Every horse that finds its way to Red Bucket has a special story and Waikiki’s is one that reminds you that there really is such a thing as fate or destiny. Nicole Higdon had a prior relationship with Red Bucket through her business activities, so when it came time to try to find a companion for her 27-year-old horse, she didn’t even consider looking anywhere else. “I had Angel since she was six years old so for 21 years she has been my special partner. She is a wonderful Thoroughbred who has taken me everywhere I wanted to go. But she was slowing down and also needed a companion, so I called Red Bucket.”
Susan said she had the perfect horse for her. “I knew about Wai for about 8 years because I knew his mom. He was always well taken care of and well treated. He is a beautiful Hanoverian and I had the good fortune of riding with him at a training barn. His owner was one of the early supporters of Red Bucket. She was moving to care for aging parents and dealing with major life changes, so when she needed to find another home for him, there was no one else but Red Bucket that she would trust him with,” Susan shared. “She wanted him where he’d get the Red Bucket promise of being treated well and placed in a great home where we would continue to stay connected with him.”
Susan really saw something special in Nicole and knew that Nicole would give Wai the same great home that she had been giving to her own mare, Angel, for many years. “Nicole groomed him, bathed him and gave him carrots to get to know him and it was like they had known each other forever. Wai was 14 years old at the time and 16.3 hands. He was absolutely gorgeous! And he was so reliable that he was used as one of the horse doubles in the just-released movie, “Emma’s Chance”. However, he needed to change his career from jumping to dressage, and that was just great with Nicole. Nicole wanted to do dressage and trail riding so it was the perfect fit!” Nicole adopted him at the end of September 2015.
Nicole smiles as she recalls their beginnings together. “I really didn’t feel worthy of him; he is that spectacular! He is the horse I had wanted my whole life, but didn’t even realize it until he was home with me. He knows so much! I had not been riding for a bit after having my two kids, even though I’d ridden since childhood, so I was a bit out of shape. We found out together that we love to do dressage and trail riding.” When asked to describe him, Nicole says that he is “inquisitive, friendly and has a lot of personality. He is also very trusting. We were recently working with obstacles, including tires, and he had three legs kind of stuck in the tires. Rather than freaking out, he just stood there looking at me, as if to say ‘what do I do now?’ I just clucked and he stepped out of them.”
It is impossible to talk with Nicole about Wai without hearing the joy in her voice. She says that they are really bonded now. “It took a moment, especially after only trusting my mare, but I’m so happy that it’s come together! I really could not be happier.” And, in one of those special moments and circumstances, Nicole and Wai’s former mom ended up sitting next to each other at last year’s Ruby Red event and felt like they had an immediate connection, according to Nicole. As they talked, they realized that they were both talking about Waikiki! Both women had tears in their eyes as they realized that Red Bucket had created the perfect transition for Wai from one wonderful home to another wonderful home, his forever home. Each woman wanted only the best for Wai, as did Susan, and it was clear that that’s exactly what happened!