Left (Top to Bottom):
Richard with Susie;
Richard, 10 years old with
Ginny.
Right (Top to Bottom): 9
Year Old Richard Spooner;
Richard at age 8 with
Ginny; Richard at age 11
on Rusty & Swifty Tom.
going to teach a couple of for a minute…..I do
days a week.” It was at that pace a lot though.”
point that she started J. Al- Ginny’s fondest
den Enterprises, named af- horse related mem-
ter Tom’s father. That 20 ories are twofold
years ago….and by the “That phone call
way, she still teaches more from Richard tell-
than a few days a week. ing me he had won
Even though Ginny and his first Grand Prix,
Tom are both passionate and eight years ago
horse people, they never in Las Vegas when
pushed Richard when it Robbie went down
came to riding. “The first to his knees in front
time he had a lesson; he of the in and out,
fell off and was knocked stumbled up and still
unconscious. I asked won the Grand Prix.”
him, do you want to do What makes the
this again? He said he did, Spooner’s proud
so we supported him, but we never as parents? “Every
pushed him. I really think it was genetic,” says Ginny. hug Richard gives
“The first time he won a Grand Prix," continues Gin- me” says Ginny. “I’m
ny. "I was a little nervous. Not so much that he would also proudest when people come up to me and com-
get hurt, but that I wasn’t there that time. I had my pliment Richard on what a nice person he is, as op-
own kids with me at a show in San Diego.” Tom missed posed to being just a good rider, that’s what’s most
it as well, as he was traveling on business. Ginny adds, important when you get down to it” replies Tom.
“So he called me in the car. I never got calls in the car, “We miss the boy, but we love the man!" Ginny adds
and he said ‘Mom, I did it! I did it! I won a Grand in, "Even if he didn’t ride, and was still the person
Prix!’ He was so excited. It was on an ex-racehorse he is, we would be extraordinarily proud of him.”
named Kirk that had an issue with water." Tom re- In return, Richard gives his insight to being Ginny
calls “There are some funny stories about Kirk and wa- and Tom’s son. “On the hard days she gave me the
ter. At one point he knocked down the water judge, kick in the ass I needed, and usually deserved. But,
we were all aghast when it happened, as the guy rolled along with that she gave me unconditional emotional
over about 3 times! Fortunately he was unhurt. Kirk and financial support. For me, she's better than, but
and Richard were up on the bank before Richard could so similar to, most horse show moms. Her and my fa-
get him under control after that one! It was sometime ther's willingness to sacrifice a lot of their own lives to
after that class that Richard got him over that. Tracy help me continue forward and accomplish my goals as
Kenly (his owner) is still showing him, he must be 30.” I pursue my dreams is nothing short of remarkable."
The Spooner's have long since gotten over being ner- "Both my parents have been there all my life
vous that Richard will get hurt. But they know how when I needed them. Their willingness to give
much he wants to win, and that makes them nervous with no expectations is amazing, and I would like
in a different way. Ginny accepted a long time ago them to know how much that has meant to me."
that, “Because Richard does what he does; I could get "I love my mother's strength as a person, and if I
a call anytime saying that he’s been seriously injured, could give her one thing, I would like to be able to give
but he’s doing what he loves to do. I wouldn’t stop him her the appreciation she deserves.
32
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