Little Jet Tie: RIP beloved Stallion

Feb 5

No where to turn.




I painted this when I was still in high school. Not for a class, but for myself, during my brief painting stints.

Today, my Dad called me at my office to tell me that Merche's Stallion died suddenly. Dad went out to feed him at about 10 am (he was at my Dad's farm), and Dad found him laying in the mud dead. His body was still warm.

He called me to tell me the bad news and left it up to me to break the bad news to Merche.

A word about Tie- he was a Foundation Quarter Horse Stallion. That means, the lineage of the legendary cowboy horses are carefully carried throughout the breed- they can trace way back to the Foundations of the breed in the dawn of modern America.

They are very tough horses- called "Quarter Horses" because they can run a quarter mile faster than a Thoroughbred race horse. They're all about acceleration and quick nimble movements- necessary to successfully work a herd of cows. They can come up to max speed almost instantly, whereas most horses take a while to come up to their maximum speed.

Anyway, Tie has sired dozens of foals in his life.. people gush about how wonderful horses are that come from Tie and his mares. He has touched many people's hearts.

Especially my wife, Merche's heart. Merche was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. You had to almost be filthy rich to be able to ride horses in Spain- well, in Madrid anyway. But she still managed somehow, through her determined nature to help out at the horse stables... The privileged kids were very mean to Merche and made her life a living hell. But Merche kept going back, because horses are her life- her passion. One of the jobs she had was to ride the royal horses- to keep them in shape. And this means getting on top of a very hot out of control horse and galloping totally out of control right out of the 10x10 feet stall t hey have not been out of for weeks.

That is how she one day fell off the horse, and required a month-long hospital stay where she almost lost her kidneys from a hard slam on the concrete.

Her parents HATES horses and would try to do everything they could to discourage Merche from pursuing her passion.

Fastforward a few years, we meet, fall in love, and move here to Missouri to help out with the farm while my Mom fights cancer. Tie was Mom's stallion. Tie and Merche became instant best friends... Tie- let me tell ya, is a jerk to most people. He bit my brother just out of spite... But to Merche, he was the sweetest gentleman ever... To my son, too, in his later years.

Back to Feb 5th.. Now I know that Tie's dead.. I have to tell Merche. I know she would be devastated, and unhappily she had a doctor appointment she could NOT miss. Plus she was at work.. so I didn't tell her.

So, I go to pick up Ian from school- and find out that Merche's doctor wants to send her to the hospital for EKG tests (just to be safe)... Oh shit, HOW CAN I TELL HER NOW? Not before an EKG test! Ugh.

Plus I'm really worried.. anyway, Ian and I get into my jeep and try to start for home to hurry back and beat Merche home so that she wouldn't stop by Dad's and try to feed.. the dead horse :P

THE JEEP WOULD NOT START! Dammit! I was stuck in the school parking lot with my 8 year old son... I texted my brother with my cellphone and he got right on the road to come get us...

While sitting in the jeep, I explained to Ian what was going on... That Tie passed away... he was very upset... and asked 100 questions.. about if the little baby is alive (yes) is the mare with Tie alive (yes) etc etc..

My bro finally arrives and we hustle and just abandon the jeep and hurry home.. Merche beat me home.. but didn't stop by Dad's.. Thank god...

I get out of my brother's Van.. Merche comes to greet Ian, and the first thing out of Ian's mouth?

"Mom- I'm sorry that Tie passed on"

UGH. It was rough. I wanted to tell her myself.. and after all this trouble... after an entire day of texting back and forth with Merche fibbing and saying outright white lies that "everything's fine" which Merche of course saw right through.. now this. *sigh* It was very heartbreaking.

Merche wrote this:
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In beloved memory of Little Jet Tie

June 4th 1985 – February 5th 2009.




There are good horses out there, but Tie was not just good,

He was the best!

I've been blessed having you in my life… thank YOU.

God Speed old friend!

Love you,

Merche