Yes I'm Blind
But I Can See
  by Judith Forbis

Imagine if you had perfect vision, and in a blinding flash all became darkness.  Why me?  That's the question Bobbie Mezei asked herself when, at age 11, it happened to her.

It was thirteen years after her optic nerve exploded as a result of a brain tumor, that Bobbie Mezei stepped into the show ring on September 16th at the Music City Arabian Horse Show in Shelbyville, Tennessee.  Only the ring officials knew she was blind.  To watch her walk confidently into the arena with Shah Al Hawaa, her beautiful white straight Egyptian gelding following proudly at her side, no one would ever have guessed she could not see.  Nor would they have looked for the tiny earphone she was wearing that allowed her friend and trainer, Steve Diamond, to give her directions.  Although she could hear him, she could not talk back.  As she passed the judge and continued around the ring, the gelding knowingly guided her in this Amateur Owner to Handle class.  Everything looked smooth until suddenly, just in front of her, a horse jumped and broke loose from his halter.  Free, he raced around the ring at full speed.  Shah Al Hawaa stayed close to the rail, watching and protecting Bobbie, as the horse ran by.  Those of us who know the situation held our breath that he wouldn't start rearing and kicking among the horses in line.  Who is writing this script, I wondered to myself!  It seems like a movie!

Fortunately the horse was easily caught and the class continued.  Bobbie brought Shah up to the judge, Grace Greenlee, posed him perfectly and stood away from him at the end of the lead like any good professional.  Walking and trotting to and from the judge they made a perfect team.  As they lined up for the results, Bobbie was confident but nervous.  Her heart was thumping as her 1000 pound horse on the end of the lead stood mindfully beside her.  It was almost over.  She had done it - the first blind person to show at halter in an Arabian (or perhaps any other) horse show.  Judge Greenlee turned in her card.  The suspense mounted.  Then Bobbie's mother, Debbie, who had been videoing the proceedings through occasional tears, heard the announcer say those miraculous words:  "First place goes to Shah Al Hawaa, owned and shown by Bobbie Mezei."

Immediately Bobbie had to return to the championship class.  Once again, confidently standing away from her horse, she showed him well.  By now, the spectators had learned Bobbie was blind.  Nothing stays secret in the Arabian horse world for long and one could hear hushed comments about her throughout the stands.  Again, the judge carefully looked over the class, and when the results were in, a jubilant Bobbie was called beneath the American and Tennessee flags in center ring to accept the championship ribbon amidst loud clapping and cheering from the crowd.  Immediately Steve Diamond was by her side to congratulate her and help horse and proud owner pose for the memorable win photos.

It all looked so easy!  Beautiful horse, blonde girl, great teamwork between horse, owner and trainer.  But many hours of careful preparation had gone into this performance of a lifetime.

Yes, Bobbie is blind, but she can see what she wants out of life, and she pursues it with boldness, courage, determination, and love.  At age 24 she is dedicated to her many animals and Arabian horses and to completing her Masters Degree in social work so she can help people cope emotionally with handicaps that unexpectedly change their lives.  Does she wish that someday newly discovered technology could restore her sight?  She doesn't worry about it.  She has realized her purpose in life through her achievements for self growth and as an inspiration and guide to others.  She has discovered and accepted the answer to "why me".