Monroe's equine legend feels at home Twenty-eight years ago, Little Current was one of the fastest horses around By Jennifer Langston Herald Writer MONROE - Little Current still whinnies at the mares and fancies himself a ladies' man. He romps like a colt - if only for five minutes - with the aid of special plastic, U-shaped shoes that soothe the athlete's aches and pains. The country's oldest winner of two legs of the Triple Crown is living out his twilight years in a barn near the fairgrounds in Monroe, relishing his peppermints and attending to his fans. Friday the chestnut stallion turned 31, an extraordinary age for a thoroughbred racehorse. This week he was named an honorary citizen of Monroe by the city council. Most thoroughbreds don't live past their mid-20s, said owner Ann Kraus-Hansen, an equine veterinarian who specializes in surgery. But Little Current still has the energy to frolic and flirt. It's been a few years since he sired his last foal, but he still thinks he could. "He gets all puffed up and hollers and says 'I'm quite the stud,' " Kraus-Hansen said. "He's cool, he's the best, and he knows it." She and her husband Mark Hansen, veterinarians who run Pacific Equine in Monroe, bought the champion racehorse about seven years ago. Hansen had been a fan ever since he watched Little Current win two legs of the Triple Crown - the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes - in 1974. He was a come-from-behind horse, hanging back until he exploded and broke from the pack. Hansen believes Little Current could have won the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown if the large field of horses that year hadn't made it so difficult to pass. It's thrilling to watch an athlete that's head and shoulders above the best in the world, Kraus-Hansen said. There's a spirit to his races that still gives her the chills. "It's like watching (Olympic gymnast) Nadia Comaneci doing the perfect 10. If it's a sport you know, you recognize that ability," she said. Mark Hansen first came face-to-face with Little Current 10 years ago, when he was negotiating to buy one of his colts. Hansen kept track of him over the years, and finally convinced an owner to sell. They got a few foals from Little Current and then retired him as a stud. Now he mostly hangs out, holds court, eats and romps around in a pasture when the weather's nice. He can't run and play as long as he used to, but he's still good for about five minutes before he becomes more interested in eating grass. He gets visits several times a year from fans from as far away as Baltimore, who remember his glory days and like basking in his greatness. Little Current's still in relatively good health, Kraus-Hansen said. He gave them a scare a few months ago when his feet started bothering him, and that's still their biggest concern. On Friday morning farrier Richard Williams replaced Little Current's special horseshoes that Kraus-Hansen compares to geriatric Nikes. The metal shoes are covered with plastic, which are affixed with glue instead of nails. "That's part of his old age program, because he's got racehorse legs and feet," she said. He eats special feed, since his teeth aren't what they used to be. But that doesn't stop him from loving his bran mash in the morning. "He gets it all over his face and his neck like a little kid," Hansen said. And while other stallions may bide their time just looking for an opening to kick or bite, Little Current generally takes people in stride. "He's probably the most gentlemanly horse I've ever worked on," said Williams, who's been a farrier for 32 years. "Other stallions can be sneaky ... but he's just a good, fine horse." You can call Herald Writer Jennifer Langston at 425-339-3452 or send e-mail to langston@heraldnet.com. This story can be found at: http://www.heraldnet.com/Stories/02/4/6/15374279.cfm Copyright © 2002 The Daily Herald Co., Everett, Wash. If you have questions or comments, please contact us at newmedia@heraldnet.com.