A tribute to Jet

🌈 On January 19th 2025 our handsome gentle giant, Jet crossed the rainbow bridge to be with the horse ancestors. ✨

Jet would have been 23 years old this May, and was with us since August of 2017. Our farrier recommended him as a possible lesson horse due to his laid back personality and smarts. After sharing the following story with me, I knew I had to meet him: Dean shared an experience of trimming Jets hooves, and his son insisting he move away from Jet as there was a swarm of wasps coming out of a fence post. He states that Jet stood steadily, just bobbing and weaving his head without panic. This story really captures Jet’s presence: strong, steady, calm in the face of danger, resilient, brave, and a natural leader.

Jet absolutely loved being groomed. He’d lean into the brush, making playful faces, and his mane, especially where the white and brown met, was a favorite for students and campers to braid. We always joked that he was so in tune with his role, he had an “auto-pilot” mode. He remembered his students and what they were working on—if I attached the longe line and they were focused on cantering, he’d set himself up, ready to go!

On a personal level, Jet was a constant, steady presence that was incredibly healing. After a serious fall while horsepacking in Yellowstone in 2021, which left me with an arm injury, it was Jet who helped me regain my confidence and work through the trauma of that experience. I knew I could trust him completely—his calm strength and intuitive nature guided me back, offering both comfort and insight as I navigated the recovery process.

As I shared the news with students these past weeks, I have set up a memorial on his stall to share messages, stories, and pictures. My heart is filled with immense gratitude for Jet’s life—what he meant to everyone he encountered, and the deep love that surrounded him. 🙏