Ingred Lin - R.I.P.
Ingred Lin and her beloved stallions, Quemacho and Queba
It’s strange sometime that you go through life knowing who someone is but never really paying much attention to them. I knew Ingred Lin (as Ingred Pollack) for many years, or thought I did. I knew that she had battled breast cancer and had seen her at many dressage shows riding various horses over the decades.
But it wasn’t until last summer when I moved my horses to Tuny Page’s Still Point Farm that I really got to spend time with Ingred as her Lusitanostallions, Quemacho and Queba, were being trained and shown by my friend, Lisa Wilcox. For a long time I would sit on one side of the viewing area and Ingred would sit on the other, as I taught my students and she watched Lisa. But you know me - when I watch something and have an opinion about it as to how it could be better, I just can’t help myself. And so I started making a little suggestion here and there to both Lisa and Ingred, and lucky for me, they received it with thanks and allowed me to keep on helping in small ways here and there. More importantly, I got to chat daily with Ingred and really got to know how fabulous she was as a trainer and more importantly, as a person. She absolutely loved her horses and they returned that love to her every day.
In the last months, as it was obvious that Ingred’s health was failing and she was growing more ill and weaker, it was even more clear that her inner strength, wisdom and dignity was shining ever more brightly with each passing day. And even as she could no longer speak, Ingred would text me about her thoughts on the horses and how excited she was with Lisa and their training. I understood that her long battle with cancer had been so long because of her great love of her family, friends and animals, for which she dedicated her life. My thoughts and prayers go out to Ingred’s family and all those who love her, of which there are many, many!
One thing is for sure - if there is a heaven, and I do believe there is, then Ingred has already spent the last 24 hours assuredly in the presence of the greats like Nuno Olivero, Willie Schultheis, and Herbert Rehbein and ridden some of the most amazing star horses of the past, just to see how they feel.
And she’s probably thinking, with a chuckle, we would be so lucky to know all the things she knows now.
Here’s to you, Ingred. You will be sorely missed but never forgotten!
RD
Linda J. Reinke — December 30, 2009 @ 11:04 am
Yes Robert, Ingred loved her horses passionately. I was fortunate to have bought one of her beloved lusitanos. His name is Obregon and he is a very special horse. Ingred told me that Obregon was special and that he had saved her life once. As it turned out, Obregon also saved my life once when a stallion went on a rampage. Yes, Ingred will be greatly missed by all that had the opportunity to know her. Like you Robert, I picture her in heaven surrounded by gorgeous gentle dancing lusitanos. Thank you for the lovely tribute to a courageous lady who showed the dressage community the grace and beauty of the lusitano.
Linda J. Reinke Woodinville, Washington