A friend and fellow dressage enthusiast was badly injured this week. When I heard Heidi’s news I decided I’d do a painting of her on her wonderful horse, Willioso, in hopes that it might cheer her up. She has trained her horse up the levels as I am doing with Kate. It can take 7 to 10 years to produce a horse capable of competing at international levels. Heidi and Willioso reached that goal in 2016 and have continued up the remaining dressage levels. It’s a long term struggle and all kinds of obstacles can pop up along the way, but an injury to the rider (while far away from the barn) isn’t one you ever think is going to slow you down. Heidi is tough as nails and I know she’ll recover and be back in the saddle as soon as humanly possible. For me, I’ll tread a little more carefully every day, but still continue toward that international-level goal. Every. Single. Day.
Heidi 5-31-18
