Judy Guden, the owner of Sagacious HF, ridden by Lauren Sammis to Team Gold and Individual Silver medals at this year's Pan American Games, died Friday night. Guden had been undergoing treatment for breast cancer for many months. "Judy Guden passed from this world tonight in the loving arms of her friends and family!" family friends Monica Sinks and Ed Borreson reported. Lauren Sammis was given the ride on the eight-year-old KWPN Sagacious HF—the initials standing for the name of Al and...

Jane Gregory. (Getty Images.) Former British Olympic dressage rider Jane Gregory has died at the age of 51 from a suspected heart attack. Gregory first rode for Britain in 1994 and went on to team up with Cupido at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. And the Wiltshire-based rider returned to Olympic action three years ago in Hong Kong when she rode Lucky Star. "This is tragic news. Her enthusiasm, energy, dedication and positive outlook on life was infectious," said British Dressage chief Jennie...

Founder of the Half Saddlebred Registry, Roberta Nye Busch, 89, of Medina, OH, died Monday, November 12, 2007. In 1970, Busch purchased a 15-year-old stallion named Flying Eagle Peavine. When owners of other breeds bred their mares to her American Saddlebred stallion, Busch perceived the need for a recording organization for these half-Saddlebreds. Thus, in 1971, she established the Half Saddlebred Registry and remained as its administrator for 25 years from her home in Coshocton,...

Photo by Javan Schaller/Courtesy AHA (Patrick Swayze and Tammen) Patrick Swayze, a passionate and valued member of the Arabian horse community died from pancreatic cancer complications at the age of 57. Swayze was known to most as a dancer and actor in films such as “Dirty Dancing,” “Roadhouse” and “Ghost.” To the Arabian horse community he was an accomplished and giving horseman. An active participant at Arabian shows throughout the late '80s and early...

The American Saddlebred industry is mourning the loss of longtime Saddlebred breeder and exhibitor Barbara J. Blacklaw, who died Friday morning, January 26, in Palm Springs, CA. Barbara and her husband of nearly 50 years, Bill Blacklaw, operated Singing Hills Stables in Oregon City, OR, for the past 39 years, breeding and training American Saddlebreds. Together their contribution to the Saddlebred industry in the Northwest and across the country has been remarkable. Barbara's love of the...

Norman Brinker, who served as an alternate with the United States show jumping team at the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki, passed away due to pneumonia while on vacation in Colorado. Brinker was born in Denver, CO, on June 3, 1931, to Kathryn and Eugene Brinker. He helped his family at a young age by buying and selling horses and a variety of other jobs. He attended the New Mexico Military Institute in high school, served in the Navy, and graduated from San Diego State University in 1957....

A lifetime horseman and trainer, Carl Knee, passed away at age 76 on July 22, 2008. He trained many outstanding riders and horses, but it was a team effort that gave Knee his greatest joy. He coached the Canadian Equestrian Team for the 1976 Summer Olympic Games. Michel Vaillancourt won the Silver medal in the individual jumping event. Among the riders he trained were Anthony D’Ambrosio who set the National Horse Show’s record for jumpers of seven feet, four inches aboard Sympatico in 1973;...

The AMHA stallion, Noble Flaire, recently went on to greenier pastures. He was laid to rest the night before the East Coast Park Saddle Championship at the 2006 New England Regional, where he was recognized by many. Noble Flaire was born in 1984. In 1986, he debuted in the two-year-old park harness. His emergence on the track caused people to run in order to watch him perform. After his first victory pass, he trotted out of the ring, down the track and around the turn with people running behind...

Rex Hester of Bear Creek, NC, recently notified the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) of the death, on July 29, 2006, of Be Aech Enterprise. Sired by Squaw Leo and out of the NRHA Hall of Fame mare Enterprise Lady, Be Aech Enterprise was born in 1975. Ridden by Bill Horn, he placed third in the 1978 NRHA Futurity. He finished his show ring career in 1982 when Horn placed this stallion fifth in the tough NRHA open competition held at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus,...

Three American Saddlebred names recognizable to many in the Saddlebred community have died within the last three weeks: Denmark’s Radiant Society (BHF), Phi Slama Jama and CH Sultan’s Hot Copy. On Tuesday, October 23, Denmark’s Radiant Society (BHF) died at age 30. She had been owned by Dr. and Mrs. Simon Fredricks of Simbara Farms of Houston, TX, since 1979. Denmark’s Radiant Society (BHF) (CH Ronald Reagan x Denmark’s Society Sue [BHF]) was the 1980 Three-Year-Old Fine Harness World’s...