By ELIZABETH BENSON LONG
It is with immense sadness that I share the loss of my heart horse, San Remo VDL.
This isn’t a note that I could write in one sitting, and it’s one that pulls on my heart more than words can describe. As we said goodbye and I hugged him one last time, I thought of our long history, much of which the horse world may already know. In celebration of him, I’d like to share it for those who wouldn’t mind walking down memory lane.
Remo and I found each other nearly 15 years ago, just shortly after my dad’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Walking into the indoor on the warm up day of Maclay Regionals, I remember laying eyes on him for the first time and saying, “Wow, that’s my dream horse,” out loud. Already under Stacia and Beacon Hill’s care, I (as a local kid with big and what felt like unattainable aspirations) admired him from afar.
Just a few days later, in search of a horse for USET Finals, my dad connected with Remo’s then-owner, Amanda Flint, who said that she had a horse who had just been with Stacia at Capital Challenge and regionals. As we walked into her farm to see if the horse and I could be a good pair, there he was. It felt surreal, and I was in disbelief. Was it really him, my dream horse? Come to find out, we were indeed a really good pair.
After a successful warmup day in Gladstone, I recall being in the car with my mom and dad as he dialed Amanda to ask about also riding him at Medal Finals (or so I thought). In that moment, my dad said, “Oh, and we’d like to talk about purchasing him, too.” As you can imagine, I was in shock…but my dad had his own plans, knowing that Remo was going to be the horse that would make my dreams become reality.
With what was otherwise planned to be my dad’s retirement money, Remo soon became ours. My dad knew that he wouldn’t be with us long enough to see our partnership truly grow, and even though we didn’t talk about it out loud, he began laying the foundation for what would soon be some of the best years of my life.
I only came to know this years later, but before my dad passed away, he asked someone who became one of the most influential people in my life, Stacia, to look out for me and Remo. He asked that, along with my mom, she would ensure we “grew up right,” focusing on being a good horsewoman, a good student, a good friend, and a good person. Without hesitation, she kindly and humbly agreed, and with a great horse and her looking out for us, he was at peace.
My dad passed the following February. So started the rest of our story. With Stacia, Krista, and Heather training us up, Remo and I grew into our own.
But before we dig into our next chapter, a quick bit of funny context: At the beginning, Remo was anti-turnout…and boy do I mean anti! So much so that he once jumped the fence at Beacon Hill, only to find his way back into the barn. One of the guys then said, “San Remo’s not an equitation horse, he’s a jumper!”
But after a while, that changed. With some injuries along the way, the team grew to understand Remo for who he was and figured out his routine and care, which included rehab at home and ultimately winters and time off with John Madden Sales up on Madden Mountain. (Spoiler alert: He jumped out of the paddock there, too.)
Fast forward a few years, and one day after a humbling experience with the fence and the mares in the next pasture, he came to realize that outdoor life suited him, and that it was important to keep all four on the floor.
With Remo’s reliable “just call me when you need me” type of way, he became what I fondly say was a bit of a machine. He only came back for the most important shows, with Krista being the one to wrangle him back into the bridle. It wouldn’t take him long. He would soon be winning the next class. And for years even after I finished, this would become his new normal.
Remo wasn’t always the most affectionate, and no, he didn’t love trail rides nor ribbons being passed up to him, but I believe he showed us his love in other ways. If there is one thing that I know for certain, it is that Remo never told me “no,” and I mean that quite literally. Not once did he refuse a jump, even in times when he likely should have. He took me to the winner’s circle more times than I can count, even though he hated prize givings, and he made me believe in myself more than any horse before him.
When I was on him, I knew I was safe and that he would always try his hardest. It was his love, skill, and forgiveness that allowed us to end our time together on the highest of highs, winning at Washington, Devon, Wellington, and more. It was a time I will never forget, and I truly believe that I am forever in his debt.
It would be silly to say that such a special horse’s career would end after just one kid, and thankfully Remo’s career continued for years and years after me. Soon paired with Gabrielle Bausano, Katherine Strauss, and finally Madison Goetzmann, Remo continued to take show after show by storm. He tried harder than any horse that I have ever known, and together they won at Devon, the Hampton Classic, the North American Junior Equitation Championship and Maclay finals, just to name a few.
It was through his kind original owners, great riding students, care from team Beacon Hill including Grande, dedication from those on the Mountain, and commitment from my mom and dad, that we saw Remo live an incredible life. I am beyond thankful for all of those in his village and for the paradise in which Remo retired over the past few years.
And so, my Remo, I hope you are proud of everything that you have done. We are lucky to have been a part of your journey and we did our best to do right by you, as you always did right by us. Although I feel as if a huge part of me is gone, I know that as you crossed through Heaven’s gate, Dad was waiting for you, ready to thank you for taking care of me for all of these years.
Until we meet again, Remo. I love you.
