KindaClassey - 2016-04-01 7:38 AM I sat in the barn this morning and cried bittersweet tears as a new foal was born. It is another cycle in this circle of life. A new life is born; on the same day another is laid to rest. It is hard for me to comprehend how a person I only met 15 times could come to be such an influence in one’s life and their thought process. That is not a lot of days, not that many hours. I fell in love with Ed Wright in Herford, Texas. I was sitting in the stands watching him give a one day clinic for pervious students. I would be in his first timer’s group the next day. I was trying to soak up information, so I wouldn’t look like a bumbling idiot the next day. Ed yelled up at me and asked what I was doing up there. When I replied that I was in the next day’s group, he answered that there was no reason I couldn’t start learning today and I would do that better if I was down there next to him. I spent the rest of the day in awe. Amazed at the tiny details he noticed, and how he could bring out improvements in horses and riders, not matter their level. Even though I had watched the day before, I was NOT prepared for the experience of that weekend. He had me so flustered, that I didn’t know my right from my left- or up from down. That first night, when I lay down, I could still hear 12-8-10-16 ringing in my ears. But I was filled with the desire to ride better . To start holding myself to higher standards. To be a better horseman. The next day was infinitely better. Reactions started coming quicker and it started making sense. He made me think that maybe – one day –I might be able to ride a barrel horse. His ideals of horsemanship and being “there” for the horse really resonated with me. I was eager to learn more. You could have knocked me over with a feather, when a year later he walked up to me at Fort Worth, called me by name, and asked how my horse was doing. As many people as that man saw, how in the world did he keep everybody straight? How could he make that many people feel like they mattered? That was his gift. I became an Ed Wright junkie. I studied his book, kept a notebook that went with me to every clinic I could afford to go to, and always begged someone to video so I could watch later. My husband called me a stalker, and said Ed was the only man he worried about me running off with. Ed taught by example – about horses, barrel racing and life. He taught that you didn’t have to be flashy to get the job done right, just keep everything neat, clean and in good working order. He taught that details matter, and that you had better pay attention to them. Think about what you are doing –before you do it-, and what the outcome will be, because you influence that outcome more than you realize. Always recognize the “Try” – in people and horses. To give the opportunity to do the right thing, and to always reward the effort. He taught us to build a strong foundation- be it training a horse, or getting right with God. He showed us how to be fair, to be patient, to take the emotion out, and to put a lot of “soul” and “feel” back in. And he could make you cry, cuss and laugh all at the same time. That is what life is all about. I enjoyed our talks and phone calls. How many horses did that man train over the phone?? My husband always said he knew it was Ed calling by my goofy grin, but he always made you feel special when he called just to check on you, and to see how mother was doing. The wealth of knowledge he had was staggering, and he enjoyed sharing it with anyone that wanted to learn. It was his way of helping horses. I asked Ed to keep an eye out for broodmares. He would call occasionally and say, “This one is pretty nice, but she’s not the whole package. I’m still looking”. After two years he called and said he found her. NO ONE ELSE ON EARTH could have gotten me to spend that much money on a horse I only saw in a 13 second video, but he was right. I grin every time I look at her, and she has produced wonderfully so far. This morning she gave me a really nice stud colt. It’s bittersweet. The funeral is today. I, and many others, will be thinking of a man that touched so many lives and helped so many horses by teaching us to be better horsemen – and people. He lived a good life and served a great God. I’m thankful for the knowledge and friendship he shared.

