110 SIDELINES SEPTEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
take to their new home. Her first ever horse, Aly, was an off-the-
track-Thoroughbred, 14, and hotter than a firecracker (still is at
23). After nearly three years, John finished the Oregon highway
project and the family returned to Colorado. Mom and daughter
couldn’t wait to get back to Platinum Farms.
Returning to Colorado started the wonder years for the Dudasch
family. Vicki continued to compete Aly, who served as the rider’s
schoolmaster. “She taught me patience, perseverance and she
was fearless – Aly jumped everything and taught me to go and not
be afraid,” said Vicki, who competed the OTTB beginner novice.
Meanwhile, Avery made do, riding some ponies belonging to
boarders at Platinum Farms. Avery turned six and was eager
to continue her equestrian education. In the summer of 2007,
Cory arrived and she shared the sweet pony with her best friend,
Hayden Hilles. The trio began taking lessons with Rochelle.
“Avery was totally not your typical kid. She was an old soul,
insightful and very intuitive with animals,” stated Rochelle. “In a
lesson she was great. She tried super hard to do everything I
taught her. When she wasn’t riding, she would make courses and
jump them on foot. She made arenas in her living room, too, and
practiced whatever we had been doing in the lesson. I taught her
to post without stirrups. She caught on fast. Avery was really easy
to teach and willing to do whatever it takes to be a better rider. She
hung out with her pony, grooming and washing him. She loved
pink and purple accessories for her and the pony. Avery was cool
to have around.”
Like many good ponies, Cory helped Avery build up her
horsemanship skills. Avery learned to trot, canter and jump cross-
rails with Cory who took care of his rider no matter what she asked
him to do. Before long Avery was galloping Cory all by herself
in the field. They started competing in little schooling shows and
went to a hunter pace when Avery was eight.
“Cory had a little hitch and he wasn’t able to jump very high, but
he cantered and jumped little cross-rails and logs and gave Avery
the confidence to run around in the field all by herself,” explained
Vicki. “It made her strong and did a lot of good things for her. Cory
was perfect for Avery while we looked for the pony that Avery
could go on with and event.”
In the spring of 2011, Rochelle found Gracefully Dun. Avery’s
new soul mate arrived at Platinum Farms at the end of April, a
few weeks after Avery’s 10th birthday. “We were waiting for the
pony’s arrival on a school night at 2 a.m.,” recalled Vicki. “When
that mare walked off the trailer, Avery and I found ourselves in
tears. We were both so happy, and the pony was so beautiful.
Little did we know the role that pony would play in our lives. I have
always loved being at the barn late at night, and Grace’s arrival
during that magical time is a special memory that I hold forever in
my heart.”
While John never quite embraced riding, he understood how
his wife and child felt about horses. He had observed how Avery,
from an extremely young age, loved her dogs, cats, birds, guinea
pigs and he was very aware of the special place that horses held
in Avery’s heart and life. As soon as she could balance on his
back, he indulged his daughter for years playing “horsey daddy,”
even submitting to wearing a bridle to make her favorite game
more real.
“I have to admit the wear and tear on my knees from years of
rug-burns was some small part of my motivation to actually get her
a real pony once she was old enough to ride,” stated John. “I was
fortunate enough to be at her very first combined test (dressage
and cross-country) when she was 10. I have to admit that I was
very nervous when she started on the cross-country course. She
had a few jumps that were challenging for her, but she and her
sweet pony Grace made it around the course, and the expression
of sheer joy on Avery’s face when she made it over the last jump
was a moment that I’ll never forget.”
As Avery crossed the finished line, she exclaimed, “I didn’t fall
off!” She was weeping tears of joy.
To be continued…Part two
will appear in the next issue of Sidelines.
A final goodbye: Friends brought Grace to Avery’s house so she
could sit on her pony, feed her carrots, rub her tail, breathe her
spirit and say goodbye.
Photo courtesy of Vicki Dudasch
Avery and her first pony, Cory, at Aspen Ridge Pair Pace.
Photo courtesy of Vicki Dudasch
Vicki, John
and Avery.
Photo by Matt Allen
of M David Media
