United States Eventing Association

Remembering Phil Sawin

Philip (Phil) Garrett Sawin (68) resident of Bellville, Texas since 1978 passed away March 18 from a ladder accident at his horse training facility, Pine Hill Farm, where he lived and worked.

Phil was born in Austin, Texas, August 26, 1942 and grew up in Houston, Texas. He fell in love with horses and the people around them while working at Almeda Stables in Houston in the 50's. Phil did computer programming for insurance companies in Houston to support his love of horses.

Phil is survived by his wife Ruth Cooper Sawin and Elizabeth Sawin (Ellie 10); his sisters Joan (and Emerson) Heald of Seattle, WA and Elizabeth (and Robert Wilson) of Holmdel, NJ, and his brother Tom (and Ruby) Sawin of Hesston, KS. He was predeceased by his parents Horace and Katherine Rhoads Sawin and his brother Fred C Sawin.

Phil enjoyed maintaining the horse training facilities at Pine Hill, designing jumps and courses and relating to the people that used and helped him construct and maintain his facility. Pine Hill was started in 1978. Phil brought the Olympic Equestrian sport of eventing to Texas in the 1980s. For 25 consecutive years he ran two USEA (United States Eventing Association) recognized horse trials each year as well as many schooling horse trials. Having achieved the United States Equestrian Federation license as Cross Country course designer allowed Phil to travel over the country and help others with their course designs.

Phil's Pine Hill Equestrian Facility has been home for many USPC (United States Pony Club) activities, Combined Driving Competitions and Hunter/Jumper Shows. Many equestrians have grown up competing at Pine Hill and now have children competing at Pine Hill. Other equestrians that had their first show, Pony Club or clinic experiences at Pine Hill have gone on to compete Internationally in the horse world.

Phil's other passion was traveling. Combining his love of horses with his love of traveling he made many trips to Europe, Scandinavia and Russia. Phil and Ruth met at the World Equestrian Games at The Hague in '94 and have attended all but one WEG together since then.

Phil's last big project and latest passion was overseeing the construction of his and Ruth and Ellie's new home at Pine Hill. Unfortunately he was unable to complete this project before his untimely death.

Phil will be missed by all those lives he has touched---family, friends, equestrians, builders, workers and all of his animals.

Pine Hill is Phil's legacy---an Equestrian Facility of great beauty and uniqueness. The horse community has spoken unanimously that they want his legacy to continue and have set up Memorial Fund to assist in maintaining his wonderful “peace of heaven for horsemen and women on earth”. Checks may be sent to "PHIL SAWIN MEMORIAL TRUST FUND"

By mail: Send a check, payable to "Phil Sawin Memorial Trust Fund", to Sterling Bank, Phil Sawin Memorial Trust Fund, 15000 Northwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77040. Please enclose a note with the check as to the fund you wish it be contributed to

A Celebration of Phil's life will be held at Pine Hill on Saturday April 9th at 6:30 following the USEA event held that day. This celebration will be as only Phil would have wanted it---outdoors, at his beautiful place and surrounded by horses and horse people.