Helping Kevin Babington made a special show shine

The ad Kevin Babington placed in the local newspaper during the late 1980s read something like this: “Young Irish lad specializing in problem horses…”

That rang a bell with Deborah and Richard Roslowski of West Amwell, who just happened to have a problem horse.

“We said, `Let’s give Kevin Babington a chance,’ and he’s been our buddy ever since,” noted Deborah.

The Roslowskis and their daughters were Kevin’s first clients after he came over to the U.S. from Ireland. Today, they sold Ride for KBabs T-shirts and I “heart” K Babs dog treats during the second annual Babington benefit show at Duncraven in Titusville, Mercer County. They were among the many volunteers who pitched in to make the show happen because of their commitment to Kevin.

Last year, the show was held six weeks after Kevin suffered a life-changing spinal cord injury in a fall during the Hampton Classic grand prix. It ended a riding career that had brought him close to an Olympic medal and left him as a quadriplegic in need of expensive medical care. A group of friends, led by one of his former employees, Jennifer Cassidy of Lambertville, organized the benefit that raised nearly $60,000.

“When I heard about the accident, I just thought, `I’ve got two able hands’ and this is what I thought I could offer. It’s been huge, the incredible support of the staff,” said Jennifer, adding, “I just made the right phone calls to put this together. Everyone stepped up to the plate.”

This year, the funds haven’t been counted yet, but entries closed two days early because so many people wanted to ride in the show. Then there were the donations for raffles and sales of items like those the Roslowskis had at their table in front of the stables. It was more challenging to present the show this year because of Covid restrictions, but the enthusiastic turnout overrode that situation.

With lifetime care for someone in Kevin’s condition estimated to run as high as $5 million, money is a key issue. While Kevin, 52, has improved since his accident, he is still confined to a wheelchair.

He has a bit more movement here and there than he did a year ago, and can teach using a headset to connect with someone in his ring, or virtually for students who are at their own barns. But he requires extensive physical therapy, while he has fewer clients seeking his expertise than he once did.

So the Duncraven show is special not only for fundraising, but also so people can keep a connection with him.

“It means everything. It means people are still behind him and haven’t forgotten the person he is and what he’s still trying to achieve,” said Kevin’s wife, Dianna, who spent the day at the show thanking everyone and visiting with old friends.

“It’s so expensive to keep him moving and put him in the best possible place for recovery. Without the fundraising, we would never be able to do it,” she explained.

It helps pay for the gas in the car that gets him to therapy, for prescriptions, for a nurse when he needs one and the cascade of so many other costs involved in an existence that is very different from the life he enjoyed before the accident.

“These fundraisers really make all of that happen and allow us to keep going. If not, the alternative is probably a shorter lifespan and much less opportunity to recover,” noted Dianna, whose devotion and efforts for her husband and their two daughters never flag, even as she teaches lessons herself.

Duncraven is where Kevin ran his business for years, so the show had the air of a reunion.

“ Most of the people who come here are from the tri-state area and have had some kind of interaction with Kevin or know of him and heard what a great guy he is,” said Dianna.

“It’s really nice to have people turn out.”

Kevin would have liked to come to the show, but logistically, it was impossible for him travel from his base in Florida. So Dianna kept him involved with the day through FaceTiming him and sending photos of the activities.

The Roslowskis’ daughter, Julie Koveloski, was one of those who organized raffles and donations. She started riding with Kevin when she was 10 and noted, “He was like a brother to me, and like a son to my parents.”

Karen Raach, a Pennsylvanian, who handled the silent auction at the show, met Kevin six years ago when she won an auction bid for a lesson. Then she “fell in love with the family” and started taking lessons from Dianna.

One of the items sold at the show is a face mask in the Irish colors designed by Gretchen Ober with the “S” that stands for Superman. Kevin got that nickname, Karen said, when a horse at a show in Ocala three years ago got his leg stuck in a brushbox as people gasped, and did nothing. Kevin, however, jumped off his horse, rushed over to free the horse, and got him under control.

“The people who owned the horse gave him a Superman hat the next day. Ever since then, he’s been called Superman,” said Karen, noting Redfield Tack donated half the masks and a sponsor paid for the others.

There were many such generous donations. Monica Ward of Equ Lifestyle donated two air vests, worth $1,000 each, which has particular significance because since Kevin’s accident, more jumper riders are wearing the vests in an effort to protect themselves from an injury like the one Kevin suffered.

Stephanie Valducci, who lives on Long Island, sometimes had to drive for as long as four hours (the traffic!) to take lessons with Kevin. She remains his student, but virtually, noting, “it was amazing, it was like he was in the ring with me, even though I was in New York and he was in Florida.” Training with Kevin, you’re part of the family. Anything to support them,” she said; in her case, that was sponsoring a schooling jumper division.

Jennifer, who hopes the show can be two days next year, had many people to thank for this year’s effort, including the trainers who came and brought their clients, the volunteers, secretary Mary Norris, Duncraven owner Tim Fedor, Nancy Wallis, who designed the courses and filled in where needed, as well as Katie Benson, who helped with the prizelist and supplied jumps.

It takes a huge amount of work and devotion to put on the show, but as Jennifer noted, if the situation were reversed, “Kevin would be doing the same thing for anyone else.”

Those who couldn’t make it to the show and want to help the Babington Family Trust can send contributions (which are not tax deductible) to 13254 Casey Road, Loxahatchee, Fla., 33470.