Nikki. Thinking of you and wishing you peace.
I’m so sorry to hear this! I loved watching and reading about your journey with Nikki. She always reminded me of my little spicy redheaded TB mare, and it made me smile to see you two jumping the big jumps and living it up. Godspeed and many poptarts to your girl, and lots and lots of hugs to you.
So sorry to hear this, I too always loved reading about you and Nikki. She was the epitome of a great thoroughbred mare.
I’m so so sorry to see this news. You gave her a great life, and I enjoyed reading about your adventures with her.
there are no words. I’m just so sorry…
I am so, so sorry to hear this. I always enjoyed hearing about your adventures with Nikki. You two were lucky to find each other. Godspeed Nikki.
I am so very sorry for your loss.
It was always a pleasure to read about your adventures together.
I am so, so sorry. (Hugs)
I am so sorry to hear this…what a special team you were!
so, so, so sorry to read this. I just can’t…
How awful. I am so very sorry!
So very, very sorry. Thank you for sharing Nikki with us for so many years.
I’m so sorry. I loved reading about your adventures.
I’d been following your stories with Nikki since the early jumper days–so, so sorry to hear of her passing.
