Brown Betty, Oliver and Barbara King’s advanced eventing horse, died July 29 following an injury at their farm in Frederick, Md. She was 15.

After a brief career at the track, “Betty” found her true talent and love for cross-country and jumping. At the beginning of their special relationship, Betty had no previous jumping experience and Oliver King had never ridden above training level. They quickly developed and moved up through the levels to enjoy success at intermediate and advanced.

With Betty, King was awarded the U.S. Eventing Association’s intermediate master amateur award in 2003 and was fifth in the advanced master amateur standings in 2004.

In addition to contesting several Fédération Equestre Internationale competitions, they enjoyed a victory gallop with the “red coat riders” after their placing at the 2004 Red Hills CIC*** World Cup qualifier in Tallahassee (Fla.).

Although Betty had a certain disdain for dressage, she regularly moved into the ribbons on the strength of her clean and fast jumping rounds.

During her retirement, Betty produced three future eventing hopefuls—Bettina Star by Phyllis Dawson’s Brandenburg’s Windstar, Gemini by Nina Gardner’s Shadow Show and 4-month-old Bruno by Denny Emerson’s Formula One.