Doug's Tributes
Doug and Tammy have shared out barn for around 20 years. During that time I was a volunteer for Mt. Diablo. One of my jobs was to report on the condition of trails. When a single track was getting a deep rut but I was not sure if it was too deep I would get Doug to ride my not so tall horse and if his feet dragged the upper rims of the trail, than I would report that the trail needed to be fixed by the volunteer trail crews. Doug never complained and he was very aware of what I was up to. He even rode one of my short horses in NATRC, even though he thought everyone felt he was dragging his feet on the trail. Of course he said if the horse got tired he could just point his toes and touch the ground to help the horse.
Last summer at Cowboy Camp, Doug was in back of me in line for the Vet check. He posed the question, "How do you get that horse so white? Do you bleach him?" He had a mischievous smile when he asked me. "No," I replied, "Just Orvis soap, elbow grease and I must admit a bit of bluing in the rise water." It seems I will always remember that smile also his kind and gentle hand with a horse. Some people leave you wanting more of them, Doug was one of these.
On the Round Valley Ride of 2012 when the temp was 106 and it was day 2 with no wind blowing and everyone was suffering along with their horses, we waited at the top of Miwok for the first P&R for all riders. As they all came through, it was realized that Doug & Tammy had not arrived, and it was feared that they were lost! As we waited, Doug & Tammy showed up, coming from the wrong direction! "I think we took a wrong turn at the fork in the road." As Doug said this, he had a smile on his face. "I guess we'll be disqualified, so we'll just finish the ride & enjoy the day." I think we were more concered about what had taken place than Doug & Tammy. They turned their mounts around and continued on with the ride, and were smiling at the check in at the end of the ride. Doug & Tammy just loved the sport and enjoyed riding together, win or lose. We will think of him as we ride out this year at Round Valley, keeping his spirit alive.
Doug and Tammy came in our Region 2 lives in January, at the STAR ride. We were so impressed they had driven all the way from N. California to participate in our ride. AND it was their first Open ride as well. Both of them were so much fun. We convinced them to return and compete for our Triple Crown award.
I was delighted to see them at the M&M ride and even more delighted to hear they were going to spend the next month at the Bumble Bee Guest Ranch.
They helped us ribbon the trails before the final ride at Bumble Bee. From Kelly (the ranch manager at Bumble Bee) we learned how much he pitched in while staying there.
After the Bumble Bee ride was over, I stopped by while Doug was helping Jill Worley load her horse. I gave him a ride back to where their camp was set up (big area.) I said goodbye to both of them with the assurance that they would return to compete in at least one of our rides the following year.
When I received the news of Doug's passing I, along with everyone else in Region 2, was devastated. I just couldn't believe this could have happened to him and Tammy.
It is a testament to who Doug was that someone can walk into your life, you really only spend about nine days with them, and they leave a huge impact on you. From the first ride, they became old friends and part of our Region 2 family.
Doug and Tammy also bought raffle tickets for the junior riders (to win a free entry to the next ride.) At the time I did not give it much thought except thinking it was a nice thing to do. What I have learned afterward is this is something that was close to Doug and Tammy's heart. Helping kids.
I am so sad I will not be able to see Doug, but I am much more sad for the loss to Tammy and her family. Life just doesn't seem very fair at times. But Doug made a big impact on the people around him with the time he had. And he made the impact with kindness and generosity of heart.
Doug, you were always a gentleman, from the first time I met you until the last time I saw you at Lake Mendocino. You were always there to help, offer advice or assistanace when needed, equipment, spare parts, and especially, chips and guacamole after a long day's ride.
I never heard you raise your voice or complain about ANYTHING! You were one of the few people in whom I've seen the fruit of the Spirit manifested so fully - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22) - you exemplefied all of these things. Tammy was truly blessed to have such a husband as you. Never for a moment did I think that I wouldn't see you again at the next ride. You will be sorely missed by a lot of people, but we all know that you're still riding along on your beloved steed, watching over all of us down here.
