(no subject)
I just wanted to post this, just to have it out there. Stephanie read this at the WBTA banquet on Saturday. I cry every time I read it, I just miss him so much. Tommorow it will have been four months...its been a long four months.
[B]This year’s recipient of the Rest Assured trophy is Bel Canto, otherwise known as Buster.
Buster arrived at Meadowbrook Stables in the spring of 1998 from New York for a set down into a slower and easier lifestyle. The trainer who brought him to Meadowbrook said he had done it all…the “A” rated horse shows, from the hunters to the equitation finals, for the professional to the novice rider. Well, I don’t know any horse owner or horse professional that hasn’t heard these stories and then ended up being disappointed when it came time to watch the horse prospect perform. An hour later, Buster had a promise from Meadowbrook that this would be his last move and his final home.
But Buster proved he wasn’t just a school horse. When he first started in the lesson program, he was always in the advanced group, and riders had to be wary if Buster was ready to go back to his stall. During his first two years at Meadowbrook, when Buster had enough of going around the ring, he would buck, and if you were good enough to stay on, you had better get off and walk him up to his stall! Buster is also known for teaching many a Meadowbrook rider to correctly put polos on his hind legs.
Buster did his job at home and occasionally went to horse shows, but it wasn’t until the spring of 1999 did he travel back to the “A” circuit. Jessica Sharrow had qualified for the Devon Horse Show, but her horse had come up lame. Miranda Scott decided Buster was up for yet another trip to this show, so off they went. Not only were they respectable, but a couple weeks later, the duo traveled to the Upperville Horse Show to win both the AHSA and the VHSA medals, and placed third in the USET jumper phase and fourth in the Maclay! The pair continued their success by placing in the Virginia Horse Show Association medal finals and even qualifying for the medal finals at the Pennsylvania Horse Show in Harrisburg. That year he made many dreams come true!
Buster had many other loves during his time at Meadowbrook. At times it was hard to tell who loved him more - the Meadowbrook instructors, the riders too numerous to name, or the parents! But all of us at Meadowbrook would agree that Buster’s last love was his greatest…and that was with a young teenage girl by the name of Katie Bartz.
Through the many hours they spent together, Buster taught Katie what it meant to be a confident horseman. They traveled to local shows, sharing memories and winning ribbons (although he often behaved like a two year old off the property)! Like so many before her, Buster taught Katie to be a gracious competitor. He taught her about responsibility, about sharing and good teamwork. But most importantly, Buster taught Katie what is so special about that bond between a horse and a girl.
Buster will be remembered as the older, regal chestnut horse who gave his all for anyone who believed in him. And for that, he will be truly missed and never forgotten![/B]
[B]This year’s recipient of the Rest Assured trophy is Bel Canto, otherwise known as Buster.
Buster arrived at Meadowbrook Stables in the spring of 1998 from New York for a set down into a slower and easier lifestyle. The trainer who brought him to Meadowbrook said he had done it all…the “A” rated horse shows, from the hunters to the equitation finals, for the professional to the novice rider. Well, I don’t know any horse owner or horse professional that hasn’t heard these stories and then ended up being disappointed when it came time to watch the horse prospect perform. An hour later, Buster had a promise from Meadowbrook that this would be his last move and his final home.
But Buster proved he wasn’t just a school horse. When he first started in the lesson program, he was always in the advanced group, and riders had to be wary if Buster was ready to go back to his stall. During his first two years at Meadowbrook, when Buster had enough of going around the ring, he would buck, and if you were good enough to stay on, you had better get off and walk him up to his stall! Buster is also known for teaching many a Meadowbrook rider to correctly put polos on his hind legs.
Buster did his job at home and occasionally went to horse shows, but it wasn’t until the spring of 1999 did he travel back to the “A” circuit. Jessica Sharrow had qualified for the Devon Horse Show, but her horse had come up lame. Miranda Scott decided Buster was up for yet another trip to this show, so off they went. Not only were they respectable, but a couple weeks later, the duo traveled to the Upperville Horse Show to win both the AHSA and the VHSA medals, and placed third in the USET jumper phase and fourth in the Maclay! The pair continued their success by placing in the Virginia Horse Show Association medal finals and even qualifying for the medal finals at the Pennsylvania Horse Show in Harrisburg. That year he made many dreams come true!
Buster had many other loves during his time at Meadowbrook. At times it was hard to tell who loved him more - the Meadowbrook instructors, the riders too numerous to name, or the parents! But all of us at Meadowbrook would agree that Buster’s last love was his greatest…and that was with a young teenage girl by the name of Katie Bartz.
Through the many hours they spent together, Buster taught Katie what it meant to be a confident horseman. They traveled to local shows, sharing memories and winning ribbons (although he often behaved like a two year old off the property)! Like so many before her, Buster taught Katie to be a gracious competitor. He taught her about responsibility, about sharing and good teamwork. But most importantly, Buster taught Katie what is so special about that bond between a horse and a girl.
Buster will be remembered as the older, regal chestnut horse who gave his all for anyone who believed in him. And for that, he will be truly missed and never forgotten![/B]