The Story of Jack (aka Splash)
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We got the call on November 3, 2011 about two horses at the local auction yard.
One was an older Paint gelding. We were told both were sweet and even though we did not have any space, we agreed to pick them up. Of course, both were darlings, but in poor shape. We got them home and out to our pasture where the light started to come back into their eyes. A few days later, on November 6, I saw a comment posted from a woman who said she used to own the Paint gelding (who we had nicknamed “Jack”). When I called her on the phone, she was in tears and she told me her story. |
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She owned Jack, or as she called him, Splash, from June 1995 – August 2000. When she bought Splash, she was trying to get on a transplant list as she was in need of need of two organs and was in poor shape - mentally and spiritually and always missed having a horse. She told me that she “had a dream about a palomino/pinto and the following day I saw his ad in the paper- the rest is history”.
The doctors told her that there wasn't much hope, but she got on the list in November 1995 and recieved the organs September 1996. Her transplants went well, but she was still not healthy. She found that people were riding her horse when she wasn’t around and she wanted him to have one owner/rider to keep him fit. Even though it was heartbreaking to sell him, she wanted what was best for him. She ended up selling him to an aquaintance with whom I had a buy back arrangement. They kept in touch and she saw Splash a few times over the years. A few years ago, she could not stop thinking about him so called the lady who bougth him to ask how he was. She informed Erin that she had sold him a year prior. Erin said “I was literally sick for days but she DID take great care of him when she had him so I figured she'd found him a great retirement home”. |
Erin: The Delta Optimist did a story on me regarding being on the transplant list. this pic was coincidently taken the day before I got the call to go in and the story ran the day I was in surgery. the photographer was taken with me and Splash so he blew up this pic and gave it to me. I love it.
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Regardless, she continued to post his picture on Facebook and check rescue sites just in case. A few months ago, she finally purchased TinMan - a little QH gelding, then some friends at the barn said they had seen a horse that looked like Splash on our site, but the age was wrong. Nevertheless, Erin checked us out to discover that it was in fact her boy.
We reunited them on November 7, 2011. He was worried about where we were so it took him a few minutes, but he looked like he remembered her at the end.
We reunited them on November 7, 2011. He was worried about where we were so it took him a few minutes, but he looked like he remembered her at the end.
He knew me at 2 minutes and 47 seconds. I see it, I felt it.
“I am beyond sad at the condition of Splash but so grateful for J&M and for my friends informing me about him. The support from friends and strangers is overwhelming and I am so grateful! I think Splash is too <3”
