I want to begin the year with a tribute. It’s a tribute to my wife, my partner, my colleague, my best friend. Her name is Michèle Jedlicka and we have been married for 20 years. Michèle moved from America to Australia so we could be together. She is the bravest person I know.
People know me through my clinics, writings, and videos. I am the face of ‘Ross Jacobs - Good Horsemanship’. But Michèle is the silent partner that makes it work. She works untiringly behind the scenes - probably much harder than I work. We are a team
Michèle has several professional jobs and responsibilities that make her week full, support our lifestyle, and bring us financial security. But she juggles all these jobs while working tirelessly to make us a home and support the business of horse clinics. She is the brains and the drive behind ‘Good Horsemanship’. She is smart, tenacious, brave, funny, fearless, and positive. There would be no ‘Ross Jacobs - Good Horsemanship’ without her support and dedication.
While I am flying across the Pacific Ocean and being served drinks on a plane, Michèle is trimming the feet of all our horses. While I am staying in fancy hotels and AirBnBs, Michèle is changing the broken belt on our lawn mower. While I am being wined and dined by clinic hosts and participants, Michèle is replacing tired old fencing. While I am driving through the beautiful countryside to the next clinic, Michèle is taking care of a medical emergency with a horse or a dog. And while I am having too much fun riding a student’s horse, Michèle is replacing the leaky plumbing in our bathroom.
She is my hero.
I know many people in the horse business rely on a partner in the background at home (of either gender) to make their business work. Like me, they too rely on their partner to bring them success. All the ‘behind-the-scene’ partners deserve our thanks and appreciation. They are all heroes.
When people thank me for a clinic I like to think they are also thanking Michèle. When people praise me for how good I am at my job, I like to think they are also praising Michèle for how good she is at her job to make my job possible.
I am lucky that I enjoy my work. Michèle makes it possible for us to have a healthy business that I enjoy. But more than that she is the reason that makes coming home the best part of my job. Thank you Michèle for who you are and all that you do. I hope those who find worth in my teaching appreciate how much you contribute to making it possible. You are my hero. I couldn’t be without you.
