Uncle Max

When I was young I went to visit my aunt Nelda and uncle Max at there Arizona ranch where they raised and showed Peruvian Pasos. At that time I had had very little interaction with horses having only ridden a couple of times. My two week visit there was one that will stay in my memories as the best time of my life. I had so much fun spending time with all the horses brushing them, helping to feed them and just exploring the ranch and all its beauty.

My mom had come to visit the last couple days I was there and my aunt and uncle had finally let me ride one of their horses. I was hooked from that moment on. As I rode around the big coral in front of the house they turned to my mom and said "I see she has had riding lessons!" and my mom informed them of how little riding experience I had had and my uncle told her I was a natural. From then on he and my aunt encouraged me to get into some kind of horsemanship.

A couple months later my wonderful parents purchased our first horse and from that moment on I have spent every day in the presence of a horse. If not for there encouragement I would not be in the business I am in today. I have had a wonderful career in the thoroughbred racing industry as a jockey, exercise rider and assistant trainer and I owe it all to that short visit with my wonderful family that saw my potential long before anyone else did.

In December of 2008 we lost Aunt Nelda and just this past week we lost Uncle Max. My heart was broken when I got the call from my dad. They were two of the most important people in my life and I am eternally gratefull to have known them. I will miss them more then they will ever know and I wish I had taken the time to tell them just how important they were and how they played such a pivotal role in the road my life has taken.

Posted by Amanda

Hard trip to Arizona

Had to make a hard trip to the Tucson area last week. My Uncle Max (mom's brother) was at the end. Left Wednesday 1-11-12, made it that night. He left this world on Friday 1-13.

Max was 81. He ran a successful business for years in Tucson. He and his wife Nelda were two of the kindest, funnest and most loving people you would ever meet. In the late '80's they moved east to Benson and engaged in their passion of raising Peruvian Passo horses until her death 3 years ago.

After mom died they (along with mom's sister Joann and Uncle Jim) were like the parents we didn't have anymore. We now have a hole in our hearts that won't be filled this side of heaven.

Max and Nelda gave our oldest daughter the greatest gift you can give anyone...the next post will be from her.

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