Mine and Stuey's adventure started just five short years ago. Paired together in an initiative to promote business at Taylor Made Sales Agency, I became Stuey's support staff. It was a perfect pairing with him as the seasoned veteran and me with the green thumb. I was fortunate enough to share in the majority of Stuart's time throughout the week for several years. He and I travelled all over central Kentucky together looking at horses which led us to conversations long and wide in the car rides in between. Our talks had no limitations and only a little judgment.
His expertise was deep and rich; I once saw him diagnose a foal with a heart condition just by the way his chest moved when he drew breath. The condition was later confirmed by a highly credible local veterinarian and essentially cemented Stuart's title as the ultimate horse whisperer. Stu drastically changed the trajectory of my career, there is no doubt, and there will never be enough words to thank him with. He shaped my eye but taught me how to form my own opinion on a horse. He gave me the confidence to seize opportunities I didn't think I was good enough for. Stu became my biggest supporter, and I am forever grateful for the life lessons he shared with me. I just wasn't ready for our lessons to end.
When Stuart eventually shared his illness with me, the business support naturally expanded into a true friendship as his cancer continued to progress. We leaned on each other during the good and bad, championed each other in times of doubt and success, and celebrated each other with a dinner at Giuseppe's every chance we could, like the time we beat out all others for the prestigious Joss Collins Wooden Spoon Award. As time creeps by, the sting of his absence will eventually diminish, but Stuey will always be around. I know and you know, too; he's too damn stubborn not to be!
I can't help but think there was some divine intervention at work five years ago. It seems to be that I found Stuey just as he needed an extra hand and Stuey found me just as I needed one, too.
–Josie Mattmiller is the sales Recruitment Manager at the Keeneland Association.
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