Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

 Just got back from a beautiful day's ride at Cuyama, the first time 
Dayna and I had ever been there. It is gorgeous! The rolling hills 
carpeted with lawn-height yellow and purple wildflowers, the majestic 
mountainous backdrops, the riverbeds and hidden streams all add to the 
almost surreal, "Hobbit-like" feeling one gets on this trail. There was 
plenty of water, both tanks and natural, and the weather was perfect. A 
chilly morning  warmed to a very pleasant midday, once again cooling as 
the final riders ended their day. This is a highly popular, must-do 
ride, especially for those who like to ride at a more leisurely pace. 
Unfortunately, we arrived on Friday, and had to leave on Saturday after 
the ride. We delivered Sugar to her new owner, as I have moved on to a 
couple of nice Arab geldings in hopes of catching my wife on the trail.
 For those of you who don't know, Annie Nicholson lost her father after 
an extended illness, leaving both her and Dave bereft with grief. Even 
so, with her father only gone two days, she chartered a private plane to 
attend his final services, so that she might return in a few hours to 
once again fulfill her saintly duties in seeing to the  needs and whims 
of a hundred-some endurance riders for the next three days. I gave her a 
hug and my condolences, taking only a moment of her time and energy, and 
she returned that same kind but dazzling smile she is known for. Dave 
had a hard time talking about how difficult the last few weeks were for 
them, other than to express his own admiration and respect for the 
strength Annie showed in spite of what she had been through. She is 
truly amazing.
 Which brings me to my point. It is my intent to write a letter of 
recommendation to the AERC  nominating Annie Nicholson for membership in 
the AERC Hall of Fame. Not simply because of the strength and poise she 
demonstrated this weekend, but because I have been meaning to do so for 
several years, and that thought has been on the minds of many of my 
endurance riding peers, as well.
I have been doing endurance for over 20 years, and have known the 
Nicholsons for much of that time.
Annie has always remembered my name (among hundreds) greeted me with a 
smile, and cheerfully fetched me anything I have been brazen enough to 
ask for at a ride--a sandwich, a cold drink, a larger T-shirt, a 
completion award with my horse's name spelled correctly, a ride back to 
basecamp, whatever. All while she attended to hundreds of other tasks, 
both important and inane, that were asked of her by her other riders. 
Not to mention she puts up with the Duck every day of her life. :>
  I invite those of you reading this to join me in contacting AERC, 
either through email or snail mail, and write the most influential and 
complimentary letter you can muster, filled with anecdotes, add photos-- 
whatever you like--and give your personal recommendation that Anne be 
admitted to the Hall of Fame. There is no one like her, nor will there 
likely ever be again.
  Thank you for your attention.   Bruce Weary, aka Dr Q

 PS  I make this recommendation as a dues paying member of AERC, and 
not as a member of the Board.



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