Kobi- Memoirs of a Mustang Page 14

  Kobi’s story is mostly true but Jake’s story, on the other hand, is mostly fiction. It is a fact, however, that Jake was a rescue who had seen a good deal of abuse. The notch in his neck was real, as were the scars that were scattered along most of his body. He did originate out of Kentucky in a region known for using draft horses for logging purposes. Aside from all that, Jake’s real story was known only to him. Like Kobi, Jake found his forever home with me. Also true was our painful battle with canker and founder that we lost in April 2011. Jake was an amazing horse. He had many friends who supported us both physically and emotionally during that six-month ordeal. I like to think that he is frolicking up in horse heaven right now, away from the Florida heat, bugs, and most of all, his bad hooves. I love you, Jake.

  Sugar entered our lives a few weeks after Jake left. She is as sweet as her name implies but doesn’t take any of Kobi’s temper tantrums. She puts him back in his place pretty quick. Her story is also mostly fiction. It surprised me how much easier it was to track a wild horse’s history than one who has been owned privately. Based on her papers, she has gone through several homes in her eleven-year life, and was briefly used for equine therapy before finding her forever home with us.

  My Kobi. He truly is as amazing in real life as he is in the book, and only another “horse person” or maybe only another “mustang person” can appreciate most of his unusual and endearing personality. At 14.2 hands high, he is a small horse (even though he doesn’t think so)!

  His love for humans has always amazed me and has led me to believe that all of his contact with us humans has been positive.

  The first time I met him, he won my heart by sucking on my fingers. I am fortunate enough to be greeted by his whinnies every time he sees me. Not too many other horses will do those things, only the special ones!

  Not to say Kobi can’t be exasperating at times. It is difficult to stay warm around him in winter. If he sees anyone wearing clothing with a zipper, he feels it’s his job to unzip it for you. He unties shoelaces, too. And when it rains, I can’t seem to get him off of the front porch, simply because he still can’t stand getting wet. It’s amazing the amount of stuff he’s broken on the porch with his hind end!

  This is Kobi’s story, as told by him.

  For more information about the Bureau of Land Management or the Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program, visit their website at: wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.

  Other books by Heather Hamel:

  Horse Books:

  Kobi: Memoirs of a Mustang

  Sugar: My Journey Home

  Saltos (Spring 2016 release)

  Lefty (Spring 2016 release)

  Ghostly Mysteries:

  Murder of Crows

  Destruction of Wild Cats (Fall 2016 release)

  Cryptozoology Series

  Within Emerald Forests (Book 1)

  Under Sapphire Skies (Book 2)

  Beneath Diamond Waters (Book 3) Fall 2016 release

  Across Ruby Fields (Book 4) Winter 2016 release

  About the author:

  Heather Hamel is an author, horse trainer, and teacher. While working her way through college to become a teacher, she discovered a passion for storytelling, while working as a ghost tour guide in the historic and haunted town of St. Augustine, Florida.

  After teaching for a few years, Heather could not shake storytelling. Today, she teaches and tutors students with dyslexia, as well as finds time to write at 5:00 am. She has written on-line horse articles, two middle grade novels, and is currently working on a four book crypto-zoological series for her middle grade readers.

  Website: http://HeatherHamel.com

  About the artist:

  Jean Drayovitch is a native Floridian who grew up among orange blossoms and shell paved roads, Jean developed a love for Florida’s natural beauty at an early age. As a girl scout attending horse camp, Jean garnered attention when she drew a perfect anatomical horse diagram complete with grooming supplies. Horses would remain a key subject in Jean’s artwork for years.

  Currently Jean resides in downtown St. Augustine. With murals and paintings regularly on display in local establishments, Jean continues to make her mark on the Old City. In 2011, she and another artist founded the Anonymous Society of Artists to network with other local artists. This group meets weekly to draw and paint together and encourage its participants to reach their full potential as artists.

  Website: http://www.jeandrayovitch.com/

  Acknowledgements:

  This book is a culmination of many things: blood, sweat, tears, and support! So many people helped along the way, so here it goes in no particular order, except in my scattered mind:

  Les Clements, my love (after the horses). Thank you for supporting all of my crazy, half-thought out plans, starting with: “I think I want to get back into horses,” to “I think I want to write a book,” and every stage in between. You have encouraged me when I sat there crying, both while training Kobi and writing about those training experiences. You listened to my excited ramblings after talking to the BLM, and just smiled and nodded. Without you, this book never would have happened, and without you, Kobi may never have happened!

  A very special thanks also goes to Lynda Mangalls, for giving us the lead on a black horse who was for sale.

  Roy Gulick. What can I say? Without your help and guidance though the grammatical world that I found myself floundering in, all would have been lost!

  Toni Oliva. Another person who without your help and unending support I never would have finished. You’ve read every change and version and supported me (and Kobi) throughout most of his story. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

  Jean Drayovitch. The cover art is perfect. How you captured Kobi’s essence from his soulful eyes to his playful lip I’ll never know – you are amazing!

  Mom and dad, without you passing on the love of reading and love of horses – this dream never would have happened in the first place.

  And finally a heart-felt thank you to everyone who read through Kobi’s stories, reminding me of things I had forgotten and helping with corrections even after the 200th read-through: Emily, Sandra, Melissa, Susie, Jodi, Cheri, Lila. It takes a village.

  Finally, a huge thank you to the Bureau of Land Management. If it were not for your Wild Horse Adoption Program, there would not be a story! While researching Kobi’s past, every person that I spoke with, in every department that I called, was eager and willing to help me with my project. I remember laughing along with your personnel the day I found out that Kobi spent three months in a penitentiary. Not to mention when I found out that the competitive bidding wasn’t all that exciting: the bidding started at $125 and he sold for $135! Thank you for being on this journey with us. Special thanks for the BLM go out to: Debbie C. in National Marketing, Timothy G. at the Palomino Valley, Lauren with the Jackson Field Office, and Jackie with the Department of Corrections at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility. Your information was invaluable!

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright ©2014 by Heather Hamel

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced except for brief extracts for the purpose of review with the express written permission of the copyright owner.

  Cover art by Sprinkles on Top Studios

  Interior sketches by Jean Drayovitch

 

 

 
ttons">share