Equiery Life continue...


a founding member of the Central Maryland Saddle Club (1967), and in 1972 she founded the Centaurs 4-H Club, hosting shows at her Lisbon farm to foster the development of the next generation of riders. She joined the How- ard County Hunt Club in 1974, actively hunt- ing until the late 90s, but staying active through this year as a volunteer behind the scenes, help- ing to proofread materials for the club. When she was in her 50s, Anne also did something that most horse woman only dream of doing: she designed and built a small three- acre farmette just for herself and her few horses, designed such that she could not only manage, economically and physically, by herself, and which would allow her to age in place. A pre- cursor to the current trend for “tiny houses,” Anne’s small, cleverly designed one-story, two- bedroom home was featured in the Baltimore Sun’s “Dream Home” column. For friends and family, Anne’s home was


the enclave for gatherings, laughter and mu- sic wafting through her leafy glade. Tired of the obligatory mechanical rendition of “Happy Birthday?” Not with Annie! Pick a genre! Op- era, jazz, reggae, Gregorian chant! And who doesn’t picture an idyllic Christmas afternoon with friends and family gathered around the piano singing carols? In the late 80s, Anne enjoyed a brief marriage to fellow Maryland foxhunter Bob Benhoff , but soon returned to her single ways, continuing to foxchase and turning her focus to her favor- ite breed, the Connemara Pony. She brought promising yearlings through her “kindergarten” to produce future champion show ponies and able hunters, including her beloved Oakfi eld Colin Finch and Ridgetop Windy City. Anne served the American Connemara Pony So- ciety tirelessly as Mem- bership Chair, newslet- ter editor and Region III Show Secretary. In 2015, Anne became the fi rst non-breeder to be awarded the prestigious Crestwood Award for service to the Society. When she wasn’t fool- ing with the horses, she was fooling with books and words, ultimately becoming one of the most important “behind the scenes” players in publish- ing: the proofreader!


Patrick McCuan She was Norman Fine’s


secret weapon when he was publishing Covert- side, and she was certainly our secret weapon at T e Equiery – and we don’t know what we will do without her. She became part of our team in 2010, joining us in our road trips, bringing her world-famous rum cakes to the offi ce, knitting treasures for us at Christmas, and keeping us warm with her mulled wines and ciders. Of course, her editing career extended be-


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yond the horse world, and she was also gen- erous with her time and skills in our world, serving as the volun- teer newsletter editor and publisher for nu- merous clubs. When she was not


creating with words or music, Anne cre- ated with her knit- ting needles,


eff ort-


lessly turned out mittens, hats, scarves and sweaters family and friends and to be sold for the benefi t of her favorite organiza- tions, and routinely won blue ribbons at local fairs.


STORK REPORT


John Edward O’Connor II was born to dressage rider Elizabeth and husband John O’Connor on August 21.


Anne faced everything in life with a cheer- ful pragmatism – no drama. Anne refused to be troubled by a diagnosis of breast cancer; she had the mastectomy and then kicked on, going about the business of living and doing the things she loved. T e same held true for the diagnosis of ALS in 2016; she dug in, read everything she could about the diagnosis and prognosis, careful- ly planned out her remaining months, and pro- vided guidance for the months after. Even while her physical abilities declined, Anne maintained a lifeline to the world through language, con- tinuing her proofreading for T e Equiery, con- tinuing to devour whole books in a single sitting, and maintaining lively communications with ex- tended friends and family via the modern mar- vels of email. As she had planned oh- those-many- years ago, Anne was able to stay in the home she so cherished, sur- rounded by the family she had so lovingly cul- tivated.


Anne…not


only is T e Equiery better for having known you…we are better for having known you. T ank you for gracing our lives. Rest in peace. T ank you to Anne’s sons for their help, and thank


you for sharing your 4-H and horse show memories and sharing a piece of your childhood with your ex- traordinary mother.


Sunset Hill owner Patrick McCuan passed away unexpectedly on August 20. A visionary builder, developer and leader, the Columbia- based (Howard County) McCuan and his wife


Jill acquired Sunset Hill farm in 2005, restoring its name from the 70s when the 120+ acre farm was one of the most prestigious T oroughbred breeding farms in Maryland. McCuan dreamed of fi nd- ing that special rider and that special horse and rider that he could support in pursuit of the Olympics. He found that special rider when a young Australian girl showed up at Sunset Hill to exercise a few horses. Soon, he and Kate Chadderton and “Team Mc- Cuan” were traveling around the world for 3-star/World Cup eventing, Grand Prix show jumping and Prix St. Georges dressage.


In addition to their support


of the equestrian community via Sunset Hill and Kate Chadderton, McCuan and his wife established the Patrick and Jill McCuan Center for Equine Studies at Otterbein College, from which their daughter, dressage rider Megan Hanna, graduated in 2009. Local horse people will also remember him as a sponsor of the Co- lumbia Classic Grand Prix horse show benefi t- ing the Howard County Community College. He founded McCuan Homes in 1977 after a


diverse career in college academia with degrees from Baylor and the Universities of Louisville, Southern Seminary, and Maryland. Following success in the Columbia homebuilding market, McCuan turned his attention to commercial development, founding MDG Companies in 1980. With a professional and philanthropic resume that includes over 100 diff erent busi- nesses or non-profi t entities, it is no wonder that McCuan was named one of the nation’s Top Philanthropists in 2007 by Council Re- source Development.


Former jockey John K. “JK” Adams, 62, who died in August near Monmouth Park where he was working as a stablehand. He was 62. A grandson of Hall of Fame jockey Johnny Ad- ams, JK rode primarily in Maryland during the peak of his own career in the late 1970s. His best year was in 1977 when he rode 192 win- ners.


Former rider Susan R. Tate of Millersville,


81, who died in August from a stroke; she is survived by daughter Dory Tate, an Anne Arundel County riding instructor.


Chad Steven Arbaugh of Union Bridge, 32, who died on August 25 in a farming accident.


OCTOBER 2017 | THE EQUIERY | 89


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