KindaClassey - 2016-04-01 7:38 AM I sat in the barn this morning and cried bittersweet tears as a new foal was born. It is another cycle in this circle of life. A new life is born; on the same day another is laid to rest. It is hard for me to comprehend how a person I only met 15 times could come to be such an influence in one’s life and their thought process. That is not a lot of days, not that many hours. I fell in love with Ed Wright in Herford, Texas. I was sitting in the stands watching him give a one day clinic for pervious students. I would be in his first timer’s group the next day. I was trying to soak up information, so I wouldn’t look like a bumbling idiot the next day. Ed yelled up at me and asked what I was doing up there. When I replied that I was in the next day’s group, he answered that there was no reason I couldn’t start learning today and I would do that better if I was down there next to him. I spent the rest of the day in awe. Amazed at the tiny details he noticed, and how he could bring out improvements in horses and riders, not matter their level. Even though I had watched the day before, I was NOT prepared for the experience of that weekend. He had me so flustered, that I didn’t know my right from my left- or up from down. That first night, when I lay down, I could still hear 12-8-10-16 ringing in my ears. But I was filled with the desire to ride better . To start holding myself to higher standards. To be a better horseman. The next day was infinitely better. Reactions started coming quicker and it started making sense. He made me think that maybe – one day –I might be able to ride a barrel horse. His ideals of horsemanship and being “there” for the horse really resonated with me. I was eager to learn more. You could have knocked me over with a feather, when a year later he walked up to me at Fort Worth, called me by name, and asked how my horse was doing. As many people as that man saw, how in the world did he keep everybody straight? How could he make that many people feel like they mattered? That was his gift. I became an Ed Wright junkie. I studied his book, kept a notebook that went with me to every clinic I could afford to go to, and always begged someone to video so I could watch later. My husband called me a stalker, and said Ed was the only man he worried about me running off with. Ed taught by example – about horses, barrel racing and life. He taught that you didn’t have to be flashy to get the job done right, just keep everything neat, clean and in good working order. He taught that details matter, and that you had better pay attention to them. Think about what you are doing –before you do it-, and what the outcome will be, because you influence that outcome more than you realize. Always recognize the “Try” – in people and horses. To give the opportunity to do the right thing, and to always reward the effort. He taught us to build a strong foundation- be it training a horse, or getting right with God. He showed us how to be fair, to be patient, to take the emotion out, and to put a lot of “soul” and “feel” back in. And he could make you cry, cuss and laugh all at the same time. That is what life is all about. I enjoyed our talks and phone calls. How many horses did that man train over the phone?? My husband always said he knew it was Ed calling by my goofy grin, but he always made you feel special when he called just to check on you, and to see how mother was doing. The wealth of knowledge he had was staggering, and he enjoyed sharing it with anyone that wanted to learn. It was his way of helping horses. I asked Ed to keep an eye out for broodmares. He would call occasionally and say, “This one is pretty nice, but she’s not the whole package. I’m still looking”. After two years he called and said he found her. NO ONE ELSE ON EARTH could have gotten me to spend that much money on a horse I only saw in a 13 second video, but he was right. I grin every time I look at her, and she has produced wonderfully so far. This morning she gave me a really nice stud colt. It’s bittersweet. The funeral is today. I, and many others, will be thinking of a man that touched so many lives and helped so many horses by teaching us to be better horsemen – and people. He lived a good life and served a great God. I’m thankful for the knowledge and friendship he shared.

run n rate - 2016-04-01 4:25 PM

KindaClassey...you killed it. What a great and fitting tribute and I hope to shout you put some kind of moniker on that colt born today that puts a smile on your face and reminds you of Ed every time you see him. What a special gift.
I have several very funny Ed memories...
The first one was attending a clinic in Pendleton, I decided to make the 12 hour drive for the clinic because I figured it would be as close to "running at Pendleton" as I'd get. First day we were at the Rice's place, had a pretty good day and went to celebrate at a local mexican restaraunt, had a few too many margaritas and was feeling it the next morning. Next morning it ended up raining and we moved the clinic to the indoor at the round-up grounds. I went to feed at 5 am, pouring rain, hung over, feeling a bit like dog poo and decide to take the pop up barrels and crawled the locked arena gates, set the barrels up as close to the spots as I could from watching video of the barrel races. At 5:30 am I ran Pendleton on foot in the rain with a hangover. Felt like death by the 2nd barrel, wanted to stop but heard my hauling partner yelling "Hustle", some how made it around the 3rd barrel and not sure if I technically crossed the timing light before I fell flat on my face on the grass. I was so tired and sick I crawled in the truck and fell asleep for a couple hours, threw up getting out, got the morning meeting a little late which Ed noticed of course and took one look at me, knew I had a little "bottle flu" and made me do jumping jacks to join the group, LOL!!!

