photo of Jenny in 2011 by Ginger Kathleen Coombs
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Remembering the Wit and Wisdom and Haflinger Humor of Jenny Rausch of Brush Prairie, Washington
Jenny was an example of what is best about Haflingers: a down to earth woman of deep and abiding faith devoted to her family, her friends, and her farm. We lost her on September 29, 2011 after her long fight with breast cancer. These pages are a tribute to her writing, her humor and her amazing love of life.
"Let it come, as it will, and don’t be afraid. God does not
leave us comfortless, so let evening come."
~ poet Jane Kenyon from "Let Evening Come" as she fought leukemia in her forties
Tributes and stories from Haflinger Friends
You can contact her family at ferausch@msn.com
photo of Jenny in 2011 by Ginger Kathleen Coombs
Sample of Jenny's writing below. You'll find many more
stories if you click the years above.
About DD
Before I tell you what fun things I did today,
let me first acknowledge that yes, I know that taking a horse through a very
narrow, cluttered passageway overgrown with blackberry vines is stupid,
especially when said horse is saddled already.
I am just getting used to this new barn that we moved our horses over to, and
the surrounding area offers, shall we say, plenty of 'spook' training
opportunities for our horses. The pasture and barn that they are in is great,
but the aforementioned stupid alleyway that I decided to use to access my
horsetrailer is awful! ......NOT safe. But, it is at least twice as close as the
proper gate that a sane person would have led their horse through to get them
loaded. So; I walked into it with my unsuspecting mare and Whammy! I was
reminded of why I love this mare. She calmly, and relaxed-ly took sqeezing
through little tiny doors, with rattly latches that caught on the stirrups,
stood calmly still, while I removed large noisy sheet metal trash monstersand
garbage cans, and carefully picked out her own path through an area CROWDED with
old radial arm saws and car doors, etc. on a loose lead. I would have taken her
back out to the other gate, but once we were into the bad stuff, the alley was
too narrow to turn her around in and we were committed!
The final thing that made me happy was her walking through the last door ( we
are going through abandoned dairy barns, here) which was overgrown ,to the point
that I couldn't fit, with heavy blackberry vines. She went willingly forwards,
and then got several thick berry vines around one hind fetlock. She stopped with
her leg extended far behind her, and waited patiently for me to carefully unhook
her and slide the loops off of her leg. Then, off we go, and all of this was an
area that she hadn't ever walked before. This, THIS is why I am happy and
willing to own short Haflinger horses !!!!! They seem to have far bigger hearts
than most other honking great long-legged things that I have owned. The other
horses that were left behind in the barn were continually whinnying, and , but
she just buckled down and totally concentrated on what I asked her to do.
This was a good example of what NOT to do with your horse, but By Golly! It's
nice to be able to if you HAVE to. This is a usable horse.
Then, we went off and had a great ride. I haven't been riding this mare for
about 2 months, as she had a rock bruise that lamed her for a while. What a
blast!It has been pretty cold here, for the Northwest, Temps in the low 20's at
night, so everything was frosted over. We went through the woods, she had to
lead for the second time on a trail, as the other rider was riding her horse on
a trail for the first time, and we were (!) the "pickup horse". Ha. A case of
the blond leading the blind?........ :) She was a trooper, as usual. This was
the first time that she totally got the concept that she is to go forward on the
trail WITHOUT trying to troll for grass or leaves at the same time. Heh heh.
Every time she wanted to stop and snatch a bite, I made her speed up and trot or
canter. Worked like a charm. Suddenly, trying to eat on the trail didn't get her
a short pause to chew, while I dragged her head around, it got her a swift kick
and the command to trot on!!!!!Why did it take me so long to figure that out? :)
The view was incredible, and we had a ball. Looked at cows and squirrels and
birds and deer and coyotes and dirtbikes. Very nice, and most everything was
frosted over and white, sun shining through the trees making everything seem to
clean and bright. --Even the cows, and we all know how difficult THAT is! She
walked over ice and crunchy frozen brush for the first time, and threatened a
couple of innocent trail markers, and generally had a good time. DD started
moving off of my weight alone, and after a couple of swift jogs up the trail to
discourage the idea that trail blazing wasn't the same thing as trail grazing, I
just gave her her head, and went along for the ride. I love how solid she feels
at this stage, after only 8 trail rides, and rather minimal pasture/arena time.
I guess I'll keep her. :)=)
* That road cart is almost completely refinished, hurrah! And not only I, but my
marriage survived it!!! I swear, people that havent even driven a carriage
shouldn't think that they get to pick out their wife's cart stain color!!!
Unless they have actual taste in such things! Sheesh. It has wheels, so he must
know more about choosing colors, huh?!
Yours, Jenny Rausch in Vancouver, Wa. where for a change, it is sunny and her
husband is stoutly protesting his innocence in any cart-color-choosing felony
charges being brought against him. This is the man who thinks that grey goes
with everything! He refuses to answer me when I ask him if grey goes with
orange! Well, DOES it?! How about chartreuse?? Huh?
