Bill Medicus Caretaker Award Presented at Southeastern Charity
Friday, September 29, 2006
Editor’s note: The Bill Medicus Caretaker Award is given each year by the Medicus family at the Southeastern Charity Horse Show to honor the memory of Bill Medicus, father of Karen Medicus, a longtime and key member of the DeLovely team. He was so proud of his daughter and the horses she still meticulously cares for. Medicus was still living when Todd Miles won the Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championship with CH Onion in 1995 and was very proud of the presentation pictures that showed Karen with CH Onion, Todd Miles, Raymond Shively and the Governor of Kentucky. After he died the following April, his family established the annual Caretaker Award at Southeastern.
Presenting the award to Efreen Alacron (2nd from right)
are (from the left) Sarah, Abbie, and John Medicus, and Jim Ruwolt (far right).
The following speech was read on Thursday night of the show:
Born the twelfth and last child of his family in Mexico, Efreen Alacron was destined to be a horseman. Raised on a farm, he cared for the dogs, cats, goats, horses, chickens and burros. As soon as he was old enough to work he found John Sebastian's horse farm. John Sebastian is a famous singer in Mexico who breeds and shows some of the finest Paso Fino horses in the country. It was here Efreen began his career as a caretaker of show horses.
Efreen wanted to pursue his career and love of horses in the United States. Coming to the new country was difficult as he was only 18 years old and spoke no English. His travels led him to Peachtree City, Georgia, where he met Susan and Brian Reimer. He began working for them 2002. He has participated in every aspect of their training stable. Efreen is as familiar with a pitchfork as he is handling a newly weaned colt. His patient, calming manner has led him to the winner's circle in futurities. Behind the scenes he is quietly caring for the horses in preparation for the show ring.
Dedicated to his job and love for the horse, he never misses a day of work. He is married and is the father of a 2-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, and a 3-year-old son, Christopher. He now speaks fluent English. Efreen enjoys his job and looks forward to a lifelong career in the Saddlebred industry.
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