Despite Colic Surgery, Cancer, and Three Deaths in the Family, Kathy Haynes Endures and Wins First Congress Title with Hot Like U in Amateur Pleasure Driving
By: Brittany Bevis
It has been a long, arduous, and sometimes painful journey for Kathy Haynes on the road to winning her first Congress Championship title. Against all odds, Kathy drove her 5-year-old gray geldings, Hot Like U, to win Amateur Pleasure Driving this morning, on what is “Crobsy’s” six-month anniversary of having colic surgery.
“We’d been looking for two years for a horse, because my other horse came down with EPM and couldn’t be shown anymore,” Kathy says. “My trainer, Cathy Herrin, saw him here last year, and she said he was the one. I literally bought him sight unseen. I trusted her. I’ve been with her for probably 12 years, and she knows me better than just about anybody.”
“We brought him home and went to the Florida Gold Coast and Gulf Coast and were circuit champions at both shows in Amateur and Open Pleasure Driving. We felt like we were just getting together, and then he colicked. In April, he was on the table, six months ago to the day.”
But Crosby’s incredible recovery isn’t the only story here. Kathy has had to overcome health challenges of her own. She’s an eight-year cancer survivor. “I had MDS; It’s a type of leukemia that’s 100% fatal unless you’re blessed enough to receive a stem cell transplant. I had progressed and was in the late stages. Then, we found out that my youngest brother was a perfect match. If I hadn’t received that, I wouldn’t be here. Now, I’m considered cured.”
Finally, she was healthy, but in the midst of looking for a new horse, Kathy sustained three terrible losses in her family. “The reason why I was so desperate to find a horse is that I lost my dad to a brain tumor; I lost my mom to an accident; and I lost my middle child, Justin, in a car accident. He was two miles from my house, and it was four months before his wedding. I was desperate for a distraction.”
Amidst all the heartache and suffering, Crosby was the salve that helped heal Kathy’s soul. Incredibly, it seems meant to be that this horse would cross paths with Kathy; Crosby is the last name of her late son’s fiancé.
As she entered the Celeste Arena this morning for her class, Kathy glanced down at her wrist to look at the bracelet she wears in memory of her son.
“He was a marine, and he had tattoos,” she says. “That bothered me at first, because I’m old fashioned, but then it ended up being a source of comfort. He had LIVE and STRIVE tattooed on his chest, and he had Phillipians 4:13 on his wrist, so when he shook someone’s hand they knew, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ While I was in the class, I looked down and thought, ‘Look at me. I’m wearing this blue and red, rubber bracelet. How good does that look with my outfit?’ Then, I thought, ‘It looks great!'”
This is Kathy’s first time back at the Congress in 18 years and her first time winning a Congress Championship title. Congratulations to Kathy and Crosby on their well-deserved win. We know there are many people here, and in a better place, who are very proud.
