In Memoriam…
Kat Kyle
It is with a very sad heart that we announce the untimely passing of Kat Kyle on December 9, 2022. If you knew Kat you know what a wonderful person she was and the time she dedicated to dressage
For many, many years she was instrumental in promoting dressage, sporthorses, and a great passion for all things equine. She taught, trained, and mentored more people than one can imagine, touching the lives of everyone she met, always willing to help.
Kat served as USDF Region 9 Director from 2002-2007, was honored as Region 9 Horse Person of the Year in 2007, a USEF “r” Licensed Dressage judge, Alamo Dressage Association past president, founding member of the New Mexico Dressage Association, past Region 9 Board chair of the Region 9 Omnibus, nominating, and judges committee, and USDF Nominations National Chair, and serving on several other national committees/councils, and for several years as a PM Delegate.
Kat was a sporthorse breeder – Caballo Escondido – standing Usselo – a Dutch Warmblood stallion.
She owned and operated an exotic game ranch, and was an avid quilter and fisherwoman.
Kat and her late husband, Dick, hosted many ADA events at her ranch as well. Many of us rode down center line towards Kat, and though she did not give points away in her judging, she was always fair with great feedback.
Kat is survived by current husband, Scott Smith. More details to follow with her obituary and memorial services, which will be held in the spring.
Jan Dawson
Jana Zimmerman Dawson was born in Washington, D.C., on June 18, 1943. She died Dec. 26, 2021, at her home in Fentress, Texas.
Jan earned a doctor of jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1983 and a bachelor’s degree with special honors in anthropology, also from UT-Austin. She also attended the Hockaday School in Dallas. Before attending law school, she worked as a field researcher in Mexico for four years. She practiced for several years as a lawyer before returning to her true passion: riding and training horses; teaching people how to ride and handle them safely; and training instructors how to teach effectively and safely.
Jan was a successful, multi-discipline equestrian athlete in dressage, show hunters, field hunters, gaited horses, Western riding, reining and side-saddle; but she was most proud of her students’ accomplishments, whether in the show ring or in teaching others to ride. Jan approached riding, teaching and life with wit and a wry sense of humor.
Because lectures about horsemanship safety can be dry as arena dirt, Jan created Lurlene Puckermucker, truck stop waitress and part-time horse trainer. Often dressed in skin-tight gold lamé over a generously stuffed bra, blond wig, feather boa and cowboy boots, Jan/Lurlene would discuss the dangers of chewing gum or wearing a feather boa while horseback, among more serious common, but unsafe, practices.
She and her husband Robert O. Dawson, an expert in juvenile and equine law, founded the American Association for Horsemanship Safety in July 1995. The nonprofit educational association developed a system of training and certifying riding instructors and trail guides to not only operate safely and effectively but also helped insulate instructors, camps, stables and guest ranches from liability suits. Together, at the UT School of Law, they taught what then was the only equine law class. Jan was a sought-after expert witness throughout the country in litigation involving equine-related accidents.
Becky Snell
Rebecca “Becky” Snell, a special friend to Texas dressage, passed away the morning of January 22, 2018. Becky was instrumental to the development of dressage in Texas. She served on the board of the Texas Dressage Society from 1974 to 1981 as Treasurer and then President in 1981 when TDS was reorganized as Alamo Dressage Association. She served ADA as Yearbook Editor, Secretary and President.
Becky co-managed the first SWDC Championship in 1988 and served as organizer, manager, and secretary of over 15 recognized competitions beginning in 1979.
Becky was USDF Region 9 Director from 1990- 1995 and Region 9 Horseperson of the year in 1993.
Becky had a lifetime love of horses, especially Arabian horses. She and her husband, Dillon, owned a ranch in Boerne, Texas she lovingly called “Sunnybrook”. She managed, owned and operated Rachmart, a tack store from 1978-1989 in San Antonio, Texas. She was an active rider beginning in 1940. Her horses, Conflagration and Ora Intriga won many USDF, AHSA and IAHA awards. In 2007, Becky and her horse, Atraysa Santi, became members of the Dressage Foundation’s Century Club which recognizes dressage riders and horses whose combined age totals 100 years or more.
Becky is survived by her husband, Dillon, three children and five grandchildren and many friends who were fortunate enough to know her. She will be dearly missed.
