We only had him for a year
and a half, but he changed our lives dramatically. Jack was an 18 year old
Appaloosa/Percheron cross. He was 15.2 hh, about 1800 lbs and blind in his
left eye. He was as stubborn as a mule and had more attitude than an angry
hornet. But despite all that, we loved him dearly.
We bought him in Harrowsmith On and brought him home so that my daughter
would have the chance to learn to ride on a relatively calm horse. After
my daughter was comfortable, then she would get a younger horse and old Jack
would then be mine to ride. He was a very loving horse if he knew you. If
not, he was very standoffish and did not like strangers. Well, Jack was anything
but calm. He loved to gallop and my daughter loved to gallop him. He could
turn 90 degree corners at a canter and stop on a dime. But he was safe,
reliable and steadfast. He never left her side on the few times she did something
silly and fell off.
His last few days were not
the best. He was not feeling well and on Thursday he started showing signs
of colic. The vet came immediately. After some shots to calm Jack, the vet
examined him and found a large tumour in his intestines. He shook his head
and we knew there was nothing to be done. Jack was laying down at the time
and I was holding his head. When the vet gave him his ease, he put his head
in my lap and let out a sigh. We buried him at home.
Suzanne Lethbridge
Jack 
