Saving Wish

Saving Wish

　

Technique began a new era of kindness. Kim expressed it best in the newsletter when she explained how she and Cambry came up with the idea. I won't steal her words, but you should ask her the story if you did not get the newsletter. Here is their plan: because they are so grateful for the many opportunities and blessings they've had, they decided that they should rescue horses. However, they knew that such an endeavor would require resources and help they simply could not do themselves. But they knew they could count on the Technique family. Knowing this, they went ahead and sent some feelers out to find a horse to rescue, secured a stall (donated by the owner of the barn at which we work out and take lessons), and asked for the help of the vaulters.

Perhaps more quickly than they thought, Wish entered the lives of Technique coaches and vaulters. Pictures and more about Wish can be found in a different place on this website, but I want to focus on the vaulters and their support.

Their help was a no-brainer. These kids work hard, and they have learned to work, a skill I fear their generation is losing quickly. We cannot find anyone in our neighborhood to PAY to help with our yard work because of my illness. But the vaulters of Technique begged to clean out Wish's stall, to walk Wish, to brush Wish, to befriend Wish. Our son, a young boy we have to beg to clean his room, begged every lesson to be able to muck out a stall. Our four-year-old begged to help. I seriously find myself astonished at the willingness to work, to be selfless, and to love that these kids show week after week, day after day. Many donated hard-earned money to help feed Wish. What better lesson could these young athletes learn? Indeed, what better lesson could their parents and peers learn? Because we cannot forget the time donated by parents waiting while their children worked with and for Wish; the plans put on hold, the events skipped, the relaxation on a weekend forfeited. And all for a horse. And, amazingly, all done absolutely willingly and happily. We want nothing more than for our children to learn to be good people, people who make a difference on this planet, in this community, in this country, and in our world. I believe Technique provides a remarkable beginning and path for that kind of life.

I realize that athletes in general have better self-discipline than do non-athletes (with the obvious exception of musicians). I realize, also, that they develop a work ethic in the way that they discipline their bodies, their eating, their time. But I do not think that other athletes learn the selflessness of saving an animal. An animal to whom none of them had a previous relationship or knowledge of. They simply jumped to Wish's defense and rushed to make a horse's life better. Wish was so well cared for by Technique that he has already been healed and adopted. And Technique, wasting no time, is looking for another horse to rescue.