A few days ago, I e-mailed several riders asking them to explain what the Thanksgiving holiday meant to them. It was funny but very fitting that every single response echoed some version of the same phrase: how extremely lucky and blessed we all are to spend our lives with horses and the many people they’ve connected us with. It’s all too easy to get caught up in the mundane, everyday struggles that are present wherever horses are concerned, so much so that we can forget the bigger picture of how wonderful it is to even have horses in our lives.
I challenge everyone to remember and appreciate all the many things we have to be thankful for this season. Thanks to our riders for taking the time to send us their responses, and as always thank you for reading.
Go Thanksgiving.
Becky Holder
(Tom, Becky’s husband and Comet’s owner, gets to gallop ride his horse once every year on his birthday)
From Becky: “I am thankful for the friends and family that have stood by me through lameness and victory, and parents and a husband who constantly help me to reach above myself, while always helping me back to my feet when I stumble. I am grateful, in hindsight, for past challenges I have faced in my life, realizing now that those obstacles shaped who I am today and who I hope to become tomorrow. It rocks that my husband just got a new tractor and it’s even better that he likes to do stuff for me on it! I am thankful for the wonderful horses, past and present, that I’ve been allowed to learn from and their owners for trusting me with those horse’s lives. I am thankful my husband finally let me become 49% owner in Comet and now we are both on his passport! I am seriously lucky to have been chosen a worthy human by my amazing dog “Scrappy Doo.” I am grateful when it rains in Georgia and then ever so grateful for Quicksilver shampoo when it stops. I am blessed to earn a living doing what I love and even more blessed to be able to help others do it too. I hope everyone has a super Turkey Day surrounded by two-and-four-legged family. — Becky”
Sinead Halpin
From Sinead: “I remember growing up and anytime something did not go as I had planned I would go to my Mom, looking for an explanation or sympathy. Pretty much, like clockwork, her response was, “Come on Sinead, this will build character!” Later in the tough times she would joke “Come on Sinead, you have enough character, don’t you want to become a librarian!” Not a chance, most of these “character building” experiences have been with a horse, about a horse, or in the quest of a horse.
As a rider by profession, I have experienced frustration and desperation in trying to survive financially in the horse sports, let alone succeed in competition. As a person I have made mistakes and learned lessons the hard way. As an athlete I have broken my body in more ways than I can count. I am so thankful for all of these experiences because they have given me the opportunity to learn, as one can only do through experience and fighting for something that you really want badly. I have had the best moments of my life so far with horses. I wake up every morning and get to share my life with animals that mirror who I am. From each tear cried, each lesson learned, and each victory achieved the picture gets clearer to me. I am a horse trainer by trade but they have taught me far more than I could ever teach them.
I am so thankful for my horses, and for the people and friends they have brought into my life. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to learn lessons from these animals that are more valuable than anything that can be bought, or any ribbon that can be won. Happy Thanksgiving and thanks EN for making me take a few minutes and appreciate how lucky I am!”
Sara Kozumplik
From Sara: “Dear John and Annie, Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for including this….. I am thankful for Somerset and all of my beautiful horses. Which leads me to the humans that are obsessed with them as well……. their owners! Without their support, through the good times and the bad, I would never be able to do what I love everyday. A good owner is as certifiably a horseman as their rider. Thanks to Chris and Rob Desino of Ocala Horse Properties and Wellington Equestrian Realty, Sean Rameika, and most of all a huge thank you to Edy Rameika who has been my rock over the last 10 years. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Love, Sara”
Jennie Brannigan
From Jennie: “Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday simply because I love food and think it’s great to get together and not have the pressure of having to find the perfect gift for everyone! I haven’t been home for Thanksgiving for four years now and that sure seems like a long time.
The thing I am most thankful for is a question that would make a lot of people think! I would have to say that I am most thankful for being able to be making a living at something I truly love doing. There are some specific people that have made that possible, number one being my family who supported me and made it possible for me to get my feet off the ground. Also, the Duttons whom I love working for, the Gardners who own two of my wonderful horses, Doctor Bogenrief who owns Walkabout and saved my old partner Kozmo from colic numerous times. Kozmo now spends his retirement at Estrella Equine in an irrigated field, he is a very lucky boy!
I am thankful for Beth Battel, who was my first big client here at True Prospect, and for all the other great clients, friends, and supporters I have in my life. Mostly I am thankful for Cooper, who, more than anyone, gave me a shot at being in the top levels of our sport. I miss him very much and am thankful he taught me to not take any moment for granted. Last but not least I am thankful for Ping “Cambalda” for stepping up far more than I could have ever expected. He gave me a lot of hope when things looked down and I know just how lucky I am to have the ride on him. I hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving!
See you in 2011
Jennie”
Boyd Martin
From Boyd: “Thanksgiving day for me in America is always spent the same way. Racing around the mountains of Unionville, half out of control, jumping post and rail fences with a group of lunatics from the Cheshire Hunt… Whenever there is a moment to stand still (usually while a rider is trying to re-mount), I take a breath and look around at this beautiful country… Often at this time I think: How the hell did I get here??? How does a Pony Club drop out from Sydney, Australia end up being a professional event rider, riding in America, with great horses, awesome owners and a good looking wife??? I am not sure what the answer is, but I am very thankful for it!!!”
Chelan Kozak
From Chelan: “First, Canadian Thanksgiving was LAST month. I imagine we celebrate it earlier as winter arrives in Canada far before it arrives in the United States. Which leads to a generally earlier harvest, so the tradition began earlier in the fall. The rest of the Holiday is similar (turkey-food-family) except we don’t have black Friday shopping, and for us Christmas is a way busier family meet-and-greet. I remember staying at my ‘Maryland Mom’ Barbara Wendt’s place one year before Fair Hill and she decided to do up a turkey in honour of Canuck Thanksgiving. It was tough to find a turkey in October. She is certainly one of the things I am thankful for- friends and family! Which leads me to my fab husband. Here is a classic Jason-ism which ties in nicely with the previous fashion post. I brought home a Vanity Fair magazine a few years ago with French first lady and former model Carla Bruni on the cover. Obviously she had on a virgin while blouse (because that’s the natural colour to wear to the barn) buttoned down ‘to there’ with just the right amount of cleavage showing. Carla was reclining on a chaise lounge with a come hither look in her breeches and faux riding boots. Alluring, seductive, perfect hair, etc. Me, ‘what do you think?’ Jase, (without missing a beat in his typical deadpan) ‘That’s false advertising! Those clothes come with a smell and horse/dog hair that is not mentioned in the fine print.’ He has been with me for 15 years, comes to the barn once a year whether he needs to or not, knows the truth about my life, and loves me anyway.
Speaking of my lifestyle, that is what I actually intended to focus on with the writing, but as seems to happen, I got distracted along the way. Of course we are all appreciative of our family and friends. What I most appreciate about my life is that I LOVE my job. Love it. Oh, there are moments, hours and days that I could take or leave, but that’s just life. I am far from wealthy (horses are a great way to almost make a living) but if I had all the money in the world I would still ride horses and teach people to ride. In my brand new fancy truck and trailer with a string of new horses mind you, but the theme would not change. I think that is a pretty big deal and I appreciate the fact that I do what I love on a daily basis. Happy (US) Thanksgiving everyone and safe travels! Maybe we will cook a turkey this weekend in your honour. That is, if there are still some leftover from last month at the grocery store.”
