Gladstone, New Jersey-September 21, 2001-The United States Equestrian Team (USET) mourns the passing of Mrs. Kenneth M. (Sallie) Wheeler, one of the horse world's most beloved people who passed away on the morning of September 21, 2001. Mrs. Wheeler was a past member of the USET Board of Directors.

Mrs. Wheeler was the daughter of the late Catherine Milliken and Adolphus Busch III, a past president of Anheuser-Busch. She and her husband of the past 36 years, noted hunter trainer Kenneth M. Wheeler, had three sons-Kenneth M., Jr., Gordon Lee and Douglas Busch. Mrs. Wheeler and her family resided at Cismont Manor Farm in Keswick, VA since 1956.

In addition to serving on the USET Board, Mrs. Wheeler also served on the Boards of the American Horse Shows Association (AHSA), National Horse Show, Washington International Horse Show, Devon Horse Show, Keswick Hunt Club Horse Show, Hackney Horse Society of America, Virginia Equine Center Foundation, and St. Anne's-Belfield School of Charlottesville, VA.

Although she achieved much notoriety competing World Champion Hackney ponies and American Saddlebred horses, it was as president and Chairman of the Board of the National Horse Show that she left her most lasting imprint on the horse world. It was Mrs. Wheeler's leadership and determination that led to the much hoped-for return of the National Horse Show to its original home in Madison Square Garden in 1996 after seven years at the Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey.

The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest possible standard to represent our country in major international competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships. To accomplish this, the USET seeks out and nurtures the development of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908) 234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org.

USA Equestrian (formerly AHSA) announced today that Mrs. Kenneth 'Sallie' Wheeler passed away peacefully at her home in Keswick, VA, this morning, Friday, September 21, 2001 with her family by her side. She was 70 years old. Mrs. Wheeler was among the pantheon of heroes in equestrian sports and together with her husband, Kenneth, was a highly successful exhibitor with Hunter/Jumpers, Hackneys and Saddlebreds. She was the daughter of the late Catherine Milliken Busch and Adolphus Busch, III (past president of Anheuser-Busch Companies) and the niece of August A. Busch, Jr.

Mrs. Wheeler married Kenneth in August 1965 and the couple had three children; Kenneth, Jr. of Memphis, TN, Gordon (Cappy) from Harrodsburg, KY, and Douglas from Keswick, VA, and Roundup, MT. There are four grandchildren, Catherine, Rose Marie, Cara Lee and Adolphus. She also had two children, Sallie Motch, Cold Springs, NY, and Robert Motch, Carthage, MO, and five grandchildren, Robby, Lucy Marie, Will, Donald and Alex from her previous marriage to the late Robert Motch.

Mrs. Wheeler was well known for her unyielding contributions of time and energy to a number of equestrian organizations and committees as well as for her skills in the show ring. In recent years, her interests turned to the National Horse Show in New York where she served as Chairman and campaigned to return the show to Madison Square Garden in 1996.

Sallie Wheeler's numerous accomplishments include being inducted into the Hall of Fame of the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show, Virginia Horse Shows Association, Kentucky State Fair World's Championship Horse Show and American Saddle Horse Association of Virginia as well as the following:

• AHSA Lifetime Achievement Award 1999 (with her husband Kenneth)
• AHSA Perpetual Sportsmanship Award in memory of Walter Bourchier Devereux III, 1981
• United Professional Horse Association Distinguished Service Award
• American Hackney Society's Distinguished Service Award
• AHSA Horsewoman of the Year, 1987
• Virginia Horse Shows Association Horsewoman of the Year
• Old Springhouse Lifetime Achievement Award
• August A. Busch Jr. Spirit of St. Louis Award
• Whitney Stone Distinguished Service Award

Mrs. Wheeler's association with the AHSA was a long and storied one. Among her many chairs and volunteer positions she held were: AHSA Board Director; Chairman, AHSA Exhibitors Committee; member, Ad Hoc Committee on Mileage; Chairman, Zone 3 Committee; member, Hunter Breeding Committee; "R" AHSA Judge in Hunter, Jumper, Hunter Breeding and Hunter Seat Equitation divisions; exhibitor, owner and trainer of AHSA High Score winners in the Hunter Breeding division.

In her Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech during the 2000 AHSA Annual Convention, Mrs. Wheeler was quick to point out her feelings of love for equestrian sport by saying, "It's a humbling experience to be chosen for the AHSA Lifetime Achievement Award. We have been blessed with the love of our wonderful children, close family and friends. It is rare that two people have so fully enjoyed a career in a profession and a hobby in a sport such as Kenny and I have been privileged to do. We both realize that none of this would be possible without the fabulous animals we do dearly love and appreciate."

The winner of the 1987 Horsewoman of the Year Award, she and Kenneth brought home an average of 200-300 blue ribbons each year won by their champion horses. Among her great Saddlebreds and Hackney and Harness ponies are: Special Entertainer, Tashi Ling, Tiajuana Starlet, Mark of Success, Brass Lass, Sultan's Commander, One For The Road, Radiant Success, A Sweet Treat, Fancy Ribbons, Apollo Sand and Flamethrower. Some famous hunters owned or trained by Mrs. Wheeler's Cismont Manor Farm included: Isgilde, Ruxton, Gozzi, Henry the Hawk, Call You Raise You, Showdown, Celebrity, and Wall Street Week - these horses won a record number of National Horse of the Year Awards for Cismont Manor Farm - more than any other single exhibitor.

Visitors are welcome at Cismont Manor Farm, Keswick, VA, and funeral arrangements are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, September 26, 2001.

USA Equestrian (formerly AHSA) announced today that the funeral for Mrs. Kenneth 'Sallie' Wheeler, who passed away this morning, will take place at Grace Episcopal Church, Keswick, VA, on Wednesday, September 26, 2001, at 1 p.m. A reception will be held afterwards at Cismont Manor Farm, Keswick, VA.

For more information, please contact Christine E. Stafford, Director of Communications on (859) 225 6923 or via email at cstafford@ahsa.org cstafford@ahsa.org. AHSA press releases are available on our web site - http://www.ahsa.org/ .