"While only six, he possessed an old soul, and he clearly had
no issues with anything I placed in front of him."
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| Tank showing a little attitude |
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| Enjoying some sun with the cat. |
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| Tank in the beautiful Paradise Valley |
This was how my friend Jessika described her first meeting
with a horse named Tank. With a body
fitting of his name, standing 17 hands and 1400 pounds, the white and patchwork
colored horse was to become a major part of Jessika’s life. Long before she met Tank however, Jessika’s
life was already devoted to and often motivated by her love of horses.
A child of the deep south, Jessika grew up with horses, learning
to ride western style before switching to English style at age 13. With one of her first competition horses,
Ginger, Jessika competed in hunter/jumper competitions before switching over to
three day eventing, an equine triathlon. Shortly thereafter, another dream of
hers took over. That was the dream of
being in law enforcement. Pursuit of law
enforcement lead Jessika to Montana where, after college, she became a police
officer in a small town an hour north of Yellowstone National Park. Though living one dream, she never gave up
her first true love, horses. It was after she was forced to retire Ginger due
to health reasons, and while looking for another competition horse, that she
decided to combine her passions. That’s when Jessika’s life headed for real
change.
With a lot of self-initiative, Jessika convinced her small
department to let her start a mounted unit comprising her and a new partner,
Larry, a horse she had picked specifically for this new job. Jessika dove into her new pursuit as only a
stubborn redheaded southerner could, leading to numerous trips with Larry to
trainings and visits to departments around the country that had established
mounted units. She describes how Larry performed
in this new endeavor:
"Larry was actually fabulous as a police horse. He was brave, curious, and very generous;
however, it was often on own his terms.
He’s by far one of the most sensitive horses I’ve ever ridden, a prima
donna, if you will. Normally, mounted
units have at least a few horse and rider combinations. LPD’s unit was unique, as it was just Larry
and me. Horses are naturally herd
creatures; they find confidence and security when they are together. While Larry often displayed these traits on
his own, there were also times where he did not. He also developed ulcers, which are extremely
common in competition horses and horses that are under stress. Mounted police work is not for the faint of
heart, nor is the training for that matter.
Having a confident mount on every ride is paramount, especially if
you’re a one-horse unit. I retired him
from police work and turned him into my three day eventing partner."
With Larry no longer an option, Jessika did what any other
horse-loving woman would. She went horse
shopping. That is when she found Tank.
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| Jess and her husband training Tank for police work |
"It was love at first sight when I met him. Ask any horse person and they’ll tell you it
is both the worst and best feeling in the world. No matter how much you love a horse, they
still must pass the veterinarian pre-purchase exam. After only riding Tank for a few minutes, I
knew right then and there that he would be perfect as my partner. I test rode him solo on a nearby road, with
cars zooming by, then later, walking over a tarp. While only 6-years-old, he possessed an old
soul, and he clearly had no issues with anything I placed in front of him. Days later, he passed that pre-purchase exam!"
The bond between Tank and Jessika was one that only horse
people could understand. It was a trust,
a friendship, and a love that couldn’t be broken. This bond was tested and proven true one
fateful day. On June 27, 2016, Jessika
was out for a ride on Tank in the mountains near her home. It was a beautiful summer day and the trail
was not anything unusual for her and Tank.
Along for the ride were Jessika’s two Boxers, Roxie and Archer, both of whom
were regular participants on these rides. Perhaps it was the enjoyment of the
trail and a calm, sunny day, but whatever the reason, Jessika wasn’t prepared
when something happened that caused her to fall from Tank. She has no memory of the few minutes leading
up to the accident but here is what she thinks happened.
At a rocky part of the trail, Tank stumbled a little and in
just a heartbeat, Jessika fell to the ground and struck her head on some
rocks. Even though she was wearing a
riding helmet, the impact rendered her unconscious on the trail, although she was
not alone.
