Forever Friends
I'll never forget that brisk summer morning. Perched on a railed wooden fence, I sat watching
her ride her Arabian gelding, April's Dragonfly. The fog was slowly lifting and the sun was
shining on them as they trotted through the mist. I was only seven years old, but I knew
that from that moment, that I wanted to be like her.
While I was in the third grade, my family bought a small ranch in my suburban hometown,
Novato, and we moved. Deborah owned a horse that was boarded in the stable behind our
house and that's how I met her. From the moment we met, something clicked, and from then
on she became my instructor and very close friend.
Deborah was the type of person who, as she used to say, "would not put up with any
rubbish from any one or any thing." I remember clearly the time that Dragon made the
mistake of kicking her. She just turned around and "belted him one" right in the stomach.
I was astonished. I had never seen her hit Dragon. She then explained to me that it didn't
really hurt him. It was necessary to teach Dragon who was the boss and kicking was not
acceptable behavior. He never kicked her again.
Deborah was also sympathetic and helpful. I remember distinctly a time in a horse show
when I was thrown from my horse in front of hundred of spectators and broke my arm. First
of all, I was completely embarrassed, and secondly in a lot of pain. She held me and
comforted me all the way to the hospital. The following day she sat down with me and we
watch a painstaking video of my accident. It was hard, but with her I felt safe. To
this day she is the only person I have watch it with. Deborah helped me get back into
the saddle. Although I was apprehensive at first, she relieved my anxiety and I continued
to ride with more confidence and ability.
A few years later, with Deborah at ringside, cheering me on, I won the Novato Jr. Horseman
High Point Championship. I was absolutely ecstatic. Deborah was the first person who came
to congratulate me. The look in her eyes told me that she felt so very proud of me and of
all the progress since that very first day sitting on the fence. I felt like the fog was
lifting again and more brilliant sun was shining all around me. She was my friend, and
teacher, and I will never forget her and everything she taught me.
By Erica Timmer (written at age 14)