Evie Tumlin
Region 9 will miss Evelyn (Evie) Hallonquist Brown Tumlin, who passed away June 22, 2015 at her home Cedar Wind Farm, in Oxford, MS. Evie was a Region 9 Horse Person of the Year, USDF GMO Volunteer of the Year, a USDF “L” Graduate, a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist, and a Dressage Foundation Century Club member. She held a variety of jobs on the Region 9 Board, and founded the Mississippi Dressage and Eventing Association and several Pony Clubs.
Her early life included Peace Corp work in Liberia, West Africa, teaching English as a second language in Peru, working at NASA monitoring heart rates, and she was Houston’s first airborne traffic reporter — while also flying the plane. In additional to her airplane pilot’s licence, Evie was also licensed to fly helicopters. She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Robert Lewis Tumlin, and stepsons Russell Tumlin and Steven Tumlin.
Carla Short
Carla Short – wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, friend and fighter! Went to her heavenly reward on 23 November, after four years of battling stage 4 Breast cancer. Carla was married to her best friend John for more than 34 years. She has 2 sons, 2 daughter-in-laws, as well as a sister and 2 nephews. In 2010, Carla was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer while serving her country in the Middle East. Nothing could prepare Carla, or her family, for the road that they traveled from November 2010 to November of 2014. During that time, Carla had 8 major surgeries and 4 minor ones, she underwent numerous chemotherapy sessions, radiation, and countless doctor visits.
Among the many things to remember about Carla is that she was a doer, not a talker. In 1975 Carla joined the US Air Force and was one of the first female security police women to undergo combat training in the US Air Force. During that training she was a squad leader and the first female to become an honor graduate of the Air Base Ground Defense school at Camp Bullas TX. She was the first female member of the Military Airlift Command’s rifle and pistol team. After she left the military, she married John Short. While working and raising a family, she went to night school and earned a Bachelor’s as well as a Master’s degree. She went on to be a family counselor for the Air Force.
Carla loved family and traveling, so throughout this ordeal she continued to do so, visiting family and friends, going to 181 of the 378 registered national historic sites and parks and going on several family vacations in Mexico and Hawaii.
Carla touched many lives. both as a family counselor and in her personnel life as a horse lover and dressage rider. She became a bronze medal rider, a dressage judge, and a certified handicapped riding instructor. She also developed a riding school in the Azores on Terceira Island. She loved people and life in general, she will be deeply missed.
Burnis Foy
Burnis Foy was born July 31, 1924 in Louise, TX to Charles Alfred Ward and mother Charley O’Neal Ward. She died on November 30, 2014 in Sugar Land, TX to be with her beloved husband Dan Foy, who predeceased her in 1993.
She graduated from Texas State College for Women in 1944, with BA & BS degrees. She was previously employed by Humble Oil and Refining Company and later owned Pecan Tree Farm on Hagerson Road, Dewalt, Texas, where she and Dan raised horses, taught riding and bred and raced thoroughbred horses. From 1977 on, Burnis was a newspaper editor and volunteer at First United Methodist Church Missouri City, TX.
Jonathan Wentz 1990-2012
The United States Equestrian Federation mourns the loss of a great competitor and advocate for para-equestrian sport. Jonathan Wentz passed away September 30, 2012.
Wentz had recently returned from London where he was a member of the U.S. Team that earned seventh place at the 2012 Paralympic Games. At those Games, Wentz also Finished fourth in the Individual Test and fifth in the Freestyle Test in Grade 1b competition riding Kai Handt’s NTEC Richter Scale. These strong results earned Wentz the distinction of being the highest-placed American equestrian at either the London Olympic or Paralympic Games.
Wentz enjoyed an extremely successful career with NTEC Richter Scale a horse that carried him to the World Championships, Paralympic Games and a National Title. In 2010, the pair represented the U.S. for the first time at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and the following year they claimed the USEF 2011 USEF National Para-Equestrian Championship. In 2012, the combination earned Reserve Champion honors at the 2012 USEF National Para-Equestrian Championships and Paralympic Selection Trials prior to travelling to London. Wentz also finished in sixth place with Silvano at the 2012 National Championship.
As well as competing at the highest level, Wentz was a tireless advocate for his sport. He served on the USEF Youth Council representing para-equestrian and was a member of the USEF Para Equestrian Technical Committee. Additionally, he served as an ambassador for hippotherapy, therapeutic riding, and para-equestrian dressage from an early age.
Wentz was also a student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX with a keen interest in political science, history and the law.
