Skip to content

UPHA Hall Of Famer Ben Segalla Passes Away



Born June 17, 1929 in Morton Grove, Illinois to Serafino and Erimina (nee Sola) Segalla, Ben passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 2, 2015 in Crystal Lake at the age of 85.

Growing up in relative poverty, he began working at Northwestern Stables in his hometown for the wage of fifty-cents a day at the age of twelve beginning as a groom. Young Ben quickly became a proficient horseman, Showmen, and his disposition made him an excellent trainer and coach. He worked for Charlie Houston and Doc Flannery where he gained even more experience; the pair quickly developed a large business centered around American Saddlebred horse-training and riding lessons.

In 1957, largely from Dolly’s influence, Ben opened his own stable in Half Day, Illinois known as Ben Segalla’s Country View Stables. At Country View, he trained five gaited, three gaited, fine harness, pleasures, road horses, and stood several studs and mares. Ben had three Pleasure Horses, Rooster Butterfly, Palm Gray, and Wild Honey that were “World and National Champions.” Just to name a few of his Champion wins, Ben won all the classes offered at the Milwaukee Spring Horse Shows. Ben served as the First Treasurer and Secretary, was one of the Founding Fathers of the United Professional Horseman’s Association (many a meeting was held at Ben’s home in Half Day) and he was an American Saddle Horse Association Judge. Over thirty years, he trained and/or showed fifteen World Champions, two National Champions and over a dozen champion show horses. Ben was a contemporary of trainers Tom Moore and Dick Durant.

In 2011 Ben was inducted into the UPHA Tom Moore Hall of Fame.

Ben is survived by his daughters, Yvonne Segalla-Cousins, Tina Segalla-Wagner, and Benita Segalla-Hutton; his grandchildren, James Benjamin Cousins, Kenneth Robert Wagner II, Benjamin Segalla Wagner and Sean Hutton; and his great-grandchildren, Vironica Elisabeth Wagner, and Ainsley and Emma Cousins; and former wife, Dolly Vole.

Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory handled the services. To express online condolences please visit www.davenportfamily.com.

More Stories

  • Latest Issue 2 25 HW

    Read More
  • ASHBA Annual Meeting Highlights

    The annual meeting of the American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association saw a substantial turnout of membership. More than half of the active, eligible members at the time of the vote let their voices be heard either in person or by proxy on two topics: a bylaw amendment proposal and the vote to elect two people to represent the membership on the nominating committee for the board of directors. Read More
  • Morgan Stallion Sweeps Date Changed

    The New England Regional Morgan Horse Show and Association along with the United Breeders Committee announces a date change for the upcoming Morgan Stallion Sweeps drawing to March 15th. Read More
  • AHHS Board of Director Election Results

    The results are in and the AHHS would like to congratulate the five successful candidates on their election to the AHHS Board! The five candidates elected are Chris Gantley, Maureen Quackenbush, Bryan Earehart, Amber Kildow, and Melissa Moore. Read More
  • Latest Issue 2 10 25

    Read More
  • Update on ASHBA Website

    Earlier today, we noticed that the server that supports the ASHBA database was experiencing a lot of activity. After a brief investigation, we discovered that certain parts of the system were being hit almost constantly and slowing down the server. This was leading to performance issues across the board. We pulled server logs and saw more than 77,000 requests for show results for this morning alone. Read More
  • Over $60,000 Raised At New York Morgan Stallion Service Auction

    It was a new year and a new committee for the New York Morgan Stallion Service Auction. With committee members emeriti Ivan Beattie and Lynn Peeples, Chairperson Jennifer Peek focused on the young trainers in the New York area, tapping Anna Kufs, Chris Bernard, Keith Friday, Lindsay Perry Atkinson, Rebecca Arotsky and Will Vidler, and Tuffy Owens to fill out the revamped team. Read More
  • Topping The Ladies Division

    Read More
  • 2025 Annual Membership Meeting of American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association

    The Annual Membership Meeting of the American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association, Inc. will be held on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 2 pm EST at the Lexington Marriott City Center, 121 West Vine Street, in Lexington, KY.  Read More
  • Michigan Morgan Horse Breeders Futurity Activities

    The Michigan Morgan Horse Breeders Futurity (MMHBF) will host its annual stallion service auction on Saturday, March 1, with a full day of activities on Friday, February 28. The events will be held in the Middlebury, Indiana area with the Hampton Inn serving as the host hotel.  Read More