A Special Moment
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
By Lynn Hutchinson
Several months ago I wrote an article titled "Just Where Is Terri Preiser." For those of you who didn’t read it, the jest of the story was that Terri Preiser, now Preiser-Delp, had been absent from the horse community for quite some time. During this absence she fought a life threatening bout with cancer. Against all odds, she recovered and is back in her much-loved horse community.
The last trainer she used before her illness was Ward Stables located in Alpharetta, Ga. Team Ward consists of Marvin, Audrey and Amanda, some of the greatest folks in the world.
It just seemed natural to Terri to return to her “second” family to find that special horse to get her back in the ring and back to the winner's circle she knew so well. And in true fairy tale fashion, Terri and Priceless Special entered the ring at Pro Am in the Adult Country Pleasure class. Of course with Marvin running right along beside them, they whipped the competition. Let me tell you, it was a whale of a class.
It was truly an emotional evening back at Ward Stables. Audrey stated that right before the class Terri got tears in her eyes and she said to her, “Not now Terri, we’ve got time for that later.” After the class as she was getting off her horse with tears streaming in full force, they told her, "Now’s the time."
Terri later told me that she is on a strict work out schedule including a very tough physical fitness trainer. But even with all the training, she almost reached the point on the reverse trot in the class that she didn’t think she had the stamina to continue. In the back of her head she heard her fitness trainer’s favorite saying, “Just dig in and do it.” And sure enough that’s just what she did. Terri and Priceless Special dug in and did it so well that they wound up in the winner’s circle.
Terri is back and better than ever and Team Ward has added a new face to their cheering section. Priceless Special is owned by Terri’s very special friend and one of her greatest supporters, Corinne Robbins of Corinne Saddlebreds in Boca Raton, Fla. And by the way, Corinne has now purchased another good one for the team to enjoy, My Midnight Memory, who will be shown by Terri in the show pleasure division.
Welcome back good friend.
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