Jo Frances Matthews

As you may have realised, the author, Jo Matthew, rescued Nimbus when he was about the age of four. It was an experience that was to change the course of both their lives. She was always poor with no money, as she was bringing up her two children, but Nimbus was ‘family' to all of them. She was so fortunate to have the love and support of her two children, who are now grown up with their own children. Leah and Daniel, no doubt, remember being taken up the yard in storms to check Nimbus was OK or spending time with horses much of the time.
After she had to give up her livery yard, she was going to work and was always at the yard at five thirty a.m. and in winter endured climbing over a frozen five-bar gate. It takes commitment to be a horse owner. Then every evening and weekend was devoted to Nimbus and her children. She moved on to employment training to be a teacher and fortunately had supportive people who helped with Nimbus at the various yards where he was stabled. Fortunately, a fellow teacher, Michelle, who adored Nimbus and rode him, spoilt him with good things for him.
They had years of memorable experiences together, and Nimbus was a handful at times, and Jo did have ‘injuries' due to her lack of common sense, but he would not have been Nimbus without his crazy character. Jo's students used to like to hear about her stories and encouraged her to get the book written, so she persevered. But mainly for Nimbus.
The book came as a result of her need to do something for the beloved horse that managed to survive and live to twenty-eight years old and then, due to ill health, had to leave them. Nimbus had a blessed life with Jo and his family - he was family. Jo wanted to write something to be a ‘forever' memory of him. So, this is for him. With love