Four Years After Her Father's Tragic Death, Woman Courageously Rides the Horse Involved in the Accident (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Jenna Henley’s horse photos on TikTok.Photo:Jenna Henley/Tiktok

Jenna Henley/Tiktok

Jenna Henley has found solace in an unexpected place — atop the very horse that was involved in her father’s tragic death.

Four years after losing her father, Darrell, Henley made the courageous decision to ride Buddy again, capturing the emotional moment in anow-viral TikTok.

The day that changed everything began with a simple text. “We were 20 minutes away at our house when we got a text message … just maybe three words: ‘dad kick down,’ ” Henley recalls exclusively to PEOPLE. The sudden loss left a deep impact on her family, especially her daughter, who was 15 at the time and considered him “the best paw in the world.”

In the moment, Henley had to make the decision to leave the girl on the horse they came on while she bravely rode atop Buddy. “I got on him and I wasn’t afraid,” she recalls the life-changing moment.

Jenna Henley’s father Darrell.Courtesy of Jenna Henley

Courtesy of Jenna Henley

“My neighbors began taking pictures and videos and at the time it didn’t hit me that it was a big deal,” Henley remembers. The transformative ride unleashed a range of emotions. “Once I started to go, I started crying.”

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She remembers her most profound insight came during that ride, “I had so much anger, but it was never directed towards Buddy,” she shares. “I cannot explain that to this day, but at that moment, when I was riding him, I let the anger go.” The realization marked a significant step in her healing process, allowing her to separate the tragic event from the horse involved.

It was then Henley decided to record the moment for herself.

Jenna Henley and dad Darrell.Courtesy of Jenna Henley

The experience not only helped Henley process her grief but also remember the values Darrell instilled in her growing up. “He taught me pretty much everything I know about horses,” she shares.

“Every time I do something good, especially for an animal … I feel like somehow I honor him every day,” she says.

source: people.com