David, Words could never adequately express just how much youve meant to me—and my entire family—over the last ten years. Ten years, I cant even believe its been that long since I first met you as a short stirrup rider. I remember being so intimidated before our first lesson, and then HATING you ( ;) ) when you made me post without stirrups. Im not even sure how it took off so quickly after that, how you become the one person, outside of my family, I spent more time with than anyone else. Every weekend we were on the road somewhere new—winning, learning, crashing, crying, laughing. I remember so many things. I remember getting my first tri-color at Folsom in short stirrup and feeling on top of the world. I remember you cheering me on with those signature mirror glasses at the ingate at Devon during pony hunt teams. I remember hacking Orlando at 1 a.m. at Washington and, even when the entire ring cleared out, you stayed right there and watched me. I remember feeling frantic before every. single. class, because you had perfected the art of not showing up until the last moment, breezing through on your mo-ped, that sly smile on your face. God, you drove me CRAZY all those years! My favorite story of all, though, is from the stake round at Washington with Orlando, my final class with him ever. I remember showing up that morning to get ready and seeing you in a suit and tie. You were gorgeous against the backdrop of trainers in jeans, dirty boots and polos. And I asked jokingly, What are you so dressed up for? And you said, Because I think you can win this. And I want to look nice for the picture. I think that one sentence sums up everything anyone in the world has ever felt about you. You believe in your students—as riders, as competitors, as people. Its what makes you the most phenomenal role model Ive ever had, and the person whose talent, drive and most importantly, character, Ive aspired to ever since I first met you. I love you so much, David. God did a good thing giving you to us for as long as He has.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 23:31:00 +0000
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