WACO, Texas – Oklahoma State Equestrian has recently retired 'Bueno', a 22 year old Reining horse who was with the program for 14 years.
The NCEA extends its congratulations to Bueno on a highly successful career, thanks him for his service to our Association and its student-athletes, and wishes him all the best in his retirement!
"Before arriving at OSU, Bueno earned over $52,000 in NRHA competition and was a World Show finalist," said assistant coach Laura Brainard. "His exceptional ability translated into one of the most decorated collegiate careers in NCEA history, earning multiple Top 10 Horse of the Year honors, several NCEA Reining Horse of the Year awards, and countless MOPs. Season after season, he delivered reliable, high-scoring performances and gave generations of Cowgirls some of the best rides of their careers."
"Beyond his accomplishments, Bueno is remembered for his unmistakable personality—big opinions, a love for scratches, a tendency to linger on the Theraplate, and a habit of stealing treats from anyone who walked by. He has been a teacher, a partner, and a beloved presence in the barn, shaping the experiences of every rider fortunate enough to sit on him. Bueno will retire to Stephenville, Texas, with former OSU athlete Quincee Clark, where he will continue to be cherished and thoroughly spoiled."
"They say you’re lucky if you get one horse of a lifetime, I’ve been fortunate enough to have a few, but the last place I expected to find one was at OSU," said alumna Quincee Clark. "From the first time I swung a leg over Bueno, I knew that he’d forever have an impact on me as a person and as a rider. Everyone that came across his path learned something from him, whether it was in practice or showing. The minute you went to catch him for practice you knew how your day was going to go. His personality makes him very easy to read. Whether that’s grunting when you do something he doesn’t agree with or looking at you with what can only be explained as a smile when he agrees. I figured out very quickly that if he was having a day where he was going to be super opinionated all you had to do was steal him a snack from the locker room and he’d be a little less likely to grunt at you. We often joked that I was just “the treat lady” to him. For me and many others, Bueno was my first Cowgirl point and my first MOP. I was lucky enough to draw him at Big 12’s last year, the last one for both of us. I had to fight back tears when the draw came out, and I think we all shed a few when we completed our run. When I found out Laura was retiring him and asked if I had room for him, it was an immediate yes with no hesitation. Bueno is spending his retirement getting his favorite blueberry cookies on a daily basis and doing what I’m sure he’d call babysitting the 2 year olds we have, but really they’re keeping him young. At least once a day he’s in the pasture running and playing like he’s 2 not 22. I still try to jump on him a few times a week just to keep him in shape but most days he’s hanging out doing whatever he wants. I just feel so fortunate that I get to be the one he’s spending his retirement with, because it feels like the only way I can repay him for everything he’s done for me."
"Bueno was so special to the team because of his huge personality," said junior reiner Emma Filiatreau (pictured above). "He would come in the barn and you could tell exactly what mood he was in that day, which he was never really in a bad mood. He'd just sit there in the cross ties and watch everyone, watch what everyone's next move was. He was just really fun to have in the barn and he himself cheered everyone up because of his personality. He would do anything for you. He would take care of you, we would always want to ride him on bareback days because you could run, stop and big and turn big even though you were bareback. He was just a very special horse personality wise but also the ride because of how great he was to be around. A ride on Bueno that sticks with me would be freshman year, my very first start, our very first meet that year. It was against TCU and I drew Bueno and he was more than great for me, he was amazing. I kinda did mess up one of my lead departures and I'll never forget that, but he was so good. That was my very first point for me as a Cowgirl as well. That was a very memorable ride with Bueno."
“My ride on Bueno against SMU last season was one of my favorite runs I’ve had in college," said senior reiner Tristan Bagby. "He is such a fun horse to show and gave me his all that run. His personality definitely made him so special! He was the sweetest boy who was always looking for snacks! I will definitely miss his personality the most as it was so unique to him, but he was also my favorite horse to ride. As much as I'll miss him, he has definitely earned his retirement!”
Do you have a former industry horse you think would be a good fit for the NCEA? Donate them to a program near you! More information can be found
here.
- CollegiateEquestrian.com -