When I first saw Mc Nabb as a dozing docile 15 year old I never could have expected one horse could influence my life so much and take me on the greatest adventures .

My parents purchased Mc Nabb from a riding instructor who had used him as a companion for her dressage horse but needed to sell him because she was moving . The paid a mere $500 for this handsome Thoroughbred .

He arrived at 3 o'clock on the 5th of August 2001 although 2 months early he was my 13th birthday present .For the first 6 months of owning him I rode around in nothing more than a halter and lead rope and battled with a bolting problem which I later found out was due to abuse when he was a up and coming show jumper .Once I had found out about his abusive past I promised him I would never sell him and we would always be having fun .We went everywhere together he would hang out with me and my friends at the local school ovals . He would even stay at school with me during the day and help a keep the 2 schools horse calm on fete days when they were giving sulky rides . He was a honest gentlemen and I always felt like a princess sitting on his back . We had a ball at pony club even tough we were given a tough time because he was a cheap horse . But we ended up giving the younger and more expensive horses a run for their money . The riding school I had first learnt to ride at offered to by Him on one occasion after I had a lesson with one of their instructors and my and my friends had a good laugh when after I declined they were off saying how Mc Nabb and I were not well matched and he was much to large for me to handle and just to dangerous ~HUH~ ! All I thought was to those who had previously rejected him , he was showing them what a cheap horse can do! He loved molasses anything that had touched it needed to be licked clean by him in fact he loved giving everyone he loved great big licks . He also never liked anyone to see him being a sook he always had this tough guy wanna be persona but deep down a real softy . He hated to be caught on the ground or in a vulnerable position and he always tried to show me how strong he was . His strength was always my strength I gained what I needed from him whenever I needed it .

I was there for him and he was always there for me . Ive never had such a best friend I had it tough growing up and when he came into my life I had a best friend . I had never honestly loved any one as I did him . I always felt a connection and o5 or more occasions when I felt there was something wrong with him there was I always relied on my insticts and dosn't matter where I was I would go out to see him as soon as I could .

Mc Nabb and me at our local ponyclub aged 18

Mc Nabb was a typical Thoroughbred and loved to race and run he was such a beautiful sight when he was free in the paddock with all his friends and would race then feircly on the trail. At the end of a long rides in the summer he loved nothing more than getting the saddle off and going for a swim with me and my friends and their horses .Everyone loved him and when we moved to another state he had the whole stable complex umming and ahhing girls wanted to lease him everyone ardored his sweet personality .He was leased though for a very short period in Adelaide though due to some health concerns I needed a good break . But after only a month he was mine again and I loved every minute I had missed him so dearly .

He never had any health problems other than 2 small colic scares in the first 2 years of owning him . Sadly on the 25th of September 2006 McNabb battled with colic all day and at around 5pm I was called to make the heart breaking decision . The had told me he had been down for over and hour and nothing they could do would get him up .All those from the stables who could make it were out there . I was the first to arrive and when I walked to him I called out his name and he leapt to his feet and called out to me . I had a small laugh I though silly horse so typical he dosn't want me to see him on the ground or being a sook he maintained his stronger than you attitude till the end . I hugged his neck tight and whispered Stanely Harrisons great poem into his year and I couldnt tell him how much I loved him enough . I fell down with him not letting his face hit the ground . I spent over an hour at his side holding on the every minute I could . He died at the age of 23 the vet said evything else was perfectly healthy his heart and lungs were of a horse much younger but sadly colic was what had taken him .It took weeks for me and everyone who knew him to come to terms with his loss no one imagined it would have ended so soon and like this .

But I will always cherish our time because it was ours and ours alone and we always wer wild and free he seemed to become so happy after coming to me he enjoyed freedom in a large paddocls with so many friend and so many who loved him .

Goobye there is no harder word to say I think what might have been if he had of stayed around as I was planning to start doing novice hacking with him after his succsess at his last show in Adelaide . What pains me so is I had to walk away from  my boy and when he died I had to let go of a life and time I'll never know again .

I'll always remember all the good memories we always stood by each other he even ha da bit of a bsh of boy at my high school who was being less than polite . I even got very cranky when someone made fun of my boy .No dream was out of reach with him around Im sure he had wished to have found a girl to adore and love him and I doted on him my partner still jokes that I treated him like a baby but he was he was my world . We took ever day one by one and enjoyed as much as we could . We galloped millions of hoof prints into trails and we had something special the connection not every one gains .A friend said after his passing "you know there is nothing he wouldn't have done for I've never see a horse love someone so much" It still makes me cry thinking of when she said because I know it ws true he saved me so many times and would always behave well for me or if I was around but if I wasn't he got iffy and just woudn't behave . He inspired me to help save more horse like hime deemed unrideable or just a waste I may only be able to do a small number but like Mc Nabb their lives will be changed forever .

 No one will ever be able to replace this larger than life horse that was Mc Nabb may your soul fly free .

I know though now somewhere over the rainbow bridge Mc Nabb my angel you are now running young and free until we meet again