The person who pushed me into learning to jump and thereby changed my life died this week.
His name was Ron Medina. In 1995 we were working for a government contractor on the night shift. I stopped by his post and was chatting with him about horses. I was surprised to find that he was showing that weekend, doing the A/Os at the Colorado Classic. I did not know that he rode English, jumped and was doing the Hunters. Ron was the least likely person that you would pick to be a rider, judging by his appearance. He was a Master of several martial arts, enjoyed weight lifting and was basically built like a fire plug and not a very tall fireplug. Not what you would expect on the back of a Hunter. He told me that he had just taken up jumping a few years earlier and was addicted to it. I whined a little about how old I was and how I had always wanted to learn to jump but I thought you needed to start young, all the time looking at this very unlikely adult, not young, rider who was having a blast jumping. Apparently I whined too much because the next week he made an appointment for me with a jump instructor. That lesson was cancelled due to weather (WAY below zero) but the way Ron kept after me I knew that I had to reschedule it.
So, in that way I met Dion Dana, who leased me Shorty and years later sold me Scotty.
My life, focus, interests, friends and possessions (horses) took a dramatic turn and I never looked back. A truly addicted horseman, when Ron's horse had age and miles related problems and stopped jumping he took up driving. Not driving as in, the local parade driving. Nope - driving as in Combined Driving with emphasis on the cross country part. He always tried to talk me into trying this, but the idea of sitting in a cart behind a TB was more terrifying to me than any fence.
Ron died of a massive heart attack last week. He will be missed by many people including me.
His name was Ron Medina. In 1995 we were working for a government contractor on the night shift. I stopped by his post and was chatting with him about horses. I was surprised to find that he was showing that weekend, doing the A/Os at the Colorado Classic. I did not know that he rode English, jumped and was doing the Hunters. Ron was the least likely person that you would pick to be a rider, judging by his appearance. He was a Master of several martial arts, enjoyed weight lifting and was basically built like a fire plug and not a very tall fireplug. Not what you would expect on the back of a Hunter. He told me that he had just taken up jumping a few years earlier and was addicted to it. I whined a little about how old I was and how I had always wanted to learn to jump but I thought you needed to start young, all the time looking at this very unlikely adult, not young, rider who was having a blast jumping. Apparently I whined too much because the next week he made an appointment for me with a jump instructor. That lesson was cancelled due to weather (WAY below zero) but the way Ron kept after me I knew that I had to reschedule it.
So, in that way I met Dion Dana, who leased me Shorty and years later sold me Scotty.
My life, focus, interests, friends and possessions (horses) took a dramatic turn and I never looked back. A truly addicted horseman, when Ron's horse had age and miles related problems and stopped jumping he took up driving. Not driving as in, the local parade driving. Nope - driving as in Combined Driving with emphasis on the cross country part. He always tried to talk me into trying this, but the idea of sitting in a cart behind a TB was more terrifying to me than any fence.
Ron died of a massive heart attack last week. He will be missed by many people including me.
I'm so sorry for your loss. He sounds like a truly wonderful and inspirational person. As long as you keep his memory alive he will never really be gone, he will continue to inspire others through your memories of him.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry. He sounds like an interesting and enthusiastic person.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friend/inspiration. That was so nice of you to write a little tribute to him.
ReplyDeleteHow fortunate you were to have experienced his friendship. I am sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful, personal tribute. Sounds like he will be missed by many. :)
ReplyDeleteMy condolences; he sounds like a fantastic person, and a wonderful friend.
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