I clearly remember my first encounter with Lynda. I had only lived in Cody for about a year, maybe less ... which puts us back five years ago. I'm a new stylist in Cody, which means no business yet. In pops Lynda (no appointment) for a manicure. I'm slow, and I get her. I think: pretty and fit and clearly a horsewoman. And after about five minutes, I liked her!
We began talking horse. At that time, well, maybe the present too, I am not a good rider, and as always I was looking for a horse. Lynda begins to tell me about her horse for sale.
Now, you know Lynda can't sit still, so doing a manicure is very hard to accomplish! I sit listening and am interested in her horse. It's the thoroughbred. Now over the hour she tells me about the missing muscle in his shoulder, cribbing, running away with you, and just basically ... talked me out of buying this horse.
As she kept talking, I realized she was not your average woman, by far ... . She was a fly by the seat, honest, love-filled woman who went to all measures for everybody and is gone too soon.
I will miss her.
from Marina Murray
I can clearly remember the day years ago when I came to know what kind of person Lynda was. Actually it was my horse that let me know. It was crisp autumn day and we were out at the Double Doc arena for a schooling show. I was riding my hot sensitive Thoroughbred and we had already breezed the outdoor track during warm-up. Now as most of you know, I’ve ridden many hot sensitive horses, but Li’l C. would also sense any kind of negative attitude or energy that people carried and would react rather dramatically. I used to think it was solely a remnant of racetrack days when he was clearly eared down on a routine basis, but as the years have worn on I’ve come to realize he is just that way and now includes a few more people in his circle of trust.
That day I was sitting on him taking a break and decided to take off my jacket. I still remember being very careful not to spook him. Just as I had both hands behind my back there was Lynda, she was just suddenly there full of enthusiasm and energetically patting him on the neck. Li’l C. just stood there as relaxed and natural as can be. I was totally speechless. I couldn’t imagine him being that way with anyone else.
Through the years as I worked with Lynda in lessons I came to see her unique qualities of kindness, generosity, enthusiasm, and perseverance. Lynda was more then a student though, she was a friend. One that could help me laugh at all the craziness that life can bring, and still keep me looking ahead. To those that knew Lynda they could probably say the same, as Lynda welcomed many people into her home and life. I wish I could tell her how much her belief in me meant, I will miss her dearly.
(this is the email that Christy sent to members of the Montana/Wyoming equestrian community announcing Lynda's death)
As she was to many, my good friend and riding companion, Lynda Peters passed away in the early evening hours of July 3rd. Lynda suffered a severe closed head injury as a result of falling off her beloved "Hunter". I learned of her accident shortly after its occurrence via a phone call from our mutual friend, Barbara Bell.
Lynda was entered in the 4th of July Parade held at her hometown of Cody, Wyoming. For the past five years, she and Hunter had won first place for individual costume. As this year's parade began in the morning, several gun shots were fired near Lynda and two other riders. All three horses with riders bolted and in the me-lei, Lynda fell off hitting the pavement. Lynda was not wearing a helmet. She was rendered unconscious and suffered no other injuries to her body. She was air-lifted to St. Vincent's Hospital in Billings where she was joined by her husband, Stan; her son, Luke, and daughter-in-law, Sarah; her daughter Sarah; their father George and friends Marilyn and Hank and Greg and myself. Lynda never regained consciousness.
Lynda was a unique and dear person. During our many years of riding together, I never heard her say an unknd word about anyone. She had a big heart and a generous spirit. She loved her horses and rode to the fullest.
Lynda supported numerous equestrian activities throughout Wyoming and Montana. She and Dr. Stan generously opened their facility to the Heart Mountain Dressage Club and hosted regular clinics and lessons for area riders. They donated the use of their home for last year's Irish Draught Horse Inspection Tour, housing and feeding the Ireland inspectors, several horses and owners. Lynda had begun a breeding program producing quality purebred Irish Draughts. She was a dedicated member and sponsor of Warfield Equestrian Park in Billings.
She is a loss to our community. We will miss our friend very much.
from the Wrights
(from a longer piece read at Lynda's memorial)
Butch and I have many memories of Lynda. What comes to mind immediately when I think of her was her tenacious energy. She was a tiny fireball of electricity. Always moving. And moving as fast as her legs would carry her. Always with Champ and Molly racing to be near her whatever she was doing. Doing ... something she never seemed to tire of. Look around you. The fruits of her labor are everywhere on this place. This farm, these horses, and everything on every inch of this place personify Lynda. Doing ... there is a saying ... those who can DO ... those who can't teach. Lynda could and she did. If she was hurt she found another way to do. She was unstoppable. Butch and I will always cherish and admire her determination, her iron will and her fearlessness. Those are traits that aren't taught. Her desire to always be better, stronger, more productive and her undying love for all things horse are characteristics we find respectable. We always say ... never trust anyone who doesn't love horses. We will miss her deeply. And we will never forget her spirit.
(they were on their way to Billings when they received word that Lynda had passed away)
...as we made our way back onto the highway our eyes were turned to the East to a rainbow. As I looked upon that beautiful band of color I was reminded that the rainbow was given as a sign of a covenant with God. At that moment in my mind's eye that rainbow became the tallest of jumps and I could see Lynda springing over it on one of Heaven's big Warmbloods galloping full speed ahead towards the Promised Land. That is the memory that God has given me of Lynda.