Don't Postpone Joy
Peter had the world at his feet. He was at the pinnacle of his International Horse Training Career. And then he fell sick. This is Peter's story.
13 years it took to pursue a dream to compete at the Olympic Games. With a stunningly talented horse, my pursuit of International participation drove me from a humble beginning in New Zealand to campaign the equestrian circuits of Europe.
Fez was a champion thoroughbred, highly bred but found as a Sheppard's hack in the Hawkes Bay. Together our rise to ad vanced level took just one year and by the second, we were destined for Europe. Since it often takes several years to reach international level, he was truly a blessing, a once in a lifetime treasure.
Leading to the 1980 games, I left my contract riding job in Belgium and together Fez and I competed at the final qualifier in Holland. As the Macbeth Witch said on the heath, 'by the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes.'
So it came to pass and Fez, pricked by a blacksmith, 3 days before the competition, contracted Osteomylitis and was withdrawn from the competition on the last day of the 3 Day Event. This incurable disease, (in those days), meant that only 3 weeks out from the Olympics, I had to put down my beloved horse my dream and learn the hard lesson , that grief is not a destination but a process.
Some years later;
Now living in Australia, Look Sharp, my advanced horse of 1991 was sold to a Canadian agent for an American client. The Canadian asked me to train and manage him through to the Barcelona Olympics. After a two second decision, I flew with my little horse to America, saw him to his new owner and took residence with my new client near Toronto. Our successful campaign ended that first year with Nick, my rider, winning the Gold Medal at the Pan American Games, the final event of the international circuit.
1992 was another big year including my participation at the Barcelona Olympics, (phew) as co leader of the Canadian Team and Nick's trainer and manager. 3 feral dogs hung around the busy village and the stables. Each one was sickly, underfed and listless. I often patted one who was closest and feared he was not long for this world.
Our team did well and I remained for two years with the Canadian Olympic Team through to the world Championships in Holland. Achieving the zenith of my career with an international accolade for a procedure of cooling in the 10 minute box, first developed for the Olympics, it was time to return to New Zealand.
It was time for a change and I would make money back in the hospitality industry, from whence I had begun as a 16 year old. Reinvented as a Bar Owner /Operator, socially breaking rules of the day, I again enjoyed bountiful success. Surrender Dorothy, a unique little bar, the flavour of the month and now operating in Auckland over a year, gave me options of fun and fabulousness.
Just when I thought I was on the best winner, like my Olympic horse, that bloody witch pricked her thumb one more time. I fell sick on one afternoon. Very sick. So sick that six months later they gave me eight weeks to live. After my near death experience, I was diagnosed with a rare terminal parasite from a killer sand fly bite. Visceral Leishmania had attacked my internal organs and destroyed my bone marrow, enlarged my liver and spleen. I was expected to die because no one with this disease had lived longer than 3 to 20 months. Chemotherapy began immediately. The sand fly had transferred a microscopic parasite from an infected dog while I was in Spain at the games. My Olympic dream became my nemesis.
Now 14 years and 842 doses later I marvel at the tenacity of my spirit and the ability of my body to adjust to its unique function. In 2000, side effects from the treatment, the result of heavy metal poisoning from toxins in the cyto-toxic therapy, caused an 80% loss of sight overnight. Deafness to profound loss began from 2004 to 2008. Grappling to avoid depression from isolation from my partner, my work colleagues and my clients, I fought to maintain my positive personality. Resentment and gratitude cannot live in the same place.
In my quietest moments I would speak my motto of 'Don't Postpone Joy'. I would continue my elite winning strategy. The method I had used for my riders to believe they could win, teach my staff how to make memories in my bars would now be my technique to believe I was still a winner. I had to finish this race and again ride through the winning flags.
Bi -lateral cochlear implants, my bionic key to free me from my prison of hearing loss, was the gift in 2010. Now one year later with the ability to hear myself speak again has given me opportunities' to reignite my speaking career, share my elite winning strategy and know that discipline and a belief in myself will now make a difference to others in our world of uncertainties.