The Dressage Affaire - 2011 Show Program

THE DÉJÀ VU [MEMORIAL AWARD]
“In Loving Memory of a World Class Horse”
How do you say goodbye to a creature that is so noble, so
grand, and so giving? Our horses are our dance partners,
without them there is no sport. With them we create music,
harmony … beauty.
On September 19, 1994, my Déjà vu was put down to end
his pain. In July of 1993, at the Olympic Sports Festival, he was
going the best of his life. Four days before competition began,
he came up severely lame. Once home, we found out that he
tore cartilage in his stifle. He was operated on one month later,
the torn cartilage flap had to be removed, leaving him with no
cartilage in that area. We could only hope that the fibro-cartilage
that would form in the area would be dense enough to give him
the cushion he needed to be pain-free, since there was no joint
replacement available for a horse’s stifle. We used every modality,
injection, and additive that was available to aid in the growth of
fibro-cartilage. Over a year later we were faced with a decision
I had never faced before. He could not walk without limping
severly. He was in pain, both physically and mentally. He had
always loved to work and now could only watch me on Dutch
Treat. He called to us all day and night if he thought he heard us
coming out of the house.
DJ was a tremendous athlete. He was cocky and proud like
a stallion, but loving and cute like a baby. He loved the show
ring. We were preparing our debut in Grand Prix in 1994. He
was my dance partner, like no other I’d had before. He carried
me through our “waltzes” with grandeur. Without him I have
felt lost. I have no partner: I can’t dance.
Through tragedy I have grown, and have found a stronger
nucleus of caring, love and support from my parents, family
and friends. It has helped me to remain positive and continue
striving for my goals, equestrian or otherwise. I miss DJ tremendously.
He was buried north of Santa Barbara, on a hillside
overlooking the ocean. We thought this was fitting. He lived
with dignity and he died with dignity. This letter is in memory
of DJ and all the other special partners that have been lost.
Kim Keenan.
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G o o d Lu c k t o al l Co m p e t i t o r s