Obituary - Louise DeBlois
Thursday, June 29, 2017
American Saddlebred enthusiast Louise DeBlois passed away May 24 at the age of 78. Preceded in death by her husband Paul DeBlois, Louise was a resident of Simpsonville, Kentucky.
A longtime resident of New Jersey, Louise enjoyed showing horses throughout her life, particularly five-gaited horses. Horses were her life. In fact, she met her husband Paul at the National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden in 1966.
The daughter of the late Steven and Justine Morland, Louise was riding with Harry Plenge in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. Over the next 50 years she showed with the likes of Jimmy Arnold, George Nash, Jack Nevitt, Randy Harper, Tom Ferrebee, Jan Lukens and Mike Felty. While in New Jersey Louise was also heavily involved with the Eastern Saddlebred Horse Association (ESHBA). That association sponsored a series of classes throughout the Northeast, among other projects.
Louise was known for a number of show ring stars. “She won all the Jersey and Pennsylvania shows,” said Linda (Wentz) Nash. “She was very gracious and good for the business. Louise was a good rider and always had a good horse.
“Her dad owned a big restaurant and they put on some great exhibitor parties. They were a very social family.”
Some of the horses Louise showed successfully over the years include the top three-gaited gelding Ima Free Spirit and a slew of top gaited horses like Watch Out, Formally Attired, CH Attache’s Spun Gold, Mountainview’s Nite Dancer, Grand Marq, and CH Intriguing Masterpiece. The last horse she showed was the pleasure driving star with Mike Felty, New York’s Single Lady in 2014.
Louise will be remembered as a gracious lady who loved her horses and her horse friends, of which there were many.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Saddlebred Museum at asbmuseum.org.
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