Last month, while recovering from her third bout of cancer, Linda Lewis of The Villages, Florida was also determined to go back and show at the Pinto World Show. This Amateur Elite exhibitor is a three-time ovarian cancer survivor. She was initially diagnosed in February of 2010 and has gone through treatment and therapy the past few years. Due to her illness, Lewis missed the Pinto World Show in 2010 through 2013 and had doubts she would make it this year.
However, Lewis had other plans. This May, the doctors found that there was a suspicious growth in her colon. “I made the choice to go through 25 rounds of radiation and five rounds of low dose chemotherapy in five weeks so that I would not have to have a third surgery,” Lewis states. “I finished those treatments on May 20th. The fatigue caught up with me the last couple of weeks of therapy and continued even up to the day the Pinto World Show started. I was getting stronger and stronger as each day went by; so by the end of the show, I felt pretty normal. I was very, very happy to be able to make the show this year, and the results were the best icing on any cake ever.”
And Lewis’ results were exceptional! Lewis and her horse, Sensational Bandita (Stella) showed in the amateur all-around events at the Pinto World and placed in several events. Though, her biggest thrill was when the team came away as Pinto World Champions in the Amateur Elite Trail.
Her trainer, Laren Harmon Dubin of Arcadia, Florida has always been impressed by Lewis’ spirit and attitude. “Linda sets the bar so high that I have to stand on a mounting block to even see the goals she sets. A World title was not on her mind, but sharing her joy for life with her horse show friends was,” Dubin states. “When she entered the trail class, I told her to hand the reins over to Stella and let the mare do what she does best. They laid down a world class trail go. Linda was a winner when she jogged out of the arena regardless of her placing. She knew it–that is just the way she rolls.”
“I was first to go in the trail and left the pen knowing that it was a terrific go. I felt a wonderful glow from inside,” recalled Lewis, who has also won an APHA World Championship in Masters Amateur Horsemanship in 2007. “Because of my health situation, my trainer, Laren Harmon Dubin, said that I needed to be happy to go for the fun of it. I agreed because twice before I wasn’t able to go because of my health, but I didn’t know that I was going to have this much fun and win too.”
Her trainer, Laren Harmon Dubin of Arcadia, Florida has always been impressed by Lewis’ spirit and attitude. “Linda sets the bar so high that I have to stand on a mounting block to even see the goals she sets. A World title was not on her mind, but sharing her joy for life with her horse show friends was,” Dubin states. “When she entered the trail class, I told her to hand the reins over to Stella and let the mare do what she does best. They laid down a world class trail go. Linda was a winner when she jogged out of the arena regardless of her placing. She knew it–that is just the way she rolls.”
Lewis says that she is thankful that showing horses has allowed her to continue competing into her late sixties when many sports would have required younger bodies.
“Horses were a great help in getting me through my battles. I still wanted to be able to ride and compete and that gave me something to look forward to,” Lewis reveals. “Most of my close friends are horse friends and they were with me all the way. They were incredible. There was never a day when I didn’t get emails, or cards or telephone calls from them. People from all over the country helped me with their prayers and well-wishes. Everyone made me feel so special, so loved.”