I first met Doug and Tammy when they came to the first jewel of the Arizona Triple Crown's STAR ride. I was watching the check-in, side-pass obstacle the vet was asking the Open riders to do. I would have never known that this was Doug's first Open ride, as he was so patient and gentle in his movements with National Treasure. Later in the weekend, I sat at the same table with Doug and Tammy for dinner and got to know them better. A nicer couple you will never meet. All of the people that were part of the AZ Triple Crown rides fell in love with them - both management and riders alike.
The sadness we ALL felt when we heard about Doug's passing was overwhelming. I am can't believe I won't see that wonderful smile and enjoy his disarming humor at our rides again next year.
Tammy, please know that Doug will be missed but remembered with great fondness for all of the generous and compassionate qualities he shared with everybody he touched during his time on earth with us! May you find strength in the support and love expressed to you through these messages from the heart by the people who knew and loved Doug. May God bless you and keep you at this difficult time and please know that your friends are here to help you in any way they can.
Last month I met Doug and Tammy during my first ever NATRC ride which was held at BumbleBee Ranch, AZ. On the first day we met, they quickly realized I was a newbie they started me on NATRC 101 crash course. They taught me how to present Cruiser to the judges. Then we went on to practicing offside mounting and dismounting. At this point Cruiser only had a halter and saddle on, no headstall. Doug promised me he would not let go of that lead rope or let him move while I practiced. Doug could tell I literally dont hand over the reins very often, but I had trusted him from the get go. He kept that promise, and I did learned this skill, but unfortunately they didnt require that during the ride. Someday if they do, I am going to look up to the sky and ask Doug to help me hold Cruiser once again. The next day Doug sat with me on the porch at the ranch while I cleaned my saddle. A couple hours passed, we had talked about everything under the sun, and then we got to the topic of supplements, He went to his trailer and brought over a bag of his special mixture. It makes me cry right now that I didn't make the time to use it, and let him know how my horse liked it. I was going to ask him for his secret recipe. Now its on a shelf in my tack room as a reminder of a very very special, kind, intelligent, and thoughtful man that I only knew for 4 days I thought he and his wife would be my good friends for a years to come. Doug and Tammy made such an impact and taught me so much in such a short window of time, and now with Dougs passing he taught even more.
Thank you Doug for be so kind to me, I will miss you.
Doug and Tammy let me wash a ride off in their camper's little shower, ditto for my kids. At his wonderful new horse's first ride Doug trusted me to put a shoe on him. When I said I didn't want pay he told me the bill was for the kids I'd brought, to eat on the way home. I didn't make them eat it, but it paid for some great food. Tammy, he's still with you, better than ever, just like he's still with us
Doug was a great horseman, competitor and person. It was always fun to have him at our rides with his willingness to help and his great sense of humor. He always had a positive outlook on everything. If success can be measured by having left the world a little better for it, then Doug was a supreme success. I know that we in the NATRC family are the richer for him. Doug, we will miss you greatly and think of you as we go down the trail...
As evidenced by all these wonderful photos, one rarely saw Doug without a big smile on his face. He always greeted people at rides like long lost friends. It felt like his motto was "ride with a smile". We miss you Doug!
There was a lot to like about Doug. He and Jazz made such a beautiful picture going down the trail; what a team they were. Then Doug made us all smile when he had so much fun riding Blue Camel. He started National Treasure as a young horse, and I liked how he took his time, patiently introducing Treasure to new trail experiences. What I liked even more about Doug was that he was always such a good sport; he didn't blame anyone else for troubles, didn't make excuses, didn't argue with decisions. He always offered to help, always offered "creature comforts," always had a smile. Doug exemplified so many good qualities that we all strive to have. He gave us so many literal and figurative gifts. And now we all realize how much there is to miss about Doug.
What sticks in my memory the most about Doug was his great smile and gentle manner. In the years I knew him, I never heard him raise his voice or become angry. I recall talking to him after a particularly hot ride in 2012 and asking if he and Tammy were OK. He just smiled and indicated they were hot but OK. He and Tammy had also taken a wrong turn at this ride so they came in too late to qualify. However his attitude was positive and there was always "next time". I am so saddened that "next time" we have the ride, I will not see Doug's smile coming over the hill. It was an honor to know Doug and to share good times with him. We will all miss him but I'm sure he'll be with us in spirit.
