From The Founder: Apple Jack

To the Heart of a Horse Community

Apple Jack

Two days ago I met a very special donkey named Apple Jack. He was in his 30s. Apple Jack was towards the end of his life and the lovely lady, Pat, who had rescued Apple Jack many years before wanted me to come to be with her when she said goodbye to this sweet, wonderful creature. I got the call late at night from Dr. Smith relaying Pat’s request for to come up there before Apple Jack was put down. I said of course I would. I pulled up onto her property. It was pitch dark. I could see Apple Jack on the ground and Pat sitting beside him. When I went over to sit down with them, I saw she had been crying. We sat together waiting for the vet to come and she began telling me Apple Jack’s story.

When she rescued Apple Jack, he was very thin and had been neglected. She could see in his eyes that he wanted to be loved so badly. She said to me, “April, look at his eyes. His eyes are the most sweet, loving brown eyes I have ever seen.”

He was in a poor state, breathing heavily and in his last moments. But his eyes were still soft. He was so scared and he wanted Pat so much to be by him. She went on to tell me that when she rescued him her first thought was “Oh my God, what have I gotten myself into.” But after awhile, as she grew to love him, she realized that Apple Jack was actually saving her. She had recently been through a divorce, only to discover that she had breast cancer. She went into a deep depression. But she knew she had to take care of Apple Jack.

When she went to feed him and comfort him he would be there beside her, and began to brighten up her days. When she would become very ill from her chemotherapy, she would sit next to Apple Jack and the closeness they felt to each other and the need they had for each other would comfort her. Then She lost her job and needed money for both of them. A neighbor suggested to her that she have Apple Jack give rides to kids in the neighborhood to make money. And so she did. It began with a couple of kids but then there were several dozen and they were able to raise the money they needed.

She told me, “All Apple Jack ever asked for was hay and hugs and kisses.”

When the vet arrived, Pat knew it was time to say goodbye to Apple Jack. I move back from them and watched her kiss his face, and rub his back. He lifted his head at one point to reach out to her and give her a kiss in return. But he was just so old and sick we all knew Apple Jack needed to be released and to go on. When he was finally released from his old sick body and was able to go on, I thought it was such an honor and blessing to see the love between Apple Jack and Pat and to share in their goodbyes. When it was all over, Pat said, “You know April, I did rescue Apple Jack, but he saved my life. He truly rescued me.”

Goodbye Apple Jack. You made this world a better place while you were here.