“Morning, kids!”
That’s how Donnie MacAdams usually greets his horses when he wakes up to feed them. He admits to being gruff and grumpy when dealing with people but the horses get to see his big heart.
And there’s one impressive old horse in particular that gets special attention.
The horse’s name is Waco Hanover. This horse was a retired harness racer who lived out his days peacefully on a farm in Vermont. He wasn’t the type to race and outrun other horses.
No, but Waco did something better. Something those other horses couldn’t do.
He outlived them all.
In 2017, Waco celebrated his big 40th which is about 120 in people years. Impressive huh?
A horse’s life expectancy is set to around 25 years. That makes Waco one very old horse.
Donnie MacAdams prides himself in helping extend Waco’s already long life.
Residing above the barn, Donnie not only takes on the role of caretaker. He is also the old horse’s roommate.
These two were the best of friends.
“Watch the ice. Slow down, will ya?” The two are adorable to watch.
Donnie and Waco are a picture of camaraderie most men only dream of having. A slow, laid-back type where the days are relaxing.
“Dude, have you been chewing on the fence?” Waco Hanover leans close to Donnie, rubbing his large brown head up and down the left sleeve of his friend’s heavy plaid coat.
MacAdams does have a job. He manages a state information center. And though not exactly fond of having to deal with people, he’s still pretty friendly.
“I’m part of his herd.” MacAdams says he has not spent a single night away from Waco in more than eight years. Talk about devotion.
It’s not exactly a friendship that you’d call “warm and cuddly.” After all, that’s not really the type of guy Donnie is.
And Waco isn’t either. “He’s a cranky old SOB,” MacAdams told CBS News, “just like I am.”
What do they do for fun? They eat animal crackers. That’s how these two bond and while it may seem odd to some, to them it’s more than enough.
It was back in 2008 when he first took care of the horse. Waco barely ate anything and Donnie thought the poor old horse didn’t have much longer.
Waco wasn’t sick though. Turns out, the horse was just feeling lonely.
MacAdams recalled, “I just talked to him one day for about a half an hour, and got him to accept the fact that I ain’t goin’ anywhere, I’m your buddy. It’s been going on now for eight years.”
“There were times in the wintertime when I’d walk into the barn, walk down there, just lean on the stall front. He would put his head on my shoulder and just chew, just chew, and just calm me down.”
Isn’t that just beautiful?
But time did catch up to Waco. The horse passed away on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at the age of 42.
“My best friend, therapist, sounding board and within the last few years a camera slut Waco has passed away,” MacAdams wrote. “I never thought a damn horse would become such a good companion. He was and more.”
It’s a friendship you have to see for yourself. Check it out in the video below!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
