Jet Above, adopted by Jacqui
This is the love story of Jacqui and Jet Above, the quintessential happy ending. Many years ago on Stonefield Farm, Jacqui rode her wonderful hunter Max. They were always spit polished and up front in the hunt field during hunting season, and they spent many years building memories hacking cross country and horse showing with Max’s show rider. Jacqui’s husband Jack, a lifelong horseman, scoffed when Jacqui bought Max, a horse who had ‘a leg in 4 counties’. But years later, when Max crossed the rainbow bridge at the age of 29, Jack and Jacqui both deeply felt the loss of this wonderful gray gelding.
During this time of Jacqui and Max, along came Touché, or Toots, a stunning homebred filly out of a TB rescue mare that Jack bought one night at dinner when he heard she was in a dangerous situation. Toots was well put together, loved the show ring, and gave everyone chills as she won classes at all the hunter breeding shows. Toots proved to be a challenging mare, but she was well loved.
As time went on, Stonefield Farm was sold and Toots moved to a lovely local boarding facility where Jacqui enjoyed their time together. Then one day every horseman’s fear happened and Toots succumbed to colic. Jacqui and Jack were devastated. Jacqui’s 2 closest barn friends feared that she would give up horses and move on to a new chapter in her life, as she was now in her early 60s.
Three days later, Jacqui stood looking at the empty stall and said “I want to rescue a horse”. The 2 barn friends looked at each other, smiled and then jumped to action before Jacqui could change her mind. One scoured the internet for rescue groups and the other received a glowing reference for a place called MidAtlantic Horse Rescue. An introductory email was sent to Bev along with Jacqui’s riding history and ability, and Bev replied “I have the perfect horse for Jacqui”. The 2 friends were a bit skeptical, but off to Maryland they all went in search of Jacqui’s new partner.
You see, Bev was flummoxed as to why Jett hadn’t found a home yet. He had been the demo horse at a recent horse expo and had been shown to some prospective adopters with no results. He had been gelded 6 months prior and yet did not act like a stud. Bev knew what a special horse he was, and she trusted that the right person would soon come along.
When the friends arrived at MAHR, Bev showed them some very nice thoroughbreds, but none that really excited Jacqui. Bev then brought out Jett, and the friends carefully looked over this lovely 6 yr. old, 16.1 light bay gelding. All during the inspection, Jett stood stone still, as if he understood the importance of making a good impression. Tack was brought out, Bev hopped on and Jett hacked around like a gentleman. All the friends liked what they saw, but Jacqui was quiet. Jacqui’s 2 friends each rode Jett and thought he would be a good match, but they held their breath when Jacqui put her foot in the stirrup. As she picked up the reins, Jett pricked his ears and off they went. Jacqui was smiling as she and Jett happily trotted and cantered around the field, unaware of the rainbow in the sky behind her. She said she liked Jett, but the friends warned her not to buy the first horse she tried. “I know, I know” she said, and Bev understood. Not sure what to do, Jacqui put down a deposit but still wondered if there was another horse out there she needed to see in order to ‘know’.
For the next week, Jacqui diligently watched videos and even visited a couple other farms, but she kept coming back to how good she felt with Jett. He was confident, quiet, trusting and ready for anything! In the mean time, Bev started to get inquiries about him. It didn’t take long for Jacqui to make her final decision and 2 weeks after the first visit, Jett was on his way to his new home. Jacqui kept saying “I can’t believe I’m getting a 6 year old thoroughbred, am I nuts?” As usual, Jack just grinned and shook his head. “Careful, he’ll be different when he gets some groceries in him”, he warned.
Jett settled into his new home like the old race pro that he was and was turned out with 2 mini donkeys. Jacqui started doing basic natural horsemanship with Jett to get to know him better and Jett responded eagerly and with kindness. As Jett began to blossom, the friends wondered if this sweet, level-headed horse would turn into a fired-up stranger.
To everyone’s amazement Jett never changed, instead he buckled down to work. The first winter was spent learning how to go like a hunter in the ring: learning the cues for walk, trot, canter and most importantly, ‘whoa’. This one was the easiest of all as he goes in a happy mouth snaffle. Jacqui soon felt confident enough to take Jett out for a hack in the cornfields, and that’s when she found out that he just hates to walk through mud. He doesn’t mind going into it, he just doesn’t like to have his feet in the cold, yucky stuff! Oh and when Jett feels really good, he’ll just give a little shake of his head so you know, or maybe he’ll scoot a bit. Jett soon started jumping and he really took to it. He picked his knees up and looked to the next fence, not caring about flower boxes, gates or anything else that might be ‘spooky’. Jacqui and Jack continued to be amazed by this willing, happy guy.
Unfortunately, Jack passed away in May of 2011. For as skeptical as he was when Jacqui picked Jett, Jack came to adore him and loved to watch Jacqui ride this wonderful little horse. This made Jett’s first horse show a week after Jack’s passing a bittersweet event. In addition, Jett’s show rider had just lost her father to cancer, and everyone wondered if they should go to the show. In the end, they all knew Jack was looking down on them and would have wanted them to go.
At the show, Jett got off the trailer and acted as if he had been showing his whole life. He hacked well and the spectators held their breath when he stood in the line-up, or rather didn’t’ stand. He didn’t understand that he was to stand still at the end of the class, and he got light in the front end, mad that he had to wait for a gate to open! During the next class, he stood at the far end of the lineup and wasn’t quite so confused. During the show, the judge commented on his quality, class, and show presence. He really stood out with his natural balance and refined movement.
Jett brought Jacqui to tears several times that day, winning his hack classes and jumping around a small course like a star. He finished the show as champion baby green hunter (oh, by the way there were 21 in the division). Jacqui was so happy he was such a good boy, yet she missed Jack very much. His rider was so proud of him. This special horse helped to ease a lot of pain that day.
This year, Jett has added pace events and trail riding to his resume. He loves to go cross country navigating streams, cantering up hills and jumping jumps. He loves to grab a wad of grass or cornstalk during a ride and hold on to it until the ride is over, then he eats it. He is always a gentleman in company, and even when older horses balk at doing something he’ll just go right ahead and lead.
Jacqui and Jett are a match made in heaven, they are so in love. If you run across them on the trail or at a show, give them a shout out!
PO Box 407
Chesapeake City, MD 21915
For information call: 302-376-7297
or Email: Bev@MidAtlanticHorseRescue.org
MidAtlantic Horse Rescue is
a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
©2002-2012 MidAtlantic Horse Rescue
MidAtlantic Horse Rescue is a Federal 501(c)3 organization, that buys slaughter
bound ex-racehorses and adopts them into good homes as pleasure and sport horses.
