Our conversations with Louie were simple and direct. He was very cordial and polite and would greet everyone he met with, "Hello." He would ask loudly, "How are you?" Then he would tell you who he was. "I'm a cowboy!" His name wasn't as important as what he was. He was proud of that title, "I'm a cowboy!"

1. Be who you are. Be yourself. Be who you were made to be. "I'm a cowboy!" In the quest for happiness it is important to be yourself and be who you were made to be. Louie was who he wanted to be. Though his thoughts were simple, Louie was happy. He was not searching to find meaning or purpose. He was what he wanted to be. Those of us who can plan ahead may think, "Someday I will..." But Louie wanted to be a cowboy and he knew he already was one.

Sometimes we don't clearly ask our friends and family for what we want. Louie was very clear about what he wanted. We were delighted to give these things to him, as friends often do. His face beamed with pleasure at the sight of the hat and badge. That's what friends do for each other.

3. Tell those around you when you appreciate them. Louie was kind and always had a big "Hello!" to everyone he met. But on one particular day we introduced him to his new sidewalker (lesson assistant) and he grinned broadly and said, "She's hot!" Maybe not always politically correct, but he was honest about his fondness for others. His appreciation brought a big smile to everyone's face including, his "hot" new sidewalker.

4. Ride a good horse. Louie was probably at least six feet tall. But he rode Rocky, a 13'3" Haflinger, and he loved every minute of it. Some people would be concerned about their appearance and how they looked on their horse. But Louie knew the value of a good, trustworthy horse. He knew there are more important qualities in a horse than how they look. Louie knew he was safe on his trusty mount and he preferred that over flash any day. We all know many equestrians who could learn this lesson.

5. Make time to do the things you love. Life is short. Sooner or later, it ends for all of us. Always make time to do the things you love. Louie wanted to ride a horse and he let everyone know about his desire. We run at such a fast pace today, that we sometimes spend life doing things that are not as important as we think they are. Taking time to do the things we love is important.

6. It feels good to laugh out loud. Louie had one of the loudest laughs I have ever heard. When he laughed in our huge arena, riders 100 yards away would turn to see who it was. It was Louie and he was not ashamed that everyone knew he was laughing and happier for it. When he laughed out loud, everyone within earshot smiled.

7. Getting started is often the hardest part. Louie had a hard time getting on the horse. Almost every mount was difficult for him. But he knew the obstacle was difficult, and he knew the reward was great. With enough help and support, he mounted every lesson. Because that's what cowboys do. Louie taught us that a little discomfort in the beginning means nothing, when you are living your dream.

8. We all need a helping hand sometimes. Louie's legs were not the strongest and often we would help him from the car to the arena. But here's a little secret. Louie like being helped. It was another opportunity to hold someone's hand and be close to them. When we allow others to help us and they do, everyone wins.

When Louie came to us, and his first word was, "Hello!" It's hard to say goodbye to an old friend. We will always be grateful for his friendship and the lessons we learned from him. We loved being able to be a part of his dream. Ride on, Cowboy!

Louie's Ride

By Garry Stauber