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in si de ha lt on .c om O ak vi lle B ea ve r | Th ur sd ay , Fe br ua ry 8 ,2 01 8 |12 COMMUNITY Nikki Wesley/Metroland Carrie Thomas works with Romeo at Greenhaven in preparation for the upcoming riding season. Reaching the Royal: A story of resilience MELANIE CUMMINGS In life and in the equestrian ring, time and time again Carrie Thomas has fallen off her horse only to get back in the saddle. She is resilience personified. Neither concussions, cracked ribs or cancer can keep her down for long. Not while this determined 46- year-old is in pursuit of a lifetime dream. While recovering from sur­ gery in January 2015, to remove a 12-pound tumour that was thank­ fully benign, Thomas says she had "too much time to think." To pull herself out of a funk the Oak­ ville resident focused on finding joy. Happy childhood memories of horse riding came flooding back. From age eight Thomas, who grew up in Winona, "hopped on any horse any chance she could get." She competed too, until about age 16. First came lessons twice a week to whip her back into riding shape. By September 2015 Carrie set her mind to the competition ring, specifically the Royal Win­ ter Fair. She did nine shows in 2016 slowly inching her way up start­ ing in the adult beginner division right on up to the three-foot, adult 36+ division that competes at the Royal. "I was competing against women who had never stopped riding, had really expensive hors- • See FREAK, page 57 PREPARING DRIVERS FOR CANADIAN WINTERS SINCE 1970 Join 1.3 million grads in a tradition of excellence. Don't miss the season! Enrol in a driving course this winter. Text YDOAKVILLEBEAVER to 58888 for dates. YD.CO M I (9 0 5 )8 4 2 -6 8 4 6 312-345 Lakeshore Rd. East, Oakville I 107-180 Oak Park Blvd., Oakville 12 COMMUNITY PREPARING DRIVERS FOR CANADIAN WINTERS YD.COM I (905)842-6846 312-345 Lakeshore Rd. East, Oakville I 107-180 Oak Park Blvd., Oakville