Passings

Chris Mellen with Sierra Cheyenne

Chris Mellen 8/7/49 — 10/22/21

It is with great sadness that I must tell this story about the passing of a kindred-spirit horse-friend. I’m not sure when or how she got started in horses or even Al Khamsa horses, but it was always her passion during the two-plus decades I knew her. I know she had Blue Star horses when I first started to correspond with her. Then she somehow had acquired Sally-O-Doyle (Ghalidar x Bint Subani), a 1988 chestnut Babson/Doyle mare. The mare had been at Dory Kidder’s farm in Wisconsin and not that far from me at my Minnesota farm. Dory had my stallion’s (Sierra Sandarac) full brother, Sierra Sabian… and Sally was there to get pregnant. That pregnancy did not happen so Sally was to come to me and brother Sandarac. This is how Chris and I met (on the phone). It must have been roughly 1997. It lasted without waver since. It was a decade before I ever saw a photo of her and we didn’t meet in person until recent years. Crazy.

Chris was a creative researcher. She found horses and people and info when needed. Pulled them out of a hat like the magical rabbit. She spoke with many of the great breeders and researchers who had gone before us. She had a dedication to the Pritzlaff horses and was the only other person completely committed to the Babson/Doyle program that I knew. She was a plucky, hard-headed stubborn soul, no bigger than a minute, and even when she had little to nothing she always made sure the horses were taken care of first. She had her dreams, and some came true, but it should be known that she made a difference. That’s how this preservation stuff works: One little breeder, with a big heart and strong will, at a time! Thank you Chris Mellen for all your years of being there!! You will be missed. ~ Bev Davison Sarah Kate (Peasy) Love

It was only recently that we learned of the loss of Sarah Kate Otto Love, a dedicated participant in the civic and cultural life of the region and a major figure in the renewal of the St. Louis Central West End and Forest Park, who died December 20, 2017. She was 74. She grew up in Creve Coeur, and was educated at Mary Institute from kindergarten to her graduation in 1961. She was a graduate of Smith College, Northhampton, MA, and attended the institute of Fine Arts in New York City. She married Andrew Love in 1969. He survived along with their three children and grandchildren.

Mrs. Love was a stalwart and creative leader of major cultural projects in the City of the St. Louis. She was instrumental in the initiation of the revival of the region's greatest urban open-space asset, Forest Park, the creation and development of New City School, and contributed to the revival of opera in St. Louis.

From there, her commitment to exuberant living spanned the field and was broad enough to include horse breeding and performance entertaining, and a generous hospitality to a range of guests, including seminary students, opera impresarios, directors and singers, Missouri Botanical Garden botanists, Middle Eastern refugees, graduated students, family of a major surgery patient of BJC, and an assortment of chickens, horses, and dogs, stray as well as pedigreed, all of whom became part of her household. She once hosted a pair of camels performing for the Fox Theater and the occasional Circus Flora creature in her back yard, and Mrs. Turkey was a regular breakfast guest for several years. She had a small Al Khamsa breeding program, with primarily Davenport horses, in the 1970s and 80s. She participated in the very first Al Khamsa Fantasia in 1981 and was supportive of all Al Khamsa events at the time.

Trucille Enz-McLaughlin

Trucilla L. McLaughlin, died unexpectedly December 3, 2021. She was born October 16, 1947, in Decatur, Illinois, the daughter of James C. Dowd and Margie L. (Bourne) Dowd-Coffey. She was preceded in death by her brother James G. Dowd, who joined her in her enthusiasm for Arabian horses.

In addition to her husband, Richard A. McLaughlin, she was survived by her son, Todd Enz, daughter, Ariana Blumenfeld-James (Nathan) and three grandchildren, and an extended family. A celebration of life for Trucilla will be planned for Spring/Summer of 2022.

She touched the hearts of everyone she met. She will be profoundly missed.

Carol Davis Drennan

Carol with My True Amber (Mi Majest Prince x My True Honey).

Al Khamsa lost an early and tireless supporter on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Born in Bloomington, April 20, 1933 she was the daughter of Everett Daniel Davis and Dorothy Danzeiser Davis Bevan. Carol graduated valedictorian of Morton Township High in 1951. Marrying James Drennan in 1954, she continued her studies at Knox College, receiving her BS in chemistry in 1955, Phi Beta Kappa. Their two daughters were born in St. Louis as Jim completed his MD.

Carol is survived by two daughters Nancy (Gary) Becker of Franklin, IL and Kirby (Robert Winkelman) Drennan of Virginia, IL, two grandsons and three great-grandchildren. Carol, Nancy and Kirby have served Al Khamsa efforts for years. Not only a great mom to Nancy and Kirby, Carol also was their best friend.

The three horse-loving Drennan ladies helped with numerous Al Khamsa conventions held in Springfield. They presented their horses in fantasias, quadrilles, and did whatever was necessary to keep the presentations moving. They groomed and led horses at Craver Farms’ Open Houses and performed at Illinois Horse Fairs. Carol did perhaps more grooming than riding at the public events, but she was integral to every effort the Illinois Al Khamsa Sub-List ever presented. And continued riding well into her 70’s on her Arabians.

Remembering

TRUCILLA ENZ-McLAUGHLIN

with *Adhem

with Aziza Mona Lisa

Sahanad Preservation is deeply indebted to Trucilla and her family for producing Sahanad’s get that are the foundation of our preservation efforts.

Other losses:

Georg Thierer

Our highly esteemed and much beloved friend and fellow breeder Georg Thierer, Master of Engineering and vice-chairman of the Asil Club, died on October 26, shortly before his 90th birthday. He was one of the leading lights, one of the steadfast few in the early days preceding the inception of the Asil Club. Georg Thierer was a role model for all of us, unfailingly kind, always interested and knowledgeable, and even in his advanced age an active endurance rider who promoted this part of the Asil Club’s work with great dedication.