JESS NOT JESSE HAS BECOME A SARATOGA WARHORSE!
We retired Jess to Akindale in Pawling, NY where Melody Squier. Equine Director of Saratoga Warhorse saw him last year. Saratoga Warhorse is a program that uses horses to help veterans of our armed forces who suffer from PTSD, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.
Unfortunately. financial reasons did not allow Saratoga Warhorse to actually use Jess at that time. Soon afterwards, Melody decided to adopt Jess Not Jesse. She fell in love with him because he reminded her of her first thoroughbred re-tread, Fancy and Free. When the opportunity to use him with Saratoga Warhorse resurfaced, she decided to share him with the suffering veterans. We received this note from her recently.
I want to update you a bit. Right after I spoke with you back in November, Jess got very sick with a high temperature. We thought we might lose him. It made the whole family really bond with him during the recovery, my three grown children and husband. They all commented about the way he cradles you with his head in an embrace and how it is exactly the way my first thoroughbred, “Fancy and Free” who I named Autumn used to do when they were kids.
You may have already received some pictures from Sharon Castro of our class on Tuesday this week where Jess and another horse Panama debuted with the Saratoga WarHorse program. I have to say that Jess is a star – he really understands his role in the program and does superbly. Of course it means I have to share him for now but he makes me so proud!
I will also send a couple photos separately from our class on Thursday. The way he is “embracing” this veteran who badly needed acceptance is why I adore him so much.
All the best,
Melody and the horses
Here are some photos of Jess with the Veterans and Melody:
WHAT A HORSE!
Hope you love this story as much as we do.
FlatteryWillGetYou is pointing to a race on Friday the 26th of February at Aqueduct. Ahvee’s Destiny is doing fine and is due shortly after April 1st. All else remains pretty much the same.
Looking forward to our next communication!
