"She is, hands down, the most important person in Eventing in the Western United States and arguably the most important person in Eventing in the entire nation," said U.S. Eventing Association (USEA) President Kevin Baumgardner.

Rebecca Broussard, a visionary in the world of Equestrian Eventing, died on Dec. 24 after a brave battle with cancer. Friends and family gathered on Christmas to honor her life, while public celebrations of her legacy will be planned at equestrian competitions this summer.

Born in Jeanerette, Louisiana on February 17, 1942, she is survived by her husband Jerome, daughters Rebecca and Sarah, grandchildren Lorraine and Raymond Nicholson, Tommye and Alexander Kelly, brothers Barry Shaw and John Chaney, sisters Rosemary Thomas and Mildred Shaw, uncle Pat Neff, nieces Jamie Horton, Marcus Shaw, Sam, Emma and Grace Thomas.

Becky had long talked about her love of helping riders in the West compete on the world stage and her vision included the historic possibilities of bringing riders from Europe to Montana in the future. This past summer she helped organize an historic flight of 18 horses from the East Coast, including many Olympians, who competed at her namesake Event.

"My mom touched the Eventing careers of so many riders," said her daughter, Sarah Broussard-Kelly. "She will truly be missed, but she has left behind a legacy that will live on forever. Not only at The Event at Rebecca Farm, but through all of the lives that she has touched that will keep her and her memory alive. "

Mrs. Broussard got her nursing degree in the late 1970s from the University of Evansville in Evansville, Ind. and worked as a nurse in Henderson, Ky. until she moved to Anchorage, Ky. She worked with Hospice when she lived in Mandeville, Jamaica. She was a board member of the U.S. Equestrian Team, a Trustee on the Endowment Foundation of the USEA, as well as a member of the Board of Governors and Executive Committee for the USEA.

Becky was also a member of PEO, an international association that supports education for women, and involved in the Flathead Festival, Glacier Chorale & Symphony, Backcountry Horsemen, Human Therapy on Horseback, Whitefish Winter Classic, and the local Eventing association. She established a million dollar scholarship fund at Flathead Valley Community College, was a major supporter of the Kentucky Horse Park, served on the international committee for The World Equestrian Games, and supported dozens of local charities such as Shepherd's Hand and the United Way.

Donations in Becky's name may be directed to the following charities: United States Eventing Association Endowment Trust (USEA, 525 Old Waterford Rd. NW, Leesburg, VA 20176 703-779-0440 www.useventing.com); Shepherd's Hand Clinic (5150 River Lakes Parkway, Whitefish, MT 59937, Attn: Meg Erickson); or Broussard Family Scholarship (Flathead Valley Community College Foundation, 777 Grandview Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901, Attn: Colleen Unterreiner).

 

Join us for the 10th anniversary this summer to honor Becky's memory. A memorial is being planned for July 20, 2011.