September 08' Letter of the Month I received some correspondence through Auckland Show Jumping with Katie McVean’s email address on it, so my 12-year-old daughter, India, decided to send her a good-luck email. She was so delighted when the very next morning there was a lovely reply from Katie and Forest waiting for her. I decided to write this letter because the few minutes it took Katie to reply has inspired and motivated India and her friends. It reminded them that our top riders can be human and nice, and are not just the growling adults that push them for space in the practice rings at our bigger show jumping competitions. The kids are talking about the day when they might represent New Zealand, and the ponies have been worked twice as hard since that email arrived, so thank you, Katie. Hopefully, some of our other champions will remember at the shows how much the kids look up to them, and that a tiny smile goes miles to an aspiring kid. Here’s to a great season. One of Those Show Jumping Mothers, Pukekohe