Friends For Life – The Horse Show Industry Creates Irreplaceable Bonds
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306 – March/April, 2023
By Kory Kumar
“A good friend is like a four-leaf clover: hard to find and lucky to have,” Irish Proverb.
In an industry built upon competition, making deep connections with others can be difficult. There is no magical formula for creating friendships. In many cases it is a connection that is felt, oftentimes immediately when a person with similar interests crosses your path, and that tingle passes through you.
In the case of these friend groups, the bonds of friendship are strong. These friendships break down barriers, demonstrate how a friend is more than just a friend, and in fact, show how a friend can become a sister of your heart.
Youth Friends Estelle McParlan, Allie Briggs and Emma Dejong
The close friendship of Estelle, Allie and Emma began at the 2021 NSBA World Show. All three girls credit Emma for the initial assembly of this friendship group. She knew both Allie and Estelle individually and introduced them to one another during the show. Emma felt that they should just all know each other, so she instigated a meeting. The girls just started talking and then, soon after, they were seen running around in a golf cart together all over the show grounds. Now, this trio of girls are affectionately referred to as the “Three Musketeers.” Where one girl is seen, the other two are very close by.
Despite the difference in ages of these girls–Estelle age 14, Emma age 16, and Allie age 18–they have a deep connection. When they come together, it is as if no time has passed. They pick up exactly where they left off when last together, or wherever the previous conversation had ended. All three girls describe the others as a “sister.”
Each of the girls live a long distance from the others; however, they remain in close, daily contact. “We have a group chat that is used every day,” Emma shares. “Sometimes we are not at the shows together, so that can be hard. We use our group chat and Snapchat to talk and make sure we all know what is going on,” Estelle says. “We have never missed a day talking to each other. There is always something to share and talk about,” Allie says.
Click here to read the complete article
306 – March/April, 2023
