Sally Wheeler

[Lord_Helpus]

Just read her obituary in the on-line “In the Country” section of next week’s magazine. She was a great horseperson, and will be sorely missed in many areas of the show world. My thoughts go out to the family now. Evidently, she was only 70. Far too young to pass on.

The obit listed some of the Wheelers great hunters:

“Some of their great hunters, all trained or ridden by her husband of 36 years, Kenneth Wheeler, included Isgilde, Ruxton, Gozzi, Henry The Hawk, Fun And Games, Call You Raise You, Showdown, Celebrity, Wall Street Week, Superflash, Weather Permitting, Cavalier Bid, So No Wonder, Missouri, The Wizard, Just For Fun, and Awesome.”

And I thought a nice way of remembering Mrs. Wheeler would be to remember her through these wonderful horses. So, everyone who knew her or her horses, what are your memories of these and other Cismont Manor Horses? Why isn’t Stocking Stuffer on this list? Who else has been left off?

[Merry]

Yes, 70 is quite young, I believe, especially for an active horsewoman. I’m sure she had much more to contribute.

Of course I remember Showdown. That was the big “ooh ahh” horse that came out here. We all knew he’d won everything already. To sit in the grandstands and just watch Linda Hough ride him around the open working courses was a wonderful education.

Growing up as a young teen, all I heard about was Gozzi. Gozzi this, Gozzi that. I never got to see him go in person, but by his photos he looked totally awesome.

Man, the “Wheeler Dynasty”, eh?

“Friends don’t let friends eat fish tacos.”

[Jane]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ryan:
OK scratch that Olin Armstrong rode The Wizard not VT’s God. LOL For some reason I thought Olin was her trainer and not Tommy, but she has a crush on OA right?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I thought VTrider’s “god” was Greg Best??

[lauriep]

but frankly, I consider it sappy and it doesn’t do Sallie justice. I understand that a much mor fitting sentiment was expressed by longtime friend Meredith McLaughlin. Is the text of her remarks posted anywhere?

Laurie

[lauriep]

Sallie was a wonderful human being, but she was also tough as nails and a savvy businesswoman, not just all sweetness and light. She was a real human being, albeit larger than life in some respects. I thnk my mom is on the same plane of clouds, but she would have turned over in her grave if described in the angelic terms of Alan’s eulogy. JMHO, sorry!

Laurie

[lauriep]

but for my view of what a working horse should be, Ruxton was it. Beautiful jumper, powerful to watch, something you would want to ride around a 4’ course. He was one of my favorites. I also loved Henry the Hawk when Jane rode him.

Laurie

[wadino]

I guess VT has many gods, kind of like the Greek.

Ryan
“Here’s to goodbye, tomorrow’s gonna come to soon.”

[VTrider]

My heart kind of sank when I drove by Cismont the other day. As said by other BBers - my condolences to everyone whose lives were touched by Mrs. Wheeler.

[Mariequi]

Sappy is bad? Tough is bad? Savvy businesswoman is bad? Call me Madam, uh, molasses. I never got the idea that all was sweetness and light. That was MY Mom.

[Lucassb]

My absolute all-time favorite.

So No Wonder was another great one…

Condolences to the Wheeler family.

---

To appreciate heaven well
'Tis good for a man to have some fifteen minutes of hell.
Will Carleton (1845-1912)

[Applesauce]

I watched OA school some greenies. I just love to watch that man ride! He makes it look so effortless. I wonder if takes other people’s horses for like a month to train. If he does, I wonder how much he charges? I’d love to send him my greenie for a month.

Hmmmmmmmmmm

~Courtney~

[VTrider]

<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ryan:
I guess VT has many gods, kind of like the Greek.

Ryan
“Here’s to goodbye, tomorrow’s gonna come to soon.”<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Too many to list…sigh

[lauriep]

My opinion is it was sappy, not in a good way. Yours is that it is sappy in a good way. So be it, we disagree.

Laurie

[AHC]

Lauriep, I’m with you — I loved watching Ruxton go, especially at the Garden!

[Blue_Devil]

Awesome was a truly great horse. I competed against him and Weatherley Tanner for many years just a little while back (like 3-4 years ago I guess). He only died recently (maybe 1997) too while still showing. He was perfect for a junior (obviously) or amateur but also with the professional. What a nice hunter and a wonderful “all around” horse.

Emily proud
member of the junior clique!
Emily@catchride.com

[brilyntrip]

after reading Alan’s eulogy .His description of Kenny and Sally’ s feelings for him his for her were so right on ! Some people are just irreplaceable tous she is one!

[Jane]

Ruxton was a NICE horse, I also love one of her more recent ones, Celebrity. What about The Wizard…didn’t Mrs. Wheeler own him also?

[Lord_Helpus]

Interesting that Stocking Stuffer showed First Year as a three year old! He was no small horse and we are not talking 3’ either, are we?

And, he stayed sound for at least a while to become so famous. Although I know that Cismont was always able to pick and choose their shows and never had to pound their horses to get them qualified.

Once [in]famous story – in the early 1980’s a young California trainer went back to Cismont to look at a horse for his junior rider. While he was there I guess he rode and loved several. He discussed getting a vet out to vet them and, somehow was told that it might take several days.

So, said California trainer proceeds to pull out a handfull of empty syringes and pull blood from these horses right on the spot, under Kenny’s watchful gaze.

I can imagine Kenny thinking, “Boy, I don’t have to drug these horses to get them to go the way they do, I just train them.” But, then, maybe a California trainer back in the 80’s just could not comprehend that…

[Duffy]

I would love to read Meredith’s remarks, if anyone can find to post…

Cismont Manor will, I’m sure, live on. But, it sure won’t be the same without Mrs. Wheeler.

[wadino]

I like the Wizard. I saw “the god” (as colin and vt refer to him) ride him in Rodney Jenkins’ video. That horse moved so well and jumped so well. His lead change was awesome. I never thought a leadchange could be great, but his is.

Ryan
“Here’s to goodbye, tomorrow’s gonna come to soon.”