Dear Folks,

It’s been three years since the driving world lost one of its most pleasant participants and ambassadors, Sue Lyon. Sue’s influence transcended the traditional lines of separation with a contagious positive and upbeat spirit which could not be matched anywhere in our sport. Just knowing Sue was a wonderful—sometimes strange—facet of life whether it dealt with horses and carriages or just sharing a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with a handful of friends and family. Sue’s presence somehow made it come out all right—everytime.

We ran across the following letter (entitled “A Groom’s Tale”), written by Mike Lyon shortly after Sue’s death on February 24, 2009. We think it puts Sue’s relationship with the driving world in perspective.

On February 24, 2009 at 10:45 p.m. the bottom fell out. But let's start at the beginning.

Around 1985 I was a captain for an international airline, single, had a sail boat in the Virgin Islands, a light airplane with a house in Florida and was living part time in Europe. The only names that meant a lot to me were Pearson (the boat), Cessna, Airbus, Grumman and Boeing (airplanes). Life was good.

One fateful day a letter came to me via snail mail from my old Alma Mater in Pennsylvania asking if I would like to be on the alumni board and then become a trustee. I agreed, after all the school turned my life onto the right track so I owed it.

I'd been around horses since my sixth birthday and have stayed with it on and off for 50 years, but always with my seat in the saddle and my legs firmly around them. Was there any other way?

At that time, there was still an equestrian program at the school, so it was logical for me to wander down to the stables, after all, I could "get into something" there. And it was there that I met the director.

"Hi, my name is Sue," said the director, "How are you?" Over the next couple months I learned that horses drive, you know, pull a cart. Scary thing, you now have ‘lines’ (not to be confused with ‘reins’) in your hands and no use of your legs…this is nuts!

Enter first suggestion. My new friend, Sue, said why not buy a horse we can use at the school, and you can learn to drive. I agreed. Enter second suggestion. "Let's go to Martin's Auction and buy a cart," Sue said. "OK," I replied thinking darn she's cute!

Enter third suggestion. "Now that you have a cart, you must join the Carriage Association of America," she said. "OK," I replied. "Now you need to go to Smucker's to order harness." I gas up the car for the trip to Beartown, Pennsylvania, as I reach around and check my back pocket for my checkbook…but are there still checks left in it?

"When the restoration is done," she mentions, "your turnout will be perfect…almost." Almost? I hadn't even had time to think about why it wouldn't be perfect already. She proceeds to explain all the ‘other’ stuff I'm going to need, accoutrements if you will.

So now new names come into my life, such as Abner Lapp, Back 40 Coach Shop, Driving Essentials, Hats Off Boutique, Hunts Harness, Driving Digest, Journey's End, Coachman's Delight, to mention but a few.

Sue then suggests going to Ludwig's Corner Horse Show to show in a couple of classes. She then adds, "Oh, I forgot to mention, you really should join the American Driving Society." I look at her and she smiles, I write the check.

"You know," she mentions, "you really should take this turnout to the Devon marathon…and you could purchase a box at the show grounds." "OK, but do I NEED to join another club?" "No," she answered.

Now several years later, I have two horses, four carts, three sets of harness, horse trailer, truck and a stray dog. "Damn, we need a farm! And there is one for sale in Kentucky advertised in the Horse Journal," she said, smiling with anticipation.

"OK," I reply, "but to make the dog feel all right about it, will you marry me?" "OK," she replies. And off we go!

Twelve years later, we move carts, trailers, harness, and way too many hats and lap robes to Tennessee along with two cats, two dogs, two ponies and two horses. Along with that come new places to go, such as Blowing Rock, Gayla, Germantown, Franklin, Woodbury, Georgia and the Kentucky Horse Park, and so on. Life is really good!

On February 24 at 10:45 p.m., my best friend and wife went west, after a long four year fight with cancer. I have a huge hole in my heart but on the bright side, Sue brought me so much light and new horizons, all the driving places and experiences that I would have never had or never had known but most of all, the wonderful people who drive and groom.

By the way, what does Pearson, Cessna, Airbus, Grumman and Boeing stand for? I forgot.

Y’r obt. ser.

Thom Mezick