Tilly

description: black & white Paint mare
registered name: Ima Black Jag, by Ima Black Jaguar, out of Skips Wrangalet
type of rescue: King County Animal Control seizure
intake date: 4/5/2012
adoption date: 3/15/2013
length of time with SAFE: 11 months

ADOPTED!! by the Christiansen family of Duvall WA

Tilly was seized by authorities due to her extremely poor condition. After taking possession of this mare, SAFE sent her straight to NWESC for care as the starvation and neglect she had experienced put her at risk of serious illness or death. She arrived severely underweight, covered in rainrot, infested with lice, and loaded with parasites. It took two months before Tilly was strong enough to have her teeth floated. Once she recovered from her neglect, we discovered that she was a very good horse under saddle — solid at walk, trot, and canter; nicely forward with good transitions and a good whoa. Not only that but she was very sweet and easy to handle on the ground. We were eventually contacted by a previous owner of Tilly who recognized her from her photos. Tilly is a registered APHA mare named Ima Black Jag, by Ima Black Jaguar, out of Skips Wrangalet by Wrangler. She’s registered as a black tobiano, although she’s actually dark brown & white. She had extensive training and had been used as a children’s lesson horse. Tilly found a home for life with a local family who were looking for a horse that all of them could enjoy. Daughter Anna was very active in 4‑H with Tilly and the two enjoyed a wonderful partnership together for 11 years. In 2021, with Tilly’s condition declining, Anna made the selfless decision to let her heart horse pass peacefully and run free from pain. 

Tilly’s Passing

by | Oct 15, 2021 |

We received this beautiful, heartbreaking letter from Tilly’s adopter, who said goodbye to her heart horse after 11 years together. We are so grateful for everything Anna and her family did for this beautiful mare, and we wish them comfort at this very sad time.

Dear SAFE staff and volunteers,
11 years ago, my family and I adopted Emmy (Tilly) to be my 4H teammate and all around best friend. For 11 years Emmy took the best possible care of me! Teaching me, loving me, and growing with me. While under my care we accomplished so much together! From 4H shows to schooling events, even rodeos. She always put in 110% effort for me and always kept me safe! She even came to college with me for a year and taught so many other young riders the same lessons she taught me.

As you are aware, Emmy is almost 25 years old and has Metabolic issues. The past couple of months she has become more and more uncomfortable and sore in her everyday life. We have tried tirelessly to keep her comfortable the best we could, using pain management, diet adjustments and easy exercise. Despite all of our efforts unfortunately this past week things have taken a turn for the worse. Emmy can no longer get up on her own when she lays down, and no matter how much bute we give her she’s still extremely sore, stiff and uncomfortable. She’s losing weight rapidly and her quality of life is truly suffering. With the opinions of my trainer, parents and veterinarian, we have decided that the best and most humane thing for Emmy is to put her to sleep. It absolutely destroys me to let her go, but it hurts me even more to see her in constant pain.

I can’t thank SAFE enough for bringing this sweet lady into my life 11 years ago and giving me not only my heart horse but my lifelong best friend. Every little girl deserves to grow up with a pony and I was the LUCKIEST little girl to get to grow up with Emmy. We have an appointment scheduled for tomorrow (Friday) morning to have her favorite vet come out and help her cross the rainbow bridge. I know several of your volunteers loved Emmy and I want to give them the chance to say goodbye over FaceTime or Skype if they would like. I have attached a couple photos of my sweet girl to show our growth together. Thank you so much for saving my sweet Angel 12 years ago, I will be forever grateful.

-Sincerely, Anna C.

SAFE Alumni Update: Tilly

SAFE Alumni Update: Tilly

by | Jul 8, 2020 |

Here’s an update on Tilly, who is now known as Emmy!

The family that adopted Emmy planned to let her retire at their home when their daughter Anna went to college. Anna had only been at the University of Idaho for one month when she found a barn to work at in Pullman. She was able to bring Emmy over to that barn. She uses her to teach riding lessons to hunt seat/equitation kids. They tell us, “It’s been so long since we adopted her, I just wanted to let you know that Anna and Emmy are still very happy together.”

Tilly & Moonshine Update

by | Sep 12, 2012 | ,

Here’s a great update from foster Jackie L who cares for Moonshine and Tilly:

Moonshine has found a place in my heart. Each morning I stand on the deck and call his name, and he replies with a whinney. Sometimes he runs to the fence to say good morning up close and personal. We are still working on manners and personal space, and I regret to admit I don’t spend as much time with him as I’d like. He is very friendly, loves attention and will walk away from hay to be groomed. He keeps himself busy during the day by annoying poor Tilly. I’ve seen him run through the pasture and circle her to see if he can get her to join him, which she occasionally does. Other times he runs and crashes into her as he stops. Tilly is a patient pasturemate, most of the time. He likes to run the fence and get the donkeys next door to run with him. 

As I said, Tilly is very patient with Moonshine. She appears to be a calm and very sweet horse who likes attention and stands for grooming, no halter needed (fly spray is a different story). She loves her food and hangs around the fence when its feeding time in the afternoon. She spends her day nibbling on what’s left of the grass and fending off Moonshine who constantly nips at her hind legs and tail (boys…). Every now and then she offers a kick as a sign that her patience is thinning.

Moving Day

by | Jun 26, 2012 | , ,

Last Thursday three lucky SAFE horses moved to their new foster home for the summer. Maggie and Tilly were sent over from NWESC and Moonshine came back from Fire Creek to enjoy life in a big grassy field with friends. The three of them seemed to hit it off quite well. 

Introducing Maggie & Tilly

by | Jun 20, 2012 | ,

SAFE has two new horses to introduce to everyone. Maggie and Tilly have been in our possession since being seized by authorities due to severe neglect. We sent these two mares to NWESC right away as they were both dangerously underweight and needed round-the-clock vet care. They were covered in rainrot, loaded with parasites, and infested with lice. It took two months before they were strong enough to have their teeth floated, but now both girls are doing well, and we are getting ready to move them to a lovely foster home where they will enjoy sunshine and a nice pasture while they continue their rehabilitation.

Maggie and Tilly are Mustang/QH cross mares. Maggie is approx 18 years old and chestnut. Tilly is approx 15 and is a brown & white paint.