KindaClassey - 2016-04-01 7:38 AM I sat in the barn this morning and cried bittersweet tears as a new foal was born. It is another cycle in this circle of life. A new life is born; on the same day another is laid to rest. It is hard for me to comprehend how a person I only met 15 times could come to be such an influence in one’s life and their thought process. That is not a lot of days, not that many hours. I fell in love with Ed Wright in Herford, Texas. I was sitting in the stands watching him give a one day clinic for pervious students. I would be in his first timer’s group the next day. I was trying to soak up information, so I wouldn’t look like a bumbling idiot the next day. Ed yelled up at me and asked what I was doing up there. When I replied that I was in the next day’s group, he answered that there was no reason I couldn’t start learning today and I would do that better if I was down there next to him. I spent the rest of the day in awe. Amazed at the tiny details he noticed, and how he could bring out improvements in horses and riders, not matter their level. Even though I had watched the day before, I was NOT prepared for the experience of that weekend. He had me so flustered, that I didn’t know my right from my left- or up from down. That first night, when I lay down, I could still hear 12-8-10-16 ringing in my ears. But I was filled with the desire to ride better . To start holding myself to higher standards. To be a better horseman. The next day was infinitely better. Reactions started coming quicker and it started making sense. He made me think that maybe – one day –I might be able to ride a barrel horse. His ideals of horsemanship and being “there” for the horse really resonated with me. I was eager to learn more. You could have knocked me over with a feather, when a year later he walked up to me at Fort Worth, called me by name, and asked how my horse was doing. As many people as that man saw, how in the world did he keep everybody straight? How could he make that many people feel like they mattered? That was his gift. I became an Ed Wright junkie. I studied his book, kept a notebook that went with me to every clinic I could afford to go to, and always begged someone to video so I could watch later. My husband called me a stalker, and said Ed was the only man he worried about me running off with. Ed taught by example – about horses, barrel racing and life. He taught that you didn’t have to be flashy to get the job done right, just keep everything neat, clean and in good working order. He taught that details matter, and that you had better pay attention to them. Think about what you are doing –before you do it-, and what the outcome will be, because you influence that outcome more than you realize. Always recognize the “Try” – in people and horses. To give the opportunity to do the right thing, and to always reward the effort. He taught us to build a strong foundation- be it training a horse, or getting right with God. He showed us how to be fair, to be patient, to take the emotion out, and to put a lot of “soul” and “feel” back in. And he could make you cry, cuss and laugh all at the same time. That is what life is all about. I enjoyed our talks and phone calls. How many horses did that man train over the phone?? My husband always said he knew it was Ed calling by my goofy grin, but he always made you feel special when he called just to check on you, and to see how mother was doing. The wealth of knowledge he had was staggering, and he enjoyed sharing it with anyone that wanted to learn. It was his way of helping horses. I asked Ed to keep an eye out for broodmares. He would call occasionally and say, “This one is pretty nice, but she’s not the whole package. I’m still looking”. After two years he called and said he found her. NO ONE ELSE ON EARTH could have gotten me to spend that much money on a horse I only saw in a 13 second video, but he was right. I grin every time I look at her, and she has produced wonderfully so far. This morning she gave me a really nice stud colt. It’s bittersweet. The funeral is today. I, and many others, will be thinking of a man that touched so many lives and helped so many horses by teaching us to be better horsemen – and people. He lived a good life and served a great God. I’m thankful for the knowledge and friendship he shared.