I feel like a piece of me has gone with Nokomis. The bond you develop with a horse is like no other. You trust them to take care of you, and they trust you to take care of them. You accomplish so many things together, whether personal or in the show ring. When I needed a shoulder to cry on.... he was there to comfort & listen. When I needed a friend.... he was there so I wasn't alone. When I just needed to be cheered up, he would do anything I asked of him. His love was unconditional, as was mine to him.

Nokomis was a funny horse filled with personality. He was "a bully". He was turned out with event horse, 'Coastal', and he picked on Coastal continously. Nokomis did not like Coastal at all, BUT whenever we went to an event and I was riding Coastal, Nokomis would whinny to him like he (Coastal) was his best friend!! At home, he wouldn't want anything to do with him. It was hilarious. Nokomis was a good event horse, despite the fact the he was a bit of a "scaredy cat"; especially with ditches. But he always jumped his heart out for me (with a couple refusals here and there... over ditches of course). He had more heart than any horse I know. Although most of the time I had to be his confidence. He never had much of his own except for the time I rode him in the David O'Connor clinic. David set up quite a gymnastic line, down a very large hill (w/a drop) at Ledyard. I was nervous and
Nokomis knew it.He came through for me that day. He did it all perfectly, and that day he was MY Confidence. From then on, I knew we could count on each other. And we did.... from that day on we realized how lucky we were to have each other. We had a great partnership.

My time with Nokomis wasn't long, but it was the best. He was not my first horse, and he won't be my last, but he was one of the ones I have bonded with the most. There was something very special about him, something that connected us. Something indescribable. We were together for 7 years. I ask myself, why was our time cut short? We had so many years ahead of us as a team. We made great partners. We taught each other so much.

Someone very close to me shared this with me: "Everyone whoe(Animals & Humans) dies gets reincarnated. But when someone dies young, it means they have done enough good in the world, and given enough happiness to others around

them, that they have earned enough "points" to live permanently in heaven, peacefully & happily for eternity. " That has helped me get through this.

Nokomis is buried in our back field. I can see him everytime I look out the window of my new house. I have visited him everyday, and I will until my days are over. He will be with me forever in spirit & memory.

Even after all the pain from losing him... I wouldn't trade the time I had with him... I would do it all over again in a heartbeat... there was so much I gained from our relationship. I was the lucky one. He was a once in a lifetime horse....not because of ability, but because of his heart, and the bond we shared. We were connected.

When Im ready to horse shop Ill wait until the right horse comes along, I'll know. I just need to sit back and wait. My next partner will find me..... when it is time. Nokomis will never be replaced, but I'm sure my next partner will have alot to teach me, and will become part of me, like horses do.....Maybe Nokomis will be the one to send him. No one knows me better than he does.

Nokomis & I evented through USEA Training Level. Our favorite competitions were GMHA & Groton House. He carried me to many victories, and always gave me 110%. He was named Maine Dressage Society Thoroughbred Horse of the Year in 2001. He will never be forgotten.

Nokomis, I Love You.

Angie