My veterinarian specializes in reproductive work and for his embryo transfer program, keeps approximately 400 mares to act as recipients. Nicole was on of the embryo transfer moms and caught my attention years ago with her big bulk and quiet strength. I particularly remember one year seeing this massive boned angel after she had delivered a tiny arab filly--what contrast!

Apparently, Nicole suffered an injury while living with the donor egg family and she came back to the vet going blind which has progressed to where she is totally blind. Therefore, she had to be removed from his huge herd and pasture and kept separately. I then watched as she lost weight and seemed to slowly waste away.

For two years, Dr. Morris attempted embryo transfers, but Nicole did not accept them and in consideration of whether donor mare owners would want to take home such a big, blind mare, she needed to be retired from the embryo transfer program. But she kept getting thinner and thinner and was a worry.

One day on a trip to take mares to check for pregnancy, I had an empty slot on my trailer and the brainstorm hit that I needed Nicole. The vet almost assured me that she would never be able to have more babies, but I saw her as a great babysitter and wise instructor for my baby pasture or knew she had something to teach us here.

Nicole blossomed again in a pasture environment and lo and behold, within only a few months, she was pregnant! We bred her to Hereje and her first colt made us laugh out loud so many times---he was as wonderful as any of our purebreds, big, strong and with lovely movement. Her son, Gustazo landed himself the best possible home and all seemed to have proven Nicole's destiny being here and being bred. So back to Hereje she was bred, the next year having a lovely filly who I named Nicotina (as I had just returned from Brazilian national championships where Nicotina was the champion mare and one of the most stunning animals I've ever seen). I like to stick with the crosses that seem like pure magic and bred Nicole again to Hereje and in fall, 2004, she had Iliada (see sales page).

Visitors to our place commented on how generous I was to "rescue" such a mare. In fact, it is I who owe so much to Nicole. She has not only given me great joy to live with, and to date, 3 really wonderful foals, but in her quiet and patient way, taught me how to handle a horse with a sight handicap. When my Gita was born without eyes, I was advised by more people than just veterinarians, to put her down with the inevitable question "what kind of life will she have?" I had learned from Nicole that a blind horse can have a wonderful life--however it is very different for one who has never seen at all vs. one who has seen and lost vision.

The happy ending is that 3 years later, Nicole and Gita live in their private paddock as loving, seemingly happy and healthy as can be. I feel that any mare this special, combined with my trickster and comedian, Hereje, has to pass on many special traits to her babies.