"While I remember everything up until the few
minutes before the accident, I have complete amnesia of the accident
itself. My next memory is that of waking
up in the hospital, two days later. I’ve
had multiple people state in disbelief that I was by myself at the time, but in
reality, I was not alone. Tank was
grazing nearby and my Boxers had bedded down around me. I was conscious when
the hiker found me; however, I have absolutely no memory of it. I apparently
fought the paramedics and my deputies, yet I have zero memory."
So began Jessika’s
long recovery from what is called Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Yet, like during the time of the fall, she
was not alone during this long process.
Her husband, step-children, friends, and coworkers all were there to
help, as was Tank.
"I was ignorant of brain injuries when this happened. I simply was not prepared for just how long
and hard recovery would be. Tank has
helped me on every level possible - spiritually, physically, and mentally."
Despite the injury, Jessika’s love for her horses, and for
riding, were not diminished and, in fact, were to become driving forces in her
recovery.
"About three weeks after my TBI, I felt confident enough to
get back in the saddle. Even though it
was against doctor’s orders, as well as my husband’s, it was something I had to
do. I thought I had a bond with Tank
before the accident, but I did not truly feel it fully until I got back on him
after my injury. He just seemed to know.
He was gentle, affectionate, and patient
with me. I only had the energy for a
twenty-minute ride, but I just knew that he knew what was going on with me. While he was gentle and patient with me those
first few months, over time he would gradually test me here and there. That’s when I knew I was really progressing
under saddle. From the time I
got back on him after the injury, he just knew what my capabilities were."
This story, itself, captures the beautiful bond between
horse and rider, yet with Tank it portrays just a touch of how wonderfully
impacting this horse with a tough name is.
More evidence of Tank’s impact was captured in February 2017, when
Jessika posted a picture of Tank visiting an old woman whose husband had passed
away. The relationship between Jessika
and this couple had been long-forged, and Tank, like so many animals, seemed to
understand that he was needed.
"I met Marlys and her husband, Bob, while delivering jury
summons on duty about seven years ago. I
had arrived that afternoon during a very difficult time in her life. I adored her the moment I met her and we kept
in touch over the years. In 2015, while
conducting training in the neighborhood on Tank, I decided to stop by their
residence to say hi. Marlys’s love for
Tank was immediate. Tank responded in
kind and was more affectionate with her than he had ever been with me. Bob and Marlys soon became my adopted grandparents. They embodied everything grandparents are
supposed to be - warm, kind, selfless, humble – everything we all aspire to
be. Whenever training in that
neighborhood, I was always sure to bring Tank by. And even when I wasn’t working the
neighborhood, I would trailer him over to their house. Bob always had a ridiculous amount of carrots
and apples stocked in the fridge for Tank, just in case we made a surprise stop. Marlys had been ill for some time and had
been reliant on Bob to care for her. His
love and commitment to her was undeniable.
Bob passed a week ago Sunday, yet I can still hear his laugh and see his
big bright smile as he brought out Tank’s treats."
The picture that Jessika posted after Bob's passing, combined with her comments,
clearly highlighted just how big a heart Tank has.
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| Tank's visit with Marlys after her husband had passed |
"For the first time in 64
years, my Marlys spent Valentine's Day without her beloved husband. This warm,
kind soul passed away on Saturday. I can't bring her
husband back, but I can bring a 1,400 pound teddy bear by for a few hours.
Many people have been around dogs and cats, but few have had
the privilege of working with horses.
The equine/human bond is unique and entirely about trust. It is based on both horse and rider being a
part of one herd, one mindset. Trusting. Faithful. Jessika and Tank are the classic example of that beautiful bond between horse and rider.
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| Jess and Tank |
It was my intent to capture this special equine/human bond
in my second novel, Lost Horse Park. If nothing else, I desire to give readers a
taste of what it is like to be one with a massive animal that runs with the
wind. A special thank you to Jessika for
sharing her story about Tank and for contributing the pictures contained in
this blog.
Troy B, Kechely
www.troykechely.com
