Hurricane's living landmark, Nugget the horse, will no longer be roaming his pasture next to the Wave Pool on Teays Valley Road.
Nugget, a Morgan horse with Palomino coloring, died peacefully on Sunday, his owners Joe and Donna Varian said.
For 27 years, residents of Hurricane came to adore Nugget, who was known as a gentle giant that loved people. Nugget would typically hang out on the edge of his pasture near the road, where families could pet him on their way to or from the Wave Pool.
The couple bought Nugget in Bridgeport 27 years ago, Joe said. Nugget would have been 28 years old in May.
Since then, Donna said Nugget lived a long, happy life filled with apples and carrots. He was extremely social and gentle with children, who loved to pet him. Donna said Nugget seemed to sense little children and knew to be extra careful with them. His last days were spent rolling in the dirt and enjoying the company of his owners.
Donna said people would often think Nugget was dead because he would lay down in the yard with his legs sprawled out. Frantic passersby would knock on their door to tell them the horse was dead, and Joe would shock them by whistling to Nugget, who would perk right up.
"Joe always liked to watch the expression on their faces when [Nugget] lifted his head up," Donna said.
This time, however, Nugget didn't perk up.
On Sunday, the couple's grandson, Seth Herndon, posted a picture of Nugget on his Facebook page and announced the horse had died. The picture has since been shared over 600 times.
Herndon said he was shocked by the response of the community, but Donna and Joe said they weren't surprised. Nugget was known from Charleston to Huntington, Joe said.
"We knew he was well liked," Joe said. "We go down to Huntington and people say, 'Oh, yeah, we know Nugget.' He's just a fixture."
Nugget's death came as a surprise to Donna and Joe - Joe said Nugget was eating and drinking just fine and seemed perfectly healthy.
"He hadn't struggled, he just looked like he laid down," Joe said.
Joe and Donna have received numerous phone calls and visits from friends and strangers alike, who expressed their condolences for Nugget.
"We're gonna miss him," Donna said.
Reach Laura Haight at
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