Nov 26, 2008, A THANKSGIVING REFLECTION

I still have a brace on my leg. I had to relinquish the soft one because it allowed my knee to bend. I now have a black, Darth Vader contraption. However, the pain has subsided. I returned to the doctor yesterday and had X-rays taken - apparently the wound has healed well and I'll be able to get this brace off next Thursday, December 3rd and the very next day I start physical therapy. Everyone says physical therapy can be very painful but I don't care, at least I'll know I'm into the next phase of healing and that there's a light at the end of this very dreary and cumbersome tunnel.

Of course I'm not the first person to have a leg injury nor the first person who has to get around on crutches but it does make everything so difficult, just going to the store to get one or two things feels like a trip to Nepal.

I have had one very remarkable experience - I went to Kentucky to conduct an auction for Gilda's Club - I was dreading the trip but it turned out to be quite simple. I had a wheelchair pick me up in the airport and transport me through security and right up to the plane - sort of makes me want to always show up at the airport with a brace and crutches. Anyway, once I got to Louisville everyone was so very kind and accomodating and grateful that I'd made the effort. The auction was a huge success - they raised far more than they expected.

The next day, a friend came to pick me up and drove me back to her very small horse farm in Lexington. My original plan had been to ride with her, but of course that plan had to be ditched. On that farm was the retired, very famous trick riding horse, Sundance. He was ill on Saturday night and then on Sunday he was worse and we rushed him to Rood & Riddle, the equine hospital where Barbaro went, but he died on the way. He was 28 years old, a very great age for a horse, but nevertheless, I was so, so sad. I'd known him for less than 24 hours but I could tell he was just a wonderful creature. When he breathed his last, I was able to be with him and stroke that beautiful head. It was such a powerful experience.

Following is the report from Genie which explains the whole incident in more detail.

So many of you knew of our beloved SUNDANCE, the famous retired Trick Riding Horse. The Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls, from Exeter, CA retired Sundance at That's Entertainment at Curtiswood Farm, last year. Sadly, he died today at the ripe old age of 28. He is still considered by many "The World's Greatest Trick Riding Horse" and was made famous earlier by World Renown Angelo Iodice. From Angelo he continued his successful career with the famous Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls, Trick Riding Team. He has performed all over Europe, Canada, in Madison Square Gardens, and all over the United States of America. He was featured on ABC,CBS, and NBC at some time in his career. The great Ty Murry rode him at a Celebrity Event in Napa Valley, and he has carried such valuable packages as young 7-10 year old girls, who came to Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls each year, to learn how to trick ride. I wish to extend my deepest sympathies also, to Jennifer Welch Nicholson, and the girls from Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls, in California, who rode and trained him for many years, prior to his retirement here in Kentucky. Thank you for allowing all of Kentucky and our children who came here from schools all over, to know him, and feed him and touch such a grand old gentleman.

I wish to thank Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital's fine team of Interns and Vets who came "on a moment's notice" to Curtiswood Farm, when he was in trauma on Saturday Night, November 15th at 11:00pm. Dr's Sara Gray, Ali Tracy, Albert Sole worked tirelessly for an hour to unblock and obstruction. Also Rodney, and Natalie King, who helped get him loaded on the Van going to Rood and Riddle Hospital this afternoon. Today, upon leaving Curtiswood Farm, and traveling in an emergency to Rood and Riddle Hospital, he sadly died during transportation. He was being met by their fine team of on-call Vets, and Interns, who immediately went into action, upon our arrival.

Also, my dear Rosemary Honercamp and her husband Roger, came at a moment's notice to transport him to Rood & Riddle Hospital for me. I wish to thank them for their continued dedication to this community for their love of animals and their dedication to all their neighbors and friends, in time of trouble and need.

In all of our lives, if we are lucky, we have "One Great Love, and One Great Horse" I am fortunate to have had both. I was blessed by having him retired here, and he shall always have a special place in my heart. He entertained thousands of people, without one bad step, and he left my farm with great courage and love from people all over the world.

He will be buried here at Curtiswood Farm overlooking the very paddock he ran in during his retirement.

Genie Akin

I am not able to put the link for the U-Tube on Sundance on my website but you can see it by going to: U-Tube - Trick Rider Angelo Iodice.

I am looking forward to a long stretch at home and concentrating on getting my knee well.

While I was going through the worst of this ordeal, I kept thinking it could be far worse: I could have a broken knee; I could be drunk and McCain could be president-elect. I have a lot to be grateful for.

I will be spending my Thanksgiving with dear friends and I will probably eat too much. But I send you all my very best wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving!