November 27, 2006
Lancaster County, PA

His story was told in the novel “Fate of the Stallion” and he was known by millions of horse lovers everywhere. He stood for following your heart and never giving up. In the end, it was his own heart that gave out on him.

“Nahgua,” the fiery Arabian stallion that went from bad luck to victory was laid to rest at his home in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania over the weekend.

Born and raised in Michigan, the bay colt made his mark in the show ring. Spotted by investors as a hot prospect for the budding sport of Arabian horse racing in the 1980s, he was syndicated for a great sum of money at that time, and went on to become Michigan’s Race Colt of the Year. After that, he raced in Florida and went on to a struggling Delaware Park, which is, today, the premier center of Arabian racing in the United States.

By the end of the 80s, the stallion fell on hard times and landed at a horse auction where he was sold for slaughter. As Fate would have it, the manager of the auction stepped in and arranged for him to be sold to the horse lover who told his story to the world.

“He showed me how to follow my dreams,” said Author/Artist Ron Hevener, from his home Sunday night. “It was the greatest adventure of my life. He was my friend, my inspiration. I was lucky to know him … I miss him.”

Nahgua was 23 years old.