We are a few days removed from David O’Connor’s 50’th birthday celebration. Here’s a quick look back with a poem for David composed by the great Brian O’Connor and read at the party:
The outlook wasn’t brilliant for us back in ’73,
We’d just ridden 1500 miles – Sally, David, and me.
Resting the horses in a small shady wood,
David again dropped his map – it wasn’t gonna be good.
You see 11 yr old David, future equestrian on the year,
Couldn’t remount his tall charger – a major pain in MY rear.
So, off I got again, and tossed it back up –
With thankful words from a sibling “Oh, just shut up!”
His career suddenly blossomed under the watchful eye of Jimmy,
And then the team called him up from the minors – the USET.
With years of trot sitting for the master Le Goff,
David’s future launched skyward – he indeed was off.
OFF INDEED…@ Bromont he fell, so too at Kentucky,
Across the pond in Holland, he was Mr. Unlucky.
But Wilbur arrived and set him aright
With a brand new watch – he had the go ahead green lite!
With Jacqui came TEX , with Joe Custom Made (well….)
With Biko came Karen…a match made in…..heaven (pray tell…)
Team OConnor was formed and history was born,
Gold, silver, and bronze medals were soon to be worn.
Then the country called out for DOC to be prez,
We all hoped they would just do as he says.
And when responding to his critics, he lightly doffed his cap,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt – twas David at the bat.
When Karen (who is much older) turned 50 that year
We gathered together to drink champagne and cold beer.
You see 50 is big – a milestone in itself
A half century of stories now down off the shelf.
He sung with the choir – he sung on the stage,
Billy Bigelo his triumph -another turn of his book’s page.
We gather tonight to celebrate this man
Thanks to Sally and Jay -where it truly began.
His foolish old brother is never left out,
He rides an inflatable horse – what’s that all about?
Now a worldwide traveler for the good of the game
An FEI official, coach, trainer – he’s always kept his good name.
Even crossing the border to help where he may,
Brought silver to Canada..not too bad for the rookie..eh?
Oh somewhere in this favored land, the sun is shining bright
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light.
And somewhere men are YONGER and somewhere girls are pretty,
But here my friends in Ocala, mighty David has just turned 50!!
