It may not be common knowledge that Randy Coleman of the Pacific Southwest Region passed away while attending a multi-day ride in September. For those who didn't know Randy, he started endurance in 1990 and in the following 16 years accumulated more than 11,000 miles. Ten thousand of them were on the same horse, Pandora's Pixy.

Pandy was just the third horse in AERC history to receive the "Perfect 10" award. In the 225 rides he listed with AERC, Randy had only five pulls.

I'm not really writing this column to illustrate how well a rider or a rider and horse team can do but to illustrate how it's possible to live well, doing the things you love to do. I've discussed Randy's passing with a few people on the trail and, to a rider, they said, "If I have to go, that's what I hope happens to me." I've also thought about it personally because Randy was just three weeks older than I am.

I didn't know Randy well. I talked with him at a few rides and he called "hello" as he passed me on the trail heading toward the top 10s he and Pandy usually earned.

Randy was always described as a good guy - as one who helped mark a lot of trails for ride managers, and as a rider with a passion for endurance and his horse. He loved multi-day rides and wrote of his experiences: "It is hard to separate the beauty of the mountains and trail from the beauty of the riders that accompany you." And this: "Nothing is better or more appreciated than a hot dog at lunch grilled by Lavon at a remote overlook site" about an XP multi-day ride.

He struggled with health problems in the past several years but chose to ride rather than sit on a couch and watch the world go by. Randy knew his limitations but still participated and rode for goals such as reaching 10,000 miles for himself and a Perfect 10 award for his mare.

When asked what kept him going, he answered, "Being able to finish, be competitive, and have a horse fit to continue has kept me going in this sport."

Living your life like Randy did, and then passing away while you and your horse are doing something you love to do with like-minded people around you, is what many of us would wish for ourselves.

Keep active, pursue your goals, and live life as Randy did. That's the best memorial I can think of for him.