Jakar's 'darkhorse' story

HURON— Jakar the horse and President Donald Trump share some similarities.At one point in their lives, they were both longshots to succeed.But now they're both celebrating in their own winners' circles, commemorating their triumphs together Friday in Washington, D.C., during Inauguration Day.In July 2012, at its low point in life, Jakar was being sold at an auction in Amish Country.He was not the horse that Huron resident Hali Berger was looking for — but the malnourished Tennessee Walking Horse was the only one who caught her eye.After the sale ended, Berger nervously approached a man in a suit, asking if he would be willing to sell Jakar. They settled on a price, filled out the paperwork, and Berger took the horse home with her, saving him from the slaughterhouse."He was very thin," said Berger, who initially boarded Jakar at a Milan barn.Shortly after buying Jakar in 2012, Huron resident Hali Berger helped nurse the malnourished horse back to health. Today he works as the top horse in the Cleveland Police Mounted Unit. She kept him for a week before a Sandusky woman, Beverly Ball, saw Berger's post on Facebook and bought Jakar, taking him to her barn in Castalia.Ball helped Jakar put on weight and become healthy again."His personality changed," Berger said. "He was happy."Berger, HaliBall kept Jakar for a year before donating him to the acclaimed Cleveland Police Mounted Unit. Before being a part of the team, he went through three months of probationary training.In 2016, he patrolled in the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Finals championship parade and for the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Jakar frequently patrols the streets during Cleveland Cavaliers, Indians and Browns games and has even helped police in drug busts.Once a week, he shows up on Cleveland's Public Square to take pictures with kids during scheduled events.Jakar most recently walked in Friday's Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C., for extra security purposes."There was a reason Jakar was at that auction, and there was a reason I decided to attend that specific one," Berger said. "He was meant to serve his country. He is truly a hero."You can follow Jakar on Instagram (@jakartherescuehorse).Jakar the horse, far right, with a white stripe extending from its muzzle to forehead, attended and provided security detail for Inauguration Day festivities Friday in Washington, D.C., as part of the Cleveland Police Mounted Unit. In 2012, the horse was on the brink of death before Huron resident Hali Berger purchased it. She and others nursed the horse back to full strength.Jakar the horse, middle, with a white stripe extending from its muzzle to forehead, attended and provided security detail for Inauguration Day festivities as part of the Cleveland Police Mounted Unit. In 2012, the horse was on the brink of death before Huron resident Hali Berger purchased it. She and others nursed the horse back to full strength.