Titan Jack






TJ
Thoroughbred
11 years old
Died March 29, 2010



It was fall and my sister's horse was retiring, so it was agreed she'd use my pony who I'd used for three years and didn't want to give up, but it was time to find something new, so we started looking for a new horse. There was nothing after looking all fall and into winter we gave up.

My 4-H leader came up with the idea of me leasing the big grey Thoroughbred she had been leasing for the few years since she was too busy to ride him anymore. To be honest I was completely scared to death, he was a whole 16 hands and I was a small teenager who had seen how crazy he could get, but I tried him out anyway. He was incredible, he had a floaty trot and a dreamy but fast canter since he had come off the race tracks. That was it. After that there was no helping me, I was in love with him.

I went out whenever I could to ride him even when I would freeze myself to keep riding, even when he would take off and give me a heart attack, I would still love riding him. The lease was final and I would be bringing him to my house to meet the ponies in spring. Before I knew it, it was already March 21 and I would be bringing my beloved TJ home. I rode at my leader's house and his owner came out to watch me ride. Apparently he had more energy than I thought and threw me, but I got right back on and it was a pretty good ride. We drove him home and I was so excited. I rode him whenever I could and I felt our bond grow stronger. The first time I rode him at my house he slipped and fell on me, but we were both fine and kept riding.

Then came March 29, the day I will never forget. I rode him and it seemed great, my mom took pictures and a video of me riding. Content, I put him away in the pen, in with the ponies who were getting along with everyone. Later that night while I was talking to my Gramie, one of the ponies cornered TJ and he didn't know what to do. My sister yelled at me, "Emma, your horse is hurt!". I ignored her but walked over to the window. My dad said, "Oh he's fine, he got up. Oh my God, his guts are hanging out!". I saw something red hanging down from his stomach. Freaking out, I had to hang up and ran to my room screaming and crying. Not knowing what to do, I called one of my horse friends who assured me the vet would come and everything would be okay. Only it wasn't.

TJ had tried to get out of the pen and knocked over the fence. He impaled himself on a fence post badly enough that his intestines and stomach were hanging out. When the vet got there, there was nothing he could do except put him out of his misery. I looked out the window to see the vet giving TJ a shot in the neck. I ran into the garage, "Dad what are they doing?!!!".  He replied, "It's over." I was overcome with shock and grief. I screamed frantically, "I didn't even get to say goodbye!" I brought myself to open the door and scream at the vet holding a gun, "No! Stop! I want to say goodbye!" He turned to look at me sobbing in the doorway, then looked at my mom who was standing behind him, plugging her ears and not hearing me. I guess the vet didn't hear me either because he put the gun to TJ's head. "Nooooo!" I screamed and slammed the door. I collapsed on the floor and started screaming and crying, "No! This can't be happening! You can't do this to me!" I called my friend again, "Jordan, they put him down, they put him down!", was all I managed besides sobbing into the phone. The next day at school I was a mess and stayed in the counselor's office most of the day and I cried every time I thought of him.

How he loved to rub his head on you or how he ground his teeth when he wanted to go faster. He had so much ahead of him. I was dreaming of showing him and jumping and he only lasted eight days at our house. We were supposed to be together until I graduated from high school.

I feel heartbroken without him, our dreams were crushed so easily and quickly. Rest In Peace, Titan Jack, you may not have actually been mine, but I loved you very, very much and you will never be forgotten.

Emma














Name Index
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
 I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Return to Hoofprints On My Heart home.





Copyright © 2010 Hoofbeats In Heaven. All rights reserved.
Text and photos may not be reproduced in any form.