The World Show Lights are a Little Less Bright Without Her…

EC Blog by: Tatum Richey

I’m a horse show girl. I’ve been in love with horses my whole life. All I’ve ever dreamed of and all I ever think of is… horses!

The Super Bowl of all horse shows is just a few days away now. All over social media I see all my best friends and many competitors getting ready for the big event. The excitement is everywhere! What else would we all be talking about? It’s that time of year. It’s the World Show – the biggest of them all, and now the hardest part of REAL LIFE has SHOWN up in my world. Cancer has snuffed away my best friend, the one I turn to in all things! Now, I find my heart conflicted. In one way, the World Show lights seem so dim now that Grandma was taken from me, and in another they shine brighter as I am more determined than ever – just for her!

You see, my Grandma didn’t grow up a horse person. No one in my family was. My Dad was an world renowned songwriter and musician. My Mom was a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and a television producer. My Grandma was a day care provider, community leader, and the “Mother Theresa” of Madisonville. None of them ever had a desire to ride. My Grandpa Billy rode a little as a child, but his focus was the Army. He’s a real war hero! But horses are my passion, my identity, and my love. They’ve allowed me to pursue this big dream and each played a big part in me getting to this place. That’s been a gift!

My Grandma grew into it big time over the past seven years, and she loved her role as the ultimate “Horse Show Grandma.” She became obsessed with horse showing. She loved supporting and watching me. During all those years I came in last, she hated it. Mostly, she was afraid my horse “Ode” would kill me, but boy did she have a competitive spirit! The World title became a dream for all of us. Grandma Rita knew all the horses, riders, and yes, she even knew their names, outfits, owners, stall decorations, patterns, and much more. She watched them for years! Horse showing became her obsession too!

Many of you knew my Grandma. You’ve seen her and my Grandpa Billy Davis at dozens and dozens of shows all across America with me and my mom, Sheila. As important as horses are and this great horse show life has been, it all pales in comparison to this real life tragedy – saying goodbye to my Grandmother – facing this side of life without her!

There are no words to say how hard these past months have been. I have seen so much in my 15 years so far. I have lost a father to a lung disease. The horse my dad bought me, Flash, died just weeks after he did. I have seen my mom battle things a widow should have never been forced to face. I have lost all my earthly possessions to a tragic house fire. I lost my dog to a sudden and unexplained sickness. I could go on and on. Now, I face this! Cancer took my Grandma from me! This is a super blow, but God is still in control.

My spiritual father, Jeff Taylor, has assured me that God has not abandoned me and that there is a purpose, and good can come from all these hardships. I do not understand it all; I believe him though. I do not understand how cancer came upon her so brutally. I watched it kill her right before my eyes within a quick 90 days. I was helpless in her fight against this cancer, but I’m not helpless in how I accept it and how I carry on from here. She is not and was not a victim in life, though. She was and will always remain a warrior! I’m not a victim, and I will conquer this too! She was a blessed, American, Christian woman who stood up to adversity with courage and faith, and  I will follow her lead.

No, Cancer WILL NOT get the glory! My family and I will stand strong and focused, just as Grandma asked us to. I will ride on! I will step every step through life remembering the lessons she taught me. I will fall, and I will not do things right always. I will mess up a lot, but I will get up, dust off,  and saddle up this crazy life of adversity again and give it my all.

That’s the secret to this horse show life, and it’s what the World Show really is all about. This dream that my Grandma and I shared was just about being our best. We don’t have to be the best to give our best! There are 150 horses in my event, Trail, this year. There are a couple of dozen others, who the World title could easily go to. Just like the other 150 equestrian athletes, I very much want to win the World. We all do! It’s all of our dreams. But for the first time in the six years years I’ve been competing, Ode and I are finally a fine-tuned team. We’re still a long shot at the ultimate title, but we’re finally real bonafide contenders. We’re up there with the best of them. That’s what was important to my Grandma. She wanted me to just be one of the ones who really had a shot at it and never to give up on that! That’s what was important to her, and she saw that happen!

Thank you to Bruce Vickery and Anthony Montes for all you did this year and to Miss Nancy Cahill and Michelle for the first six years of teaching me to be a real horseman! Much of Grandma’s hopes and desires happened with your help! Before she died, she saw me beat the best of them. Ode and Romeo were first and second in World Standings in Level 2, and Ode was in the top 10 in Level 3. My Grandma Rita told me that I don’t have to take home the trophy to WIN the World. She said you be the best in YOUR World. That’s where the prize truly is. I believe her! Years from now, people will not recall who won the World in any event, but they will remember how you made them feel. She made me feel like a World Champion!

In closing…

“Grandma, I don’t have it in my heart to say goodbye. I know without question you’re in Heaven. There will never be a minute of any day that I don’t want you here with me. I will ride on, strong and brave as you taught me to be. I will stay my eyes on Jesus, just as you did and who you’re now in the presence of. More than ever, I know when I’m looking to Him, you’re right there by His side. What a thought! Though I only had you 15 years, you made all of them wonderful, my dear. See you at the World Show, I know you will be right there with me. Miss Nancy Cahill told me you will be in the saddle with me. She said there will be two of us riding that day. I hope so, but don’t give Ode the wrong cue – that could be a disaster. I love you so much, Miss Rita.”

Trails to Heaven,

Tatum Keys