I am so sorry for his family and friends, as well as all the horses that will miss him.
It is just tragic that he elected to not wear a helmet, [edit]. Just goes to show that no matter how good a rider you are, there is always the chance that you may come off one day - and not of your own choosing.
[edit], and I wish peace of mind to his wife and children.
I remember once hearing a great quote from Reiner Klimke. I think we can all agree that he was someone of greatness. At a clinic, an auditor asked him what he did when he had a horse that bucked. His reply “I don’t mount it”.
I think that says it all.
I am so sorry for this what has happened to this great rider. I only wish it could have been prevented.
Idle speculation and mistruths do not honor the legacy of a man who is known and even revered for his honesty, compassion sensitivity and horsemanship.
Certain things have been stated about Ricardo Amaya’s accident which are untrue. NO one knows what happened however there are certain medical facts that have been documented which prove he was not trampled by a horse. There is also no proof that his horse was ever out of control.
You ride horses, accidents happen. I personally have been knocked out by a horse’s head coming up suddenly and hitting me in the forehead. I recovered minutes later sliding down the side of a hill. Ricardo did not recover and no one knows how long he lay in the ring until a young rider (contrary to what has been reported in this forum) found him and called emergency.
To put words and impressions in the name of a man no longer able to refute them is unconscionable and contrary to any lessons Ms. Desertsong or whatever her alias, should have learned from a teacher she professes to respect.
The facts as we know them is that Ricardo Amaya was a man of the highest consciousnesss whose respect and love not only for his family and friends was reflected brilliantly with the horses he rode and trained. The horses in turn reflected his sensitivity and love by their calmness and willingness to work. They loved him and felt secure because they knew the man with them could be trusted. This I know as a fact. He was my trainer, my friend, and my horses trainer and friend and we are grateful for the time we had with him.
It’s time for fingerpointing, falsehoods and out of control venting to end. Ricardo Amaya’s legacy should point to all the positives his lessons left behind; honor and respect, sensitivity and awareness, purity of purpose and dedication to that which we profess to love. I pray others will follow his path.
THIS IS A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE ESSAY
Dear Chronicle of the Horse,
There is a forum up on your website called “Remembering Ricardo Amaya and Fabiola.” It must be taken down immediately.
I am a former student of Ricardo’s. I know who wrote this article and it is incorrect, inappropriate and slanderous.
This woman has been sending hate mail to some of Ricardo’s students and friends, and she has been calling me saying vicious things and then hanging up.
This is a direct attack on another person.
The information about Ricardo’s accident and the horse that he fell off of is absolutely delusional.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Hugh-Jones
There is an alert button at the top right corner of the OP’s post. I suggest you use it. THAT is the way to alert moderators. Which I, too, have done.
We have removed the second part of the OP which contained much conjecture as to the circumstances surrounding this terrible accident. The beginning of the post remains as one person’s reflections on their memories of this horseman.
We’ve also removed/edited several posts that responded to the assumptions and comments made about the horse involved in and circumstances surrounding the accident.
Thanks.
I got knocked out by a eight month old colt that we were grooming for a show. I was trying to trim a bridle path and he was being a good boy, when he suddenly brought his head up and hit me under the jaw. Talk about blood when my tooth went through my lip! If one had seen the “accident scene,” no one would have never guessed what had happened. Work around big animals and stuff happens.
For all we know, he could have been dismounted and checking out her hind foot and got kicked. It doesn’t matter. It certainly isn’t anyone’s business except the owner of the horse as to how the horse is trained, handled and managed.
It is easy to say things on the Internet, to pass judgement, to second guess but none of us were there.
For me, it is enough to think that he was a great rider and trainer, ina long line of great riders and trainers, involved in a dangerous sport and he met up with fate. How sad that he died so young. But each of us who train, breed and love horses take a risk. Some of us more and some of us less. That is an individual choice. This was not a young person, but someone whe knew the risks.
But horses are a way of life and a heritage. It is what we preserve, it is a cultural heritage and what we create with that heritage that will one day go into the future, for other generations to enjoy. This is what we give to this sport and to breeding/loving/training these wonderful animals.
In my life I have lost both parents, a sister, a nephew, a best friend, two aunts, an uncle, my sister’s best friend (and my friend), and my brother’s best friend (and my friend). I have lost people I love from suicide, cancer, old age, and accidents. Loss is awful. It hurts even years after. We can all play the blame game but trust me, it isn’t worth it. When family and friends read this and they will, it hurts when people write stuff. Think hard before you commit words to paper (or commuter), they can hurt others for years after.
A horse owner has some hard decisions to make, which are his/hers to make alone. That horse owner has not written this board, they have not asked for our opinion. MYOB Why do the “collective we” need to know the details of this horse or its management. Why does anyone want interject their opinions or try to sway opinion using this forum. I just don’t see how it is anyone’s business.
We will never know what happened. A good man died. Can’t we leave it at that and just celebrate a man who loved horses and loved. I can. His story has inspired me to try to be kinder, to show my family how much I love them, to strive to be more controlled, to train more intelligently and to be safe.
I wish the best for his family. I hope they find or have found peace and find a way to prosper and find happiness. I believe that they will.
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