Shortly before the new year of 2006, Longtime SEP member Barbara Greil shared this obituary of her horse, registered as Nippy with USTA, and shown under the name “Good Time Nippy.” He raced 126 times over 6 years, from 1978 to 1983, earning $13,788 and a lifetime mark of p,5,2:04f at the Meadows near Pittsburgh, Penn.

October 28, 2005

“I buried my Nippy today. He was not just ‘my horse.’ He was my best friend, my soul mate, my partner in adventure, my Champion.

He was a small Standardbred, only 14.2 hands. But he was all heart. An observant acquaintance, Beth Peyton, wrote this in her nomination of Nippy for 2000 Cosequin Equine Exemplary Service Award: “I must say I have never seen a horse just ‘turn on’ like Nippy does. He enters that ring and gives his whole heart and soul to his owner and the performance. He was the smallest of horses in the presentation with him [at Equine Affaire], but the way he carried himself made him stand head and shoulders from the others. His performance was flawless. I was truly moved by his performance and was reminded that it’s not the papers, the price or the pedigree, but the heart of a horse that makes him special.”

After Nippy’s successful career as a harness racehorse, he passed through a few owners, ending up in the rough life of a hack stable. Run down and worn out at 18 years old, he was destined for slaughter. He was offered to me at “meat price.” Against the advice of my vet, I bought him. He went on to become a Champion as a Standardbred Pleasure Horse Ambassador.

He successfully competed in a variety of disciplines: timed events, English and Western pleasure, trail classes, and judged pleasure trail rides, always to the resounding remark, “I didn’t know Standardbreds could do that.”

He won state and national Championships through the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization and the USTA Standardbred Equine Program (SEP). He won the National Championship for Versatility for three consecutive years through the USTA SEP. He first won this title at age 21, three years after he was so close to being sold for slaughter! He performed in demonstrations throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio, promoting the Standardbred as a Pleasure horse. He performed in Standardbred demonstrations at Equine Affaire-Ohio and really ‘turned it on” as the first-ever ridden Standardbred participant in the musical Fantasia [at Equine Affaire-Ohio] to a capacity crowd!

Not all of our adventures were in the spotlight of the show arena. I have precious memories of countless hours spent on adventurous rides together. Some were in the bright sunlight on a snowy winter day. Some were in the lush sunlit fields of summer. Others were riding through woods, the waning sunlight filtering through the autumn branches. And probably our most favorite of all were our rides on warm summer evenings, the fields alight with millions of flickering fireflies underneath the light of the bright full moon. Nighttime was always our special time. The past few months, with Nippy’s health declining, we spent almost every evening just hanging out together, Nippy grazing while I softly sang his favorite songs to him underneath the starlit sky. He was tucked in every night with a carrot, a kiss and a hug, and “I love you with all my heart.”

In the year 2000, he was chosen from 570 nominees as one of the 10 Honorees for the Cosequin Equine Exemplary Service Award. CEESA was designed to honor the unsung heroes of equestrian sports, especially those who have crossed over from racing to another sport. The horses are judged on their generosity of service and the sharing of their talent and spirit with people. Nippy certainly exemplified this unselfish and giving spirit. As Beth Peyton noted, “It’s not the papers, the price, or the pedigree, but the heart of a horse that makes him special.” Nippy was all heart. And he was very, very special. He will always be my Champion.

Now, in the dark evenings, as I cross the yard from the barn, I look up to the great expanse of stars. I see my Champion Nippy, dark brown eyes shining brightly without the effects of equine recurrent uveitis (moon blindness)…. galloping free through fields of stars on strong, supple legs. Goodnight, Nippy. I love you with all my heart.

A special note to racehorse owners: When your racehorse is ready to retire, please considering donating them to one of the many successful adoption programs or place them in a loving, caring home. Give them a chance to become a Champion for someone else!”