“The Federation sends our deepest sympathies and condolences to the Wentz family. Jonathan was great competitor and outstanding role model for all in equestrian sport. He will be greatly missed,” said John Long, USEF CEO.
Dorothy R. (Bee) Pape
Dorothy R. (Bee) Pape of Edmond, Oklahoma, and long-time Oklahoma City resident, passed away suddenly on Friday, July 29, 2011. Born in Ft. Smith, Arkansas on October 14, 1928, she was a local Montessori pioneer and taught at the Casady School in Okla. City, Okla. for 36 years. At her time of death, she was the Director of the Montessori Teacher Education Program at Oklahoma City University, and was a 2011 finalist for the American Montessori Society Living Legacy Award.
Bee was a life-long learner and loved her family, children, grandchildren and great-grand children. She was proceeded in death by her husband, Bob Pape. She is survived by her children: William R. Pape of Santa Fe, NM; Sarah Pape Hester of McKinney, TX and Susan Pape Peacock of Edmond, OK. Grandchildren include: David and Amanda Hester, Julia and Anna Peacock, and great-grandchildren Alexander and Alena Wohl of Louisville, CO. Daughters Sarah and Susan are active dressage competitors, as well as graduate pony clubbers. Susan is a professional show secretary, and grand-daughters Julia and Amanda are active dressage competitors. Amanda just received her D3 Pony Club rating with the Dallas Pony Club, and Julia has received numerous USDF year end awards.
Bee was active in horse event management for over 50 years. From pony club rallies, to combined training events, H/J shows, dressage shows and clinics, Bee was there, getting volunteers, fine-tuning management and making sure everything was running to make competitors and volunteers happy. Bee and her deceased husband, Bob, managed the first recognized combined training events in Oklahoma in the 1960s. They were instrumental in upgrading the quality of recognized Hunter/Jumper shows in Oklahoma. Also, Bee and Bob managed the Insilco Dressage show in 1981 (held in Okla. City) that offered the first head to head national dressage competition. They also were managers of the equestrian portion of the Olympic Festival held in Okla. City in 1989. In addition, Bee and Bob founded and were co-D.C.s of the first United States Pony Club chapter in Oklahoma in the 1960s: The Cimarron Pony Club. In 2002 Bee was named Horse Person of the Year by the United States Dressage Federation for Region 9.
Bee will be best remembered for her “can-do” attitude and her willingness to take on any challenge. She was a mentor and inspiration for generations of students and horse enthusiasts and will be greatly missed. Memorials should be sent to: the U.S. Dressage Federation, Region 9 at usdfregion9.org; the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation at www.jdrfdallas.org; the American Montessori Society Living Legacy Award at www.amshq.org; or to Pambe Ghana at www.pambeghana.org.
Farewell Chime
Kentchurch Chime was born in the spring of 1983. He was bred by Anne Vestey of the Kentchurch Stud in Hampshire, England. Late in the fall of that year Mary Alice Williams of Madoc Welsh Ponies and Cobs imported him to use as her own breeding stallion. In the early years Chime became an accomplished combined driving horse and also won many championships at both local and national Welsh competitions. Through the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America, he earned his individual Legion of Merit Award in 1997 and by 1999 his offspring had earned enough points to earn him his Sire Legion of Merit.
I first met Chime in 1991 when I came to Madoc Farm as the instructor for the lesson program. Chime was nine years old and had never heard the “D” word. I felt that Chime was very special and told Mary Alice that I thought dressage shows would be a great place to promote both Chime and the breed. Mary Alice thought that would be fine as long as Chime enjoyed the work. She thought it would be fun if we could maybe make it to 4th level. Chime rose to the challenge and although he had no dressage training before the age of nine he was still able to learn all the Grand Prix movements. With help from Lurena Bell and Pamela Goodrich we ended up competing at Grand Prix on the Florida circuit when Chime was seventeen. Chime was always a crowd favorite, and the bigger the crowd the better he got. One of the many highlights of my career with Chime was showing our Grand Prix freestyle in Wellington. The hillside was packed and the crowd even cheered during the ride!
Chime retired from dressage at the age of nineteen and returned to Madoc Farm to look after his herd. He lived to be twenty eight years old and passed away peacefully with me and Mary Alice at his side. He will be greatly missed but he is survived by almost all of the ninety-two foals that he sired. He will always live on in our hearts and memories.
Nancy