As the year comes to a close, let’s put aside some time for paying tribute to those the equestrian community lost this year.

Be grateful for the contributions they made and rejoice that we knew them — or at least knew of them, and admired what they achieved.

Each made an impact we shouldn’t forget. Whether they were riders, trainers, competition organizers, sponsors or simply someone who cared for the animals, they all were special and had something in common—the love of horses. I can’t mention everyone who left us during the year, but here are some you will remember fondly. Add your own thoughts of others who were special to you.

In early December, the death of Rodney Jenkins was a shock. The hall of fame show jumper and hunter competitor had a natural talent and an understanding of every horse he rode. Though the Red Rider is most identified with Idle Dice and the other outstanding horses he handled with his unique style, he also was successful out of the saddle. After retiring from showing, he became  a successful thoroughbred racing trainer, whose horses earned more than $24 million.

Rodney Jenkins and Idle Dice

A memorial service is scheduled for noon Jan. 7 at Tycoons in the Laurel Park racetrack clubhouse in Maryland. Another celebration of his life will be held June 1 on the grounds of the Upperville, Va., Colt and Horse Show. Read more about Rodney here.

In November, two leading figures on the international scene passed away. Con Power excelled as a pillar of successful Irish show jumping teams. Pehr Gyllenhammar, as the CEO of Sweden’s Volvo, was the power who jump-started the World Cup series of show jumping in 1978, giving riders a goal for the early part of their season with an indoor championship.

During September, we lost gifted show jumper Patty Stovel—who had ridden on the U.S. team at the 1994 World Equestrian Games. Talented with hunters as well as jumpers, she developed many horses, with perhaps the most memorable being Mont Cenis. Read about Patty here.

Jack Levy left us in August. The former president of Miller Harness Co., who went on to Weatherbeeta and then served as a consultant for JPC Equestrian, he was a dynamo who worked constantly. But this team player with a twinkle in his eye always had time to mentor those who asked for his support. Read more about him here.

An ardent advocate for three-day eventing whose involvement in the horse world ran from being a U.S. Pony Club District commissioner to officiating at the Olympics, Trish Gilbert gave wings to the Fair Hill lnternational event and headed successful efforts to bring a 5-star event to Maryland. We lost her in May. Read more about her here.

Others who passed on that we would should mention include Bruce Thompson, who worked tirelessly for rescue horses in Warren County, N.J., at Mylestone Equine Rescue; Cynthia Gardener, a former chair of Wellington, Fla.’s Equestrian Preserve Committee who worked to created the Village’s Equestrian Overlay Zoning District; horse trials organizer Lefreda Williams, an official of the Carolina Horse Park Foundation and the U.S. Combined Training Association (now U.S. Eventing); Margaret “Sissie” Brown Anderton of Brownland Farm, which became a center for breeding, training and horse shows in Tennessee and regional trainer Debbie Haimowitz, who always was ready to lend a helping hand.