Please read the whole thing. It means a lot to me. Kim worked at the horse farm I started riding at and lost her battle to cancer several years ago. I never got to say goodbye so I wrote this letter for her. This isnt about OTTBs specifically, but about someone who loved everyone and everything unconditionally. Please pray for her to have lots of horses, cats, and spiders to play with. Dont do it for me, do it for a person who made the world better wherever she went. My dearest friend Kim, Where do I even begin? I suppose from the beginning. I met you many years ago as a young child. I was always a trouble maker; running around, climbing the manure pile, and generally getting into things I shouldn’t have. I always thought you were the coolest kid on the farm even though you were many times my age. I guess kid at heart is what I mean. You were always the nicest babysitter and usually played with my toys right along with me. I remember when you would play with our dog, Lady. You always called her a “doogie” and I still can hear you say it to this very day. When I started riding horses when I was 6, I started spending a lot more time at the farm. That’s when you started to teach me a lesson that I hold in the very highest esteem over a decade later. While various trainers taught me how to ride the horses, you taught me how to love them. While others told me to step up and take control of them, you taught me how to step back and be friends with them. It was upon these lessons that I based my riding and, eventually, my training off of. And I am a completely better equestrian and person for it. You lived a simple life. Your home was a trailer on the farm surrounded by what must have been dozens of cats. You weren’t just a friend to humans or horses; you were a friend to all. I distinctly recall you keeping me from killing a spider in the barn and telling me, “That poor spider never did anything to you. Let him live and happy doing what he does.” I guess that’s how you lived as well. You lived and were happy doing what you did. When I finally found out that you had cancer a few years ago, I was destroyed. I swear to God that I tried close to a dozen times to visit you and tell you how much you meant to me. Each time, I never got to actually see you. I promised myself that I’d write you a letter so that you could at least have the knowledge of my feelings for you. You passed away before I could bring myself to write it. I’m sorry, Kim. We all have our regrets in life and not writing that letter is near the top of my list. Please forgive me. I was scared and I thought that, if I didnt acknowledge how sick you were, that you’d be around forever. I was wrong. That’s why I’m writing this today. It’s several years overdue and nothing can excuse that. However I know that, if anyone deserved to go to Heaven, it was you. I write this in the hope that you know how much of a difference you made to the broken child that was always getting into trouble. You inspired me to devote my life to horses in the hopes that I can someday be as good a person as you were. I pray often to God to let you know that you were an amazing role model for me. I always ask Him to make sure you have plenty of horses and cats and spiders to play with and love up in Heaven. And books; you loved to read. I still have that book and the pocket knife you gave me. I cherish them both. I hope I can live a good enough life to be able to see you again one day in Heaven and give you the biggest hug ever. Most people are born weak and try their whole lives to become more. You were born loving and stayed that way until the very end. And I have yet to meet a person more genuinely happy to live simply as you. On behalf of everything you’ve instilled in me and inspired me to do, thank you. Written with tears and love, Your friend forever, Michael Eric Kibler
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 21:13:57 +0000
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