Dear Doug,
I remember the exact moment you came into my life. We were navigating a hair-pin turn at Round Valley, and I wasn't paying attention to anything except my horse. You chatted with Bailey Dorsey just ahead of me, but worry kept me intensely focused on every step my horse took. He'd checked in lame; the vet allowed us to start, but I doubted we'd finish the ride. As it turned out, so did you. So did Bailey. So did anyone with a lick of sense.
I didn't blame any of you a bit. My horse used his saddle for a hula hoop at the last ride, leaving him with a limp, me waiting for the rescue wagon, and Bailey stranded without a riding partner. You were really riding with Bailey that day, in the anticipated event that I pulled. I was just glad to be allowed to tag along.
As we completed the turn, I over-heard my name and looked up. You blinked before smiling sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Laura. I didn't know you were so close. I didn't mean to be talking out of school."
It took me a minute to realize you must have said something I might interpret negatively about me, my horse, or the appropriateness of us being out on the trail.
"Uh, that's all right." I hadn't actually heard what you said. Knowing you, it was probably very mild, and far better than I deserved. Whatever it was, I figured you were right.
You flashed a grin at me and we continued on.
In that moment, I understood a dozen things about you. At any given moment, you had one eye on the welfare of the horses--all the horses, not just your own. You kept the other eye on the welfare of the riders. Your own personal stake in the competition ranked near the bottom of the stack. And if you felt you'd misstepped or misspoken, you'd apologize before anyone realized anything was amiss.
I thought of you as my big brother on the trail. I felt secure knowing you were there, even if I couldn't see you. You had the knack of appearing at just the right moment. When I was so exhausted at check-out that I couldn't face walking down the stinkin' hill at Mt. Diablo one more time to fetch a different rope, you put one in my hand. When my horse was in crisis, you had a bucket and sponge at the ready. When a horse got tangled in a rope, you cut the line before I even thought of a knife. When we encountered a locked gate, you fetched your Leatherman tool. You stuffed Kaysha and baby Lorelei in your camper with the air conditioner during a freak heat wave. (You stuffed me in, too.) You offered shade, cold tea, guacamole, and whatever you happened to be cooking.
My waistline will miss you at future rides.
I don't really believe in angels, but if there is such a creature, it surely could not be any more great-hearted, generous, or timely than you. It certainly could not be any more humble. If there is any chance of the departed looking after the living, I can't imagine anyone more likely to be looking after me - after all of us - on the trail.
I think of you every time I navigate that turn at Round Valley. I will continue to think of you as just out of sight. I will try to keep one eye on all the horses, and the other on all the riders. I'll pack guacamole when I load up for a ride. I hope, in time, to be half as great-hearted as you. If I get even that far, I'll be pretty awesome.
See you on the trail, brother.
Many people knew Doug better than me, but even I know that our island of life has been graced and enhanced by him, and we are diminished by his passing.
My limited NATRC experience included Doug, and for that, I am grateful. The NATRC people I know are intelligent, caring, remarkable, and knowledgeable about caring about horses. I found Doug to be among the best of these special people. His comments were substantial and significant. He was a blessing in my life, and indeed, I need all the blessings I can get. I will remember him with gratitude and fondness, an inspiration to remind us of horses, values, caring and sharing. We need to remember his good example as a man, a horseman, and a leader.
I met Doug at my second NATRC ride. Sunny and I were waiting to start the ride (alone, of course), and Doug came up to me and said, "You look like you've really thought about your set up - how'd you choose that saddle?" It was a wonderful moment - we had something to talk about, and with the intro and the question, he let me know he respected me a horse person - I felt like I might actually belong to the NATRC tribe someday. And when I got to knw Doug, I realized that it was also a "do unto others" activity for him, since I don't think I've known anyone who thought more about his set up! After I met Doug and Tammy, getting to a ride turned into something to look forward to, instead of something to get through. I knew that there would be someone to make goofy jokes with, and, if necessary, help me park my trailer. Doug was a pleasure to ride with, too. He was a kind and competent horseman, considerate of other riders, and entertaining to go down the trail with; the miles passed quickly with Doug and Tammy.