#RIDEFOROLIVIA

This morning, like every other morning, I woke up knowing my horses were safe and well-cared for in the barn, and I was alive and healthy in my apartment. I woke up knowing I would probably go ride tonight, I would probably pop over a few fences under 3 ft. and I would probably survive to tell the tale of that unremarkable story tomorrow morning. But what I did not yet know or realize was that a 17 year old girl across the world had lost the opportunity to wake up and know those same things. Later this morning, I learned of the tragic accident in Australia that claimed the life of a teenager that loved to ride, and robbed her family, her friends, and the equestrian community that surrounded her the chance to watch her grow up. As if that weren't enough, her horse, Coriolanus, had to be put down because of his injuries.

 

The equestrian community is a tight knit one. The supportive reactions of everyone is a testament to that. The hashtag #rideforolivia has spread across social media creating a tidal wave of support for the teenager and her family. The hashtag, as many have instructed, should accompany your favorite picture of you and your horse. Why? Because in the face of such a unpredictable and shocking death humans have reacted with love.

 

(A mosaic print was created from the photos shared and given to Olivia's family as a tribute. According to reports, Olivia's horse "tripped" while jumping fence 8 at the Scone Horse Trials, and Olivia was crushed and killed "almost instantly").    

 

Just yesterday I wrote about the inherent risks riders must accept every time they climb on a horse's back. One of those risks, is death. Although we all know this, it's something we sometimes take lightly. There are days when I really don't want to put on my smelly helmet and would rather ride in a baseball cap. There are days when I really want to go out on a trail ride alone or not properly warm up before I start jumping. For many of us, the report of such a tragedy is a reminder of the risks we  take every day. Let us remember to take the safety precautions we can to minimize risk, because for every accident we avoid, there is the risk of one that we cannot.  In the case of Olivia, it seems there is no reason for her death, nothing about it was avoidable or predictable. But she took that risk anyway. Why? For the same reasons we all do: because we are doing something that we love.

 Over 3.2 million people across the world that share that love have easily identified with this story and been quick to share their support. Olivia is the 17 year old horse-crazy girl in all of us. At 17 riding meant everything to me, I wouldn't survive without it. My horses were my best friends and I easily spent more time with them then anyone else. How tragic it is, then, to be killed doing the thing you love the most?

 

Although you are reminded that this could have happened to you, by sharing your favorite pictures with your horse you are sending the world a powerful message. Even in the shadow of a tragic accident, ride anyway. Love anyway. Jump anyway. Celebrate life anyway. There will always be risks we can't remediate, and accidents we can't prevent. Keep doing what you love anyway. Why? Because that's what Olivia did and she should be honored for it.