This is Sam I Am's story...Photo's from his ad that I found and upon arrival
After photo's below.....1yr later
This is my rescue. My husband and I moved to Iowa late summer of 2008. For myself, it was a huge leap settling into a lifestyle almost alien to me. With the recessions’ deadly finger on the pulse of most hard working Americans, we decided to simplify our way of living so that our family would continue to survive. Iowa. Of all places to move to…Iowa. Stepping into Iowa is almost like stepping back in time, a mini recession within a large one. A place where oppression, persecution, and tyranny, doesn’t seem to exist, or maybe doesn’t want to exist. A place where you can feel safe and secure. Moving to a new location is always a frightening step. We found a farm just outside the community where Todd was born and raised. This farm needed some rehabilitation of its own. Weeds in the turnouts were taller than the stable itself. The barn floor had layers and layers of manure and garbage. The house was, well lets just say, in serious need of a cleaning. The task at hand of transforming the farm into a homestead seamed daunting. But I saw an opportunity, a vision of a working stable. After a few months of moving, the horses started arriving. Horses came and stayed, sadly some left. I found myself needing something…a project horse, a challenge. I viewed many horse sale websites just looking for the right one, then I found him. His eyes…the most gentle eyes I have seen. His name was Nugget. He was a retired tattooed thoroughbred registered by the name of Mandy’s Claudius. Todd and I drove over 4 hours in this beat up 1974 Jackson 2 horse trailer. It was a nail-biting run, but a rescue was in progress. We pulled up to the farm where Nugget was boarded and nothing prepared us for what we saw. Our shoulders dropped, sadness filled our hearts as we walked up to him. Nugget stood in the corner of his lean-to facing the wall as if too ashamed. His coat was very distressed and full of rain rot. He was grossly emaciated and full of wood ticks. But I walked up to his head and saw those same kind gentle eyes and without hesitation made his purchase. I walked him to the trailer and he nearly collapsed from exhaustion. Nugget was weak and we feared even more the 4 hour trip back home. We stopped quite often to check on him and to our surprise, this tall, long thoroughbred managed to turn himself around in the trailer to face the rear. He was looking out as if to say goodbye to that lifestyle. We arrived back at the farm to see that he survived the trip. I put him in a stall and performed an overall check and started thinking of a game plan. As he ate his hay, I pulled off the ticks, groomed his coat and hooves, and told him softly that he’ll be OK. He looked at me with a look so intelligent, it was as if he knew exactly what I was saying. The bond had begun. Nugget was put on a strict diet of nutrient rich hay, supplements, and weight builder. He needed to gain around 400-500 pounds before the onset of winter. Countless hours were spent in the round pen training and exercising. His weight was climbing and his muscle was growing. Before the snow fell, the power of the thoroughbred was back in his blood. From being close to death, Nugget survived. An amazing transformation had occurred in both horse and owner. I felt such a sense of accomplishment, completion, love, and devotion, that I felt that I had been the one rescued. Nugget is now known as Sam I Am, my amazing thoroughbred.