 March
2007
Sarah Neikirk
As the 2007 show season picks up, I find myself preparing
for several things. Saying goodbye to what was an amazing
show season in 2006 as well as a year of challenging
changes and transitions as I began my education at the
University of Portland, class of 2010. Just as 2006 was
a year for change as is 2007 while I prepare to bring
my time in POA to a close. Turning 18 was a bitter sweet
feeling as I am now officially ready to take on the world
as an adult, however that feeling also came with the
knowledge that I would have to be saying goodbye to something
that has impacted my life in such a significant way.
Although my time in POA has been short, as I only began
showing in 2001, it has definitely been one of the most
self-discovering and rewarding experiences I have ever
had and will continue to influence me well into the future.
In the words of Cesare Pavese, as well as many POAers
in the past, “we do not remember days; we remember
moments”.
There are
too many memories, experiences, and people that have
defined my time here to list, but some that come to mind
are the following. First and foremost mom and dad, there
really aren’t words to describe how you have helped
me through everything. Without you, absolutely none of
this would have been possible! You have always been my
support system and have been there to lift me up during
the worst of times and hold me up during the best. Brook,
you have always given me inspiration since the day we
started riding together, we have both grown into amazing
young women together and we will always have our great
times at the barn as little girls with our first horses
to look back on. You are and always will be my best friend.
Eric, you have always supported me even when you had
no clue what was going on. You never hesitated to pack
up and drive for days with me to a horse show even if
it meant getting stuck in Utah in the middle of nowhere!
I will forever remember walking through a tack store
with you and seeing you get so excited when you knew
what a cinch was, your pride and support in me means
more then I can ever describe to you and I will always
be your “little
champion”. Jeff, Shawn, and Mark, you guys are
the reason I have succeeded and continued to grow and
mature. You all have taught me so incredibly much about
what it means to work hard, never quit, and earn what
you deserve, and I have the scars to prove it. You guys
are the best trainers I could have ever asked for. Trisha,
you were there in the beginning, the first to ride Mike,
and the support that got me started. You are and always
will be my sister, support, and Subway buddy. Tess, you
will always have that place in my heart as my first horse.
You have definitely taught me how to ride it out. Rocky,
you are by far the most forgiving horse I have ever had
the privilege to show. Everywhere you go you turn heads,
you have always given me in the pen exactly what you
give at home, and you are the most reliable horse anyone
could ask for. And Mike, just ask anyone who knows me
and they will tell you how much I love you. You have
worked yourself into the ground for me on more then one
occasion and no one, ever could say you don’t have
heart. You have never questioned what I asked of you
and have worked through more pain then any horse out
there. Your performance at International last year was
nothing short of amazing, and if you never give me anything
more then you did that one day it would be enough. We
have been through the best and worst of times together,
and it comes as no surprise that I am the only person
you respect. It honestly broke my heart at International
when you pulled up lame the day after you gave the performance
of your life, and then again in October when we found
out that you had to be put up due to a leg surgery. Even
now, only two months out from surgery, you are recovering
at record speed and will end up being even stronger then
ever and back for our last run in 07! When it is all
said and done, we have done this together, grown up together
and made memories together that have and always will
define who we are. I truly love you and could not have
done this without you, nor would have wanted to.
Thank
you to everyone out there who has made this experience
so wonderful. My family, friends, trainers, mentors,
competitors, sponsors, and supporters, you have all given
me more then I could ask for and because of you I look
forward to my last year in POA with no regrets of the
past and only ambition for the future. So, one last time,
look for Sarah Neikirk with Star Warrior setting the
standard in Senior and 13-18 Reining, and Rocky Top Notch
in all around with a focus in Showmanship, and Reining
at all major shows in 2007! |
Pony Of The Americas Club, Inc.