Welkom bij zebroidart kunst en portretten

The Tarq

It is freezing cold with extra windchill!

The Tarq has a new name-plate

He is trying to open the door. he always does that while I'm watching, to make sure I realise that this stable door will give way any minute!

The Tarq is my horse.

he makes sure my live is never boring:

A sunday morning with the Tarq.

The Tarq spots a Blue Dangerous Flower!

Next to the ''Magic Stop'', the Tarq can do a special ''Magic Turn'' which usually lets you hang in the air, like Wily E. Coyote. Then you start falling...

Then the Tarq lost his balance himself, he rolled right over me,

He slid down the dike, over the iron border, and landed on his back in the water. This is a serious canal, used by large boats. It is at least two metres deep at the sides.

The tarq went under!!!! Three times!!!

The saddle had slipped to the side, and Tarq found it difficult to swim: only the top of his head was above water. He swam away from me, I called him back. Probably it was more like screaming: I was deeply shocked.

he heard me, and turned back, as he reached the bank he tried once to get out, but it was completelu useless, not only ist the water at least two metres deep, then there is a straight iron sidewall that reaches 50cm above the water.

tarq's eye was red, and mucus and water spilled out of his nostrils. he looked at me: ''Do something!'' Same look he gave me when he had the kolic. He kept swimming past me.

I managed to grab the reins and tried to get the saddle off. But when he stopped swimming he started sinking.

After three attempts I finally managed.

It was clearly a relief: he was able to swim much better now.

He decided to swim on, I followed on the side.

At one point he was able to stand, there were tangled trees and bushes hanging over the canal. I thought this could be a place where the side had crumbled. I might be able to get him out at this spot.

A lot of animals get drowned in this canal, and there have been special contructions to enable deer out out of the water.

So I jumped into the canal.

I was reunited with the Tarq! Unfortunately there was no chance of getting out here. There were actually two iron walls barring the way!

It now turned out that The Tarq is an excellent swimmer.

He fast outswam me. Swimming fully clothed and wearing heavy boots is quite heavy, and I think I was a bit in shock; I was not doing as well as I should be able to. I was a bit hurt by the fall as well.

Now the canal is also quite impossible to get out of for humans. There was no way I could get out of it myself. Luckily there was a small boat coming my way. I swam towards it, and they pulled me up and the let me jump ashore.

Meanwhile The Tarq was doing quite well, and had nearly reached the bridge.

He then found a spot where the canal was a lot more shallow, and was eagerly awaiting me.

A man at the shore tried to take his reins but he is far to clever to let a strange man get a hold on him.

When I arrived he tried to jump ashore, but didn't make it. He tried two more times but knocked his knees against the iron. i thought he just needed a rest, so let him just stand and recover.

The tarq started nibbling some grass. He always knows his priorities.

Several people had seen us struggling, and many calls had come in to the Firedepartment. Suddenly I was surrounded by very large men keen on rescuing the Tarq. While they were discussing options, I encouraged him once more, and he jumped out.

I'm sorry to have deprived the hero's of their mission, but I did't like their plans for pulling him out with ropes.

After all, The Tarq is an arab horse, and needs only ten minutes to be back on top-power, and any healthy horse should have been able to make that jump. And Tarq isn't stupid, he wanted to get out!

They were ofcourse slightly disappointed, but The Tarq was quite happy and totally relaxed again. They then became very worried about me, and the fall and everything. Very nice, but I couldn't feel a thing (then) and was just overjoyed to have my darling safely back.

I walked back to the stables with The Tarq, made him comfortable, went home for a shower and clean clothes, and when I came back Tarq was sleepy! I made sure his knees were cooled, and put ointment on. The Tarq has not had any complications after his ordeal.