Post by Allyson on Dec 23, 2008 10:57:49 GMT -5
What a year of loss this has been. It appears I got to NJ a few hours too late. A few weeks ago I had gotten word that my aged riding instructor was ill. I had made plans to visit her during my trip home. Virginia passed on Saturday, Dec 20.
Words can't really describe Virginia. Eccentric, strict, educated, and passionate- all fall short of describing her. As a kid, I was scared of her...all the time. Really, I just wanted to please her, but she always had something up her sleeve.
Virginia was not just a riding instructor- she was a character builder. Hours of no stirrups, no reins, popping over cavaletti holding cups of juice in our hands, or an egg in our mouth. Vaulting exercises, w/t/c leaning back so your head was resting on the rump of the horse. The cross country adventures, mock hunts, polo games- she took riding to the extreme. Interestingly, I never got hurt under her tutelage- and I always came out a little more courageous and self- assured.
So thank you, Virginia, for all that you've passed on to me and the many others who rode under you. You are greatly missed down here.
Words can't really describe Virginia. Eccentric, strict, educated, and passionate- all fall short of describing her. As a kid, I was scared of her...all the time. Really, I just wanted to please her, but she always had something up her sleeve.
Virginia was not just a riding instructor- she was a character builder. Hours of no stirrups, no reins, popping over cavaletti holding cups of juice in our hands, or an egg in our mouth. Vaulting exercises, w/t/c leaning back so your head was resting on the rump of the horse. The cross country adventures, mock hunts, polo games- she took riding to the extreme. Interestingly, I never got hurt under her tutelage- and I always came out a little more courageous and self- assured.
So thank you, Virginia, for all that you've passed on to me and the many others who rode under you. You are greatly missed down here.