108 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
By Lauren R. Giannini
A
very Murray Dudasch, born April 3, 2001, passed away
at home embraced by the love of her parents John and
Vicki Dudasch, and her beloved dogs, cats, guinea pigs
and birds on June 27, 2012. Two days earlier, Avery went to the
barn one last time to bid fond adieu to her amazing pony, Grace.
She was just a few months past her 11th birthday when she lost
a gallant 10-month battle with a rare form of brain cancer. Avery
was known for her passion for horses, animals and the beauties
of nature. She set the bar high, gave special meaning to the
motto “I ride to be fearless” and, for a child of such tender years,
demonstrated dignity and courage in the face of her impending
demise far beyond the capability of most adults. We are privileged
to have the honor of telling the story of a very special person
and hope that it inspires you to carpe diem. Life, for Avery, was
heartbreakingly far too brief.
“I did not grow up with horses, but they were always part of my
soul as long as I can remember,” said Vicki Dudasch, who, at 28,
started riding in college for PE credit. “I worked every day after
that to stay connected to that world.”
In 1996, Vicki met Rochelle Costanza, owner and head trainer
of Platinum Farms, a family-run three-day event training facility
in Franktown, Colorado. “Vicki was unique,” declared Rochelle.
“For an adult amateur woman who started later in life she was
one of the most fearless people I’ve ever met. She was happy to
ride whatever was available, even the difficult horses. She’s not a
chicken. She’s fun to teach. That’s very rare. She has a true love
e
of riding and the whole horse relationship. I think she’s amazing.”
According to Vicki, the magical world of horses opened up
thanks to Rochelle, who “let me hang around, cleaning stalls
and riding whatever she had available” and their friendship grew
ever stronger over the years. Five years after Vicki married John
Dudasch, she learned she was pregnant with Avery. The mother-
to-be continued to ride, but on the flat only – no jumping.
“When Vicki insisted on riding while she was pregnant, I was
concerned, but she was still riding my horses,” said Rochelle. “I
thought she sat the trot really well with that big old belly.”
Avery was only six weeks old when she started accompanying
her mother to the barn. “One might say she was nurtured to love
horses, but to all who knew her it was apparent that they were part
of her soul,” said Vicki. “Avery had the horse gene.”
Apples don’t fall far from the tree, of course, and Avery proved
to be a cheerful, easy-going infant and toddler. Rochelle started
parking the two-year-old on a pony during Vicki’s lesson, and
Avery’s delight knew no bounds. “From day one when she started
coming to the farm, she never cried, she never fussed. She loved
being at the barn with the animals,” recalled Rochelle.
When the family moved to Oregon in 2004 for John’s job
(engineering and construction), Vicki suffered worse than Avery,
but part of the deal included a bribe: Vicki could buy a horse to
A Brief Life – Full of Grace
Avery, with a horse
named Paris, at
the tender age
of two. Although
Avery started
going to the barn
when she was six
weeks old, this is
when “it began!”
Horses were part
of her soul.
Photo by
Rochelle Costanza
The “I Ride To Be Fearless” jump was built as a surprise for
Avery by donations from her barn family. Avery loved Taylor
Swift and Taylor’s song Fearless. The “I Ride To Be Fearless”
phrase became the inspiration in honor of Avery’s fight.
Photo by Rochelle Costanza
Please visit the Facebook page Avery’s Grace and “like”
it. While you’re there, look in the timeline for three videos,
especially the one called “A Very Special Life.”
