Monday, April 8, 2019

Milliron Monday: Visiting with Nancy 4 8 19


Nancy Bonnett riding Midnight Blue Lad (Laddy)
Abbott "Pete" Smith, D.V.M.
June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010


Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Pete Smith, D.V.M., and  Milliron: Abbott “Pete” Smith, D.V.M. The Biography (Monday Creek Publishing 2017). A graduate of Colorado State University and a well-known veterinarian in southeast, Ohio, Dr. Smith continues to motivate and inspire. 


A long-time client and friend of Dr. Smith, Nancy Bonnett knows horses. An award-winning equestrian, Nancy has accolades, trophies, and ribbons for all of her hard work with horses. But, most of all, she has a common sense approach to horses and being an equestrian - she is wise and a friend to horses.

Nancy lives in West Virginia, a good jaunt from Milliron Clinic in SE Ohio. Last week, Nancy traveled to Ohio and we had a nice visit. We talked about her horses, her family, and Dr. Smith. Most of the time when vetting in West Virginia, Dr. Smith would take Nancy on farm calls to assist. Nancy has seen just about everything - from the perils of critical equine ailments, to the birth of beautiful horses, to Dr. Smith refusing to surgically "cut the nerves" in a show horse's tail so the tail doesn't move.

The photo above is Nancy riding Midnight Blue Lad (Laddy), Nancy’s prize stallion. Laddy was the star of Rolling Hills Stables, a once-in-a-lifetime horse that every rider envies. A quiet disposition and kind heart, Laddy will always be remembered. He is buried in the pet cemetery down the road from Nancy’s stable. A stone proudly marks Laddy’s grave, along with a sentiment of love from Nancy.

You will find Nancy in the deep hills of West Virginia, maintaining Rolling Hills Stables with her husband Jim, loving her horses, remembering Laddy, and reminiscing about Dr. Smith.

Read Nancy's memories of Dr. Smith in Milliron: The Biography. See more photos of Rolling Hills Stables here.

Thank you, Nancy, for your friendship.




"A dream came true when we found each other, my beautiful and majestic friend. Most important is love of the horse. A horse will overcome it's inborn shyness and gain confidence; the fundamental foundation for mutual understanding with the person whose love it feels."
Nancy Bonnett for Laddy

Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.

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