Goodbye, Sarah

Today a lovely, spirited young woman named Sarah Thomas died, and many, many people are going to miss her, myself included. She was an exercise rider for Jonathan Sheppard's Ashwell Stables, and not long ago she wrote to me, asking if I could encourage drivers on Street Road to have some consideration for the horses and riders and slow the heck down. I did, and our local policeman went out and issued some speeding tickets, and she sent me a message with about 10 exclamation points, saying how grateful she was.
Sarah suffered a fatal head injury when the horse she was riding spooked for some unknown reason and she came off (yes, she was wearing a helmet and flak jacket), her father, Victor, told me. She was rushed to Christiana Hospital by ambulance and stayed conscious long enough for her parents to talk to her, but then suffered a massive stroke. After that, there was no hope of recovery.
Sarah was so vital and enthusiastic that it's hard to believe she is gone. Her friends have posted photos on her Facebook page showing her riding along Lamborntown Road in the snow, playing polo, watching the World Series at the Whip, celebrating at weddings and parties.
My deepest sympathy and prayers to her family, and here's hoping her spirit is in Houyhnhnm Land with her beloved horses. Her father told me that thanks to Sarah's organ donations, as many as seventy people will live longer and better lives, which I think is a beautiful and fitting legacy.
The family is planning a gathering at their farm this summer to celebrate her life. 
(Thank you to Emily Rodger Barber for the photograph. "I love that photo," her father said.)