By ALGIS J. LAUKAITIS / Lincoln Journal Star
“I wish I could have petted him one more time…”
Peter Rabbit and Harley Scoot in 2008 ~ Journal Star file photo
Peter Rabbit, Hickman’s most famous horse, has passed on to greener pastures.
The horse died in mid-January of old age at veterinarian Kelly Anderson’s place outside of town.
“He was getting along pretty good all summer,” Anderson said. “He was running around and stuff.”
But Peter Rabbit was 38 — nearly 120 in horse years — and the harsh winter may have been a factor in his death.
“According to the vet, he didn’t make it through that last cold snap,” said Jack Scott, son of Harley Scott, the horse’s owner. “I’m surprised he lived this long, really.”
Peter Rabbit became a celebrity when the Scotts fought attempts by city leaders to evict the horse from the elder Scott’s acreage in town under an ordinance that bans large animals inside the city limits.
The fight lasted nearly two years, and Peter Rabbit drew national attention, much to the chagrin of local officials.
People from as far away as Thailand sent emails and letters pleading with the city to allow the horse to stay. Some letters contained donations to hire an attorney for the horse.
The city won, and Peter Rabbit moved to Anderson’s farm in 2009 to spend his last days in the company of broodmares and foals.
“I wish I could have petted him one more time, but I didn’t make it,” Harley Scott said. “He had a pretty good life.”
Scott, 82, raised the sorrel from a colt. He had recorded the date of his birth on an old lumber store calendar: Aug. 17, 1976.
One of the Harley Scott’s fondest memories was seeing Peter Rabbit wander over to watch kids get off the school bus. Scott said he often gave the kids apples so they could feed the horse.
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Categories: Horse News, The Force of the Horse
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Yep, i Think Peter Rabbit Had A Pretty Good 38 Years. my Sympathy goes Out Too His Owner. Rest In Peace PeteR Rabbit.
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R.I.P Beautiful Boy !!!!
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God blessed Peter Rabbit. You will pet him again….only then he will be perfect with his wings, in fact, dont be surprised if he comes to get you when God eventually calls you home. To pastures of green and gold. Hope Peter says hi to my horse who recently joined Gods beautiful herd. He deserves the rest, the wings, and the love you Blessed him.with, the permanence of an owner who never truly left him. Hold that inside, that love will hold you through. Gotta imagine those wings on Peter Rabbit. What a beautiful horse.
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A beautiful and fortunate horse to have such a wonderful loving guardian…a bond that will never die.
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I love this story. The fight for the protection of this horse to stay with his family was well fought. The “wwin” by bureaucrats was sure to have given them reason to regret. But the horse as all horses do just got on with it and made the best of it. He was obviously well taken care of, living to 38 takes a real caretaker. So I see many blessed in this story.
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God bless peter rabbit. He probably touched so many lives and made so many people happy. Some people just don’t get it. Horses are one of the most magical creatures on earth. My first horse passed away at the age of 32. I owned since he was a yearling. My lipizaan was purchased at 10 and he passes at 34.I lost an happy quarter colt when he was almost .3. I purchased him from a guy who didn’t like him when he was born and was heading him to the “killers.”. He hasn’t even been weanedyet when the guy decided to just remove the mare from the barn. I was so upset I begged him to give me the colt which he finally did. I never really knew until then how cruel some horse people could be. But he lived a good life after I took him during his short time on our earth. I also saved a magnificent Arabian gelding who was slated to have been picked up by a “killer buyer” the next day because she had no money to pay the back board, vet and shoer. My “Nicholas” died two weeks ago from colic. He would have been 24 in the spring. I love all horses, but Arabians are the most magical of all. I only wish that so many of the horses out there were owned by loving people. This is why I will fight the slaughter issue until it is passed or I pass away. Most horse people have no idea how cruel and inhumane their lives become once they get caught in the slaughter pipeline. Right now I am grieving for the horse I lost. But I have feeling god has a plan for me and he will bring that special horse to me when the time is right. Horses are magical and loving creatures once you open your heart and they indeed talk to you. Have a great day to all my “horse warrior”advocates. May the “force of the horse” be with you.
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Gail – I can sympathize with you for your loss of Nicholas.
Peter Rabbit had a good long life & it sounds like a darn good one with people who all cared for him – regardless of where he lived.
Its sad that all horses don’t have a life like that.
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