Select Amateur Shirley Phillips of Ada, Oklahoma has endured heartbreaking losses throughout her lifetime, but over the years, her 12 year-old home-bred gelding, Im Zippos Image (Rio) has been there every step of the way. Before turning 50 years old, Phillips suffered two heart attacks and soon after, she experienced the loss of her 38 year-old son due to sudden cardiac death in December of 2006. Rio never left her side.
Float=”left”]/Media/3/jpg/2013/4/6b2f549f-155d-40de-aa35e5faa2d689e6.jpg[/NPI]Over the next six years after her son’s death and world show Top 10 placing, she never set foot in a show arena. Her trainer, Vicars would always ask, “‘When are you coming back?’ “He never gave up on me,” remembers, Phillips whose beloved daughter, Ashlee, also showed with Vicars. “In the summer of 2012, my husband and I needed a get away and looked for lake property everywhere–only to finally admit we had no desire to spend our spare time at any lake. My husband was the first one to say, ‘I want to spend our weekends watching you show’. Him speaking those words was the push I needed to see if Craig had a place for me in his barn.”
Phillips
continues, “I am very grateful AQHA made a place for those of us over
50 who love the sport. Being with my horse takes me away, it allows me
freedom from the very heavy burden of grief. When I am with Rio–he is
what I think about. I need him far more than he will ever need me. I
believe he knows that. When we are together practicing or stepping up to
the cone to compete, it is him that fills my mind. He knows his job, he
knows this is what he was born to do. I am proud to be his partner.”
The Select Amateur’s future plan is to add an under saddle class to Rio’s repertoire. “I imagine our biggest challenge is that both Rio and I are aging–with that comes challenges and changes. Aging however does not diminish the desire to be a winner,” Phillips states. “That’s my ultimate goal…to be a winner.”
