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NODA TRIBUTE TO GRETCHEN SINGLETON Gretchen was, for a long time, probably one of the most visible professionals in the Northern Ohio horse community. She taught students and rode horses at many of the local stables. Her clients ranged from hunter/jumper riders to pleasure riders to competing dressage amateurs. She helped clients at schooling shows and at recognized dressage shows; she was often at the local hunter shows watching the classes and encouraging people she knew. And she knew everyone… She had boundless energy, always on the move, going from one place to another, yet always finding time to talk to someone for a few moments, catch up on barn news or to add an encouraging word. She had a great sense of humor, and somehow it seemed that she never had a bad day. Gretchen also liked to ride and compete. When I first met her, she was showing Casco, the little Connemara horse, and they were a lovely pair. Much more recently I had the opportunity to watch her bring Madison, who belongs to Sally Gries, up the levels. At one test ridden at the Lake Erie College indoor, a number of her friends chuckled as she talked to the mare (“good, that’s right, that’s right”) through about half the test. I don’t remember if the judge heard her, but we sure did, sitting in the bleachers! We teased her later about needing duct tape to stay quiet in her tests. I also remember how pleased she was when they completed their first Intermediare 1 test this past summer. When I think of Gretchen as a trainer, it is always the positive, encouraging approach that comes to mind. She did not expect perfection, she expected improvement and while acknowledging that dressage is hard work, still understood that many of us ride for enjoyment and fun. But if you wanted to be tortured on a lunge line w/out stirrups to improve your seat, she was willing and ready to go that route as well! At the same time, she was not possessive of her clients. Having known a number of trainers over the years, this was amazing to me. It was ok if you wanted to have a jumping lesson with someone else. If you were having a problem that required a stronger rider on the horse, she was ready and willing to suggest an alternative that she thought would work. When she decided to spend last winter in Florida, she gave suggestions to each of her students as to who they might work with while she was away. For those who were focused on riding and competing at higher levels, she regularly encouraged us to ride with Nancy Smith at clinics or periodically during the summers. On occasions when a regular client was not riding for some reason, people would always come out of the woodwork to have an opportunity to have a lesson or two with her. People with ponies needing a little tune up called her regularly to climb on and do her pony magic. To many of us Gretchen was also a mentor. To me this is the part that went above and beyond just the weekly lessons – it is the role of a trusted advisor or guide. She would discuss your goals, and would be honest in the assessment of those goals. Though sometimes we didn’t want to hear it, she was also honest and forthright about the potential of our horses, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. She was a big supporter of the NODA schooling show program because it gave people an opportunity to try showing and learn the process of riding tests without the expense and commitment required at the recognized shows. She did not push people to go to horse shows; she encouraged it for those riders who expressed an interest. As a mentor, she also encouraged us to stand up on our own. Yes, we could go to a show even if she wasn’t going to be there; we knew what to do. She happily looked at videos, and opined on potential new horses, but yes, we could go try the horse without her, as we were the ones who had to ride it. Finally and most important, Gretchen was a friend – to me in recent years, to many others for much longer periods of time. She celebrated our victories, sympathized and shared our losses. She offered help whenever she could, whether it was a horse issue, a personal issue or whatever, it didn’t matter. There was always time for a phone call, an email, a card, a word or two. She talked about her desire to find a horse she could show at the Grand Prix level, and her search brought her to see us in Florida in early November. Sadly that goal was cut short just weeks later. It is the friend that I miss the most; I still want to call or drop an email when something interesting happens here in Florida. I wanted her to find that perfect horse. I think of her every time I see a little car in that orangey-bronzy color. I hear her voice when I’m riding, sometimes its “Good, Good” and sometimes “Forward, more Forward”. For everyone who is missing her, we will just have to do what she would tell me after a difficult test or lesson – “Press On”. |
