Obituaries

Nora Beresford from Chicago , IL

"Elizabeth, Anne, and the entire Poulin family —I have been thinking about how to put into words what your father meant to me, and I’m not sure there is a way to do it briefly.Tom Poulin changed my life.I arrived at his barn as a very young kid with a $2,500 off-the-track Thoroughbred and an intensity that often made adults uncomfortable. Tom didn’t push me away. He didn’t dismiss me. He didn’t try to shrink me.He saw me.He allowed an 11-year-old to join his barn, and at 12, he put me on his Grand Prix horse, Caprice, for a lesson — and I felt my first piaffe. I still remember it vividly. It felt like magic. Like the world briefly made sense in a way it hadn’t before.Tom didn’t just teach riding. He taught thinking. He used to bring a dictionary to my lessons, and each time we’d learn a new word — not as a gimmick, but because he believed that precision of language mattered as much as precision of aids. Horsemanship, intellect, curiosity, and character were never separate to him.There was also joy. Humor. Humanity. The time he bought a purple BMW Z3 — and somehow my mother ended up buying it from him — and it became my completely unexpected first car is a memory that still makes me smile. It was so Tom: elegant, mischievous, and utterly unpretentious.What mattered most, though, was that Tom allowed a precocious, intense, sometimes overwhelming kid to be guided instead of silenced. He gave me boundaries without breaking my spirit. He taught me standards without cruelty. He made me feel that there was a place in this world — and in this sport — for someone like me, as long as I was willing to do the work with integrity.I carry his lessons with me every single day — in how I ride, how I think, how I teach, and how I move through the world. His influence is woven into who I am.Thank you for sharing your father with so many of us. The depth of his legacy is impossible to measure, but it is very much alive.With profound appreciation and sympathy, Nora 💜🐎"

Beatrice Poulin Barbe from Houston, TX

"My condolences on your family's loss."

Marybeth and Jim Koniarski from Lords Valley, PA

"Our condolences are with you during this time of loss.We are thinking of you all ❤️"

Michelle Gerlach from Port Charlotte, FL

"Godspeed Tom. It was my pleasure to know such a bright and funny man. Sincere condolences."

Bradley Ross from West Chicago, IL

"Tom and I worked together on many horses..I helped him keep his horses performing well and he helped me where I needed his help..he brought me over to Hawaii to instruct the other shoers on Oahu..he helped me with a truck after the 78-79 crash.. I really enjoyed working with him..he taught me the mechanics of certain gaits and movements..he lived life to the fullest.. certainly had fun with him at parties..very bright..very sharp..I was amazed how he just kept going and working..Ryan was a Godsend to him!.. One day at a bn we were at..I was working and I stopped to watch him ride one of his older Grand Prix horses .Windsor..with no bridle..if my memory is somewhat close.. I thought I saw him engage in a Grand Prix test..piaffe..passage.. pirouettes.. it was awesome..no bridle..I still remember that to this day..45 yrs ago?.. Tom..thank you for being a great part of my life..and contributing to my life as I did yours!.. that's what it is all about..your going to be riding in Heaven where they are all Grand Prix horses scoring a 10 with every movement.. Thank you Tom..God be with you and your family.."

Mark Finstein from Elgin, IL

"So sorry for your loss."

Linda Williams from Pace, FL

"My condolences to you and your family for your loss."

Dino Valenti from South Elgin, IL

"Im so sorry for your loss."

George Valenti from South Elgin, IL

"My condolences."

Joel and Susan Quattrochi-Tubin from Frankfort, IL

"Thank you Tom for everything! You treated me and my thoroughbred gelding off the track, equal to Grand Prix teams. Your respect for each horse and the effort of each rider was appreciated more than you’ll ever know. You brought out the best in people and horses. We are grateful you were a part of our life. We’ve kept in touch all these years and you prayed to St. Anthony for me when I got my kidney transplant. My Italian grandmother, Noni, taught me to pray to St. Anthony, so Tom and I joined in prayer and I know St Anthony heard us. Tom, I hope you’ll do me the honor of riding my horse, Dream Come True, in heaven. We miss you and we’ll always be grateful to you. With love, Susan and Joel."

marti coursin from mcoursin@gmail.com, MN

"I was honored to have ridden under the expert eye of Mr. Poulin several times. Each time, I learned more, enjoyed my rides more and respected Mr. P's instruction. Rest well, Tom."

Aleda Myers from Eagle, ID

"so many years back, my daughter competed and you were so generous and you had such a warm smile, we'll never forget it,we will never forget you , thank you"

Sloane Brunner from Pardeeville, WI

"Mr. Poulin once judged a schooling show and clinic in Mt. Horeb, WI many years ago. He was a wonderful judge and I felt honored to have had one on one time with him at the clinic."