Tribute

As I’m sure most of you have either read or figured out from my postings, my studio is a homage to my current horse, Jambalaya, who is a very striking solid sorrel paint gelding; and my buddy. Jumby (his nickname) is in fact my second horse, my first horse was a very sweet Quarter Horse mare named Tessa and I’d like to take the time to introduce you all to her.

I don’t typically write too much about Tessa, because I lost her nine years ago, and it still gets me quite emotional to even think about her, but she played such an integral role in my development of riding and love of horses. It wouldn’t be fair to assume that Jumby get’s all the glory (okay okay he gets a TON of it, but I do spoil the goober) so let’s talk Tessa.

I grew up overseas and when I first moved back to the USA in 1995 I had a bit of difficulty adjusting to the new school systems and children in them. Friends were not plenty and I wasn’t all that chipper. I had always loved horses and had been riding at a stable near my house every summer I came to visit the states (when I lived overseas, I spent the school year there, and came back to visit family in the USA during the summer months). Since we were back permanently, my parents were more open to the idea of me owning my first horse. Enter Tessa, a ten year-old Quarter Horse mare with no papers who became my shadow. I was around her constantly, learning how to properly show Western Pleasure, how to doing flying lead changes, you name it, I was fearless on her. If you had asked me to jump the moon on her, I probably would have tried. She became my Trigger, Secretariat, Silver, Man O’War, my Black Stallion.

Actually, has anyone seen that movie, The Black Stallion? If so, remember the scene where Alec and the Black are marooned on the island and begin developing their bond and run around in the ocean? How The Black would follow him around like a dog? Tessa did that. No fooling. I could turn her out with just a halter on and start running around the arena; she would keep right behind me, stopping where I stopped, turning around where I turned and following me no matter where I went. People at the barn remarked about how amazing it was that she would just run around playing with me. This came into play later on as a very good thing indeed; as she literally saved my skin one day. I turned her out in the paddock one afternoon and the only other horse in there, a sometimes temperamental mare, decided to charge me. I was dead in the middle of the paddock as I tried to make a mad dash and dive between the boards of the fence, that mare was almost on me; that was until Tessa caught wind of this and came up from behind.

Tessa was lit up, and slammed full speed into the charging mare; knocking her over and away from me. The mare got up and galloped to the corner opposite of us and stayed there as Tessa ran to where I was standing and came to a dead stop mere inches away from me. She then sniffed me from foot to head and then just put her head on my chest. I know this sounds like a made-for-television movie, but I swear this all happened. I often think that she would have done the same thing Pilgrim did in The Horse Whisperer if a truck had been about to plow into me.

I suppose this is why I get so passionate about portraying horses in my artwork; I feel like all horses have that type of capacity in them, a noble spirit that needs proper tribute, never to be forgotten but to live on and remind us all that they really are capable of not only liking their ‘owners’ but of being protective of them. It’s the fundamental rules of horsemanship, mutual trust and respect. That day I had the lesson of being able to trust my horse cemented in my heart. Not to downplay Jambalaya any, but he’s never been ‘that committed to me’ but I know he’s my buddy. If I go up to the fence when he’s turned out, he’ll come trotting right over to see me. I am however more convinced this is because he thinks I have treats for him :o)

Tessa had to be put down in 2000 after losing her battle with colic, we kept her as comfortable as we could, but as soon as they said she was starting to suffer we told them to end it immediately. She had always been there for me, and no matter how much I loved her and would miss her, I couldn’t be selfish and make that horse suffer.

So that in a nutshell is Tessa, I probably have more stories about my five years with her, but for now I think this is all I can write about her without getting too upset.