Another barn fire, and a life lost

News in the past few days has rocked the horse world. 2008 Olympian eventer Amy Tryon passed away over night, April 12. She was 42. Cause unknown at this time. I remember reading the Team Tryon blog during the Beijing Olympics, fascinated by the daily routine of an Olympic rider. Life is precious and short. How easy it is to forget that. My heart goes out to her family as they try to digest this tragic event. April 12, also saw a barn fire in McHenry Count Illinois that claimed the lives of 18 horses. A brave teenage girl saved 22 horses, including her own beloved partner. I struggled to read the account of this fire. How did Suki survive her own ordeal? We are fortunate. My beloved girl survived, and my heart breaks for those who lost their equine partners in that fire. It was determined to be an accident, but does that help heal those wounds? Does it ease the pain of the great loss? This morning as I drove to the barn to ride Nikki, I found myself suddenly in tears.... no explanation. I thought of my beautiful girl, and how I almost lost her but how she miraculously survived. Many of those in the recent barn fire in Illinois were not so fortunate, and my heart just aches. But today for me was also a happy day, because baby Nikki turned 5. Nicolette, 12 hours old:

I subjected her to a birthday hat, of course!

We had lovely rides this weekend, and I am excited about her progress. We even had some very precise walk-canter, canter-walk transitions. Today when I started to brush her ears, Nikki lowered her head. As I continued to massage her ears she closed her eyes....such a sweet girl. Nikki got extra hugs for her birthday, and Suki because of the barn fire. It is very warm tonight and expected to be hot tomorrow. Suki is out over night tonight and will stay inside tomorrow during the heat of the day. I hate this crazy weather! I brought her in to eat her dinner, and groomed/exfoliated and moisturized. Suki was anxious to get back outside, so I am sure that she will enjoy the cool evening. I am going to spend the rest of the evening working on my book.....my girls are comfortable and happy.