For Nikki--Cavan

Here's Cavan, Nikki's "Little Man, " enjoying his much deserved retirement.

Nikki and I worked and lived at a barn/riding academy, and were responsible for the care of nearly 40 horses. It was fun, hard, back breaking work, but we loved it. I still miss those days. Nikki and I have so many great memories of that place!

When Cavan arrived at the barn in 1990, he was scared of people. So scared in fact that he would lunge for you with teeth bared if you dared to get close. Feeding him was an adventure. Run in with grain, run out. Watch your back. Don't get complacent...

"Mean" horses are usually just scared. Cavan was terrified. There was some mistreatment somewhere in his past...

He was grumpy, sour and sad. Luckily for him, he was assigned to my wonderful friend and roommate at the time, Nikki. She found a horse who truly needed her. It was a perfect match.

Nikki is one of the most skilled, sensitive and compassionate horse people I have ever met.

We all loved Cavan and showed him that not ALL people would mistreat him. I would always talk soothingly to him even when his ears were laced back. Slowly, those ears pricked forward when I talked to him. Cavan was so open to trusting people again. Nikki's daily attention to him worked wonders.

Soon, I could feed him without fearing for my life.

Nikki showered him with love and praise. She scratched his butt and he just LOVED that. She took him out for hacks around the hay field. I have pictures of them galloping in the tall grass-- smiles plastered to their faces. Can horses smile? Absolutely!

Nikki persisted with her affection for this bay horse and soon...

.... Cavan was cured. No longer a danger, he blossomed into a reliable and wise school horse. Everyone loved him.

Retirement suits him. He is now a "marshmallow," not a trace of that scared, dangerous, grumpy horse that had little trust for humans.

Many, many thanks to Caledonia Farm for giving this sweet horse a retirement fit for a King.

See what love can do?