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.