Tonight we share the story of a horse whose influence runs so deep that pieces of him still echo through everything we do: Tommy, the big, quirky, wonderful Quarter Horse who taught us, shaped us, and sparked whole programs — and traditions — that continue today.
Tommy joined us before we officially became a rescue. He came from another rescue, already adored, already full of opinions, and already leaving an impression everywhere he went. Standing over 16 hands tall and built like a tank, he was the kind of horse that made people stop and stare… and then fall completely in love.
We were told he had “quirks,” which turned out to mean “extra personality.” Tommy was goofy, friendly, honest, and one of the safest horses we’ve ever known. The tiniest children looked like little bugs perched on his big back — which is how he accidentally inspired our entire children’s program: the Bug Club.
Tommy’s temper tantrums were legendary. If he was upset, he’d pick up whatever was nearby — a saddle, a five-gallon bucket of water, anything — and toss it just far enough to make his point, without ever moving his feet out of place. He’d pull dramatic faces when he had headaches, making fake grumpy “I might bite you but I won’t actually bite you” gestures until a chiropractic release eased the pressure and brought back happy Tommy.
He also had Wobbles, the neurological condition that led him to rescue, but he never let it define him. As he aged, we let him slow down, and he naturally stepped into the role he was born for: teacher, mentor, and the heart of our youth education work. Hundreds of children gained confidence on the back of that big, steady horse.
And Tommy didn’t just inspire a program — he created a tradition. When he was being extra sassy, dramatic, or opinionated, he earned his naughty name: Thomas. Today, that tradition lives on: Kat becomes Katniss Everdeen, Benny becomes Benjamin, and many of our horses earn their full names when they’re being “just a bit much.” That playful, affectionate custom started with him.
Tommy passed away at 24 years old — sudden, peaceful, and entirely on his terms. One moment he was up greeting people and taking treats, and less than an hour later he quietly lay down and was gone. A heartbreaking loss for us, but a graceful ending for a horse who spent his life surrounded by love.
He was Jackie’s best friend, the founder of the Bug Club, the horse who taught us patience, humor, observation, and trust. He helped define the early culture of our rescue in ways we still feel today.
What Tommy Taught Us
Tommy’s legacy still guides the way we work with horses — and with people — every single day.
Personalities aren’t problems — they’re information.
Tommy showed us that quirks, attitudes, and dramatic moments aren’t misbehavior. They’re communication. By listening instead of correcting, we learned to see the real horse beneath the surface.
Education is rescue, too.
Tommy proved that a single horse can transform a generation. He carried hundreds of children and shaped their earliest understanding of kindness, confidence, and partnership. Teaching is one of the most powerful forms of rescue work.
The smallest signals matter.
Tommy hid discomfort well. His subtle changes — the grumpy face, the tension, the flicker of irritation — taught us to notice the quiet things horses try to hide. That lesson is now woven into every aspect of our horsemanship.
Dare to Care with Us
Tommy’s story reminds us that rescue is more than saving lives — it’s shaping futures. It’s honoring the goofy ones, the opinionated ones, the teachers, and the elders who quietly change the world simply by being themselves.
Your support allows us to give that same chance to the next horse who needs it — the ones who arrive with stories we don’t know yet, personalities we’ll learn to understand, and truths they’re waiting to share.
When you Dare to Care with us, you help us continue this work — one horse, one child, one story at a time.
👉 Give today at: https://givebutter.com/neighitforward
Thank you for helping the next horse who needs a place to land — and a chance to be fully, beautifully themselves.