United States Eventing Association

Nancy Bell Gosch, 85, died Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at the family farm outside Newnan, Georgia. She was born April 1, 1929 in Brooklyn, N.Y. to the late Alfred Lee Loomis Bell and Grace Seidel Bell. She married Dick Gosch on January 12, 1952 in Reading, Pa. where they had their five children and a small horse farm. After losing Dick, her business partner and beloved husband of 61 years, her health began to decline. She died peacefully just over one year later surrounded by her loving family.

Moving to Welcome, Ga. in 1966, “Mrs. G,” as she is affectionately known to her many students, started Wood’N Horse Stables. There she hosted and trained many combined training and dressage horses and riders and started the Chattahoochee Valley Pony Club – the first in the region. In addition to her schooling and boarding facility, Mrs. Gosch hosted three-phase combined tests and was one of the first organizers to offer amoeba and tadpole divisions.

Over the years, Mrs. Gosch developed a reputation in the horse world for her knowledge and dedication to equestrian sport and was respected by all from beginners to international-level competitors and trainers. The stories of Mrs. Gosch are colorful and abundant. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Mrs. Gosch was an important figure in eventing not only as an instructor at all levels, having introduced hundreds of individuals of all ages to the sport, but as a sport horse breeder as well. Incidentally, a feature article about Mrs. Gosch and her homebred Thoroughbreds was written for Issue 4 of Eventing USA magazine. That issue was sent to the printer the morning of her passing. The magazine staff is somber but glad that a written tribute to her contribution to the sport was completed before her passing.

She is survived by her children, Richard Horst Gosch, Jr. and wife Liz, Peter Seidel Gosch, David L. Gosch and wife Fran, Andrew Finley Gosch and wife Millie, Margaret Gosch Martin and husband John, Brannon Young Malcolm, and 13 grandchildren. A special thanks goes to her loving and faithful caregivers, Tommie Troutt, Michelle Ussery and Gentiva Hospice.

Visitation for family and friends will be held Friday, April 11, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at McKoon Funeral Home. Graveside service will be in Birdsboro, Pa. April 19th. A local memorial service will be held at a later date.

Condolences and “Mrs. Gosch stories” can be sent online at www.mckoon.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to USEA Area III Young Riders Program, Catherine Clayton, 1155 Piedmont Lake Road, Pine Mountain, GA 31822 ([email protected] 706-580-0106) or to a charity of choice.