I rode with Mrs. C. from about '72 until about '82.... she taught the values of hard work, learning, and excellence... she is partially responsible for my successes in life.... I'm an Occupational Medicine Physician in Pittsburgh.... I never could have survived med school and residency had it not been for Pony Club, Wind's Reach Farm, Betsy, Mike and Hans and all the rest at the farm.
I miss Mike and Betsy.
- Susan Chapler MD
. . . having only met Betsy about two years ago, I tended to forget what a magnificent and active horsewoman she had been all of her life. I told someone at my barn yesterday that Betsy had passed away, and the person said, "oh, is that the lady that dressed like a New England bird watcher?" and I smiled and pictured dear Betsy in her floppy hat and funny shoes and I got tears in my eyes. I am glad to have known her if only for a short time, and only wish I could have seen her with the red coat on, sitting astride a huge thoroughbred as Master of Hounds. She is certainly riding to hounds in heaven, and sometimes I will hear thunder and feel that it is really galloping up there that I am hearing. . .
- Barbara Hall
On Friday, May 1st, our loving trainer, Betsy Coester passed away. She was an accomplished horsewomen, and we will greatly miss her. If you know her, you know how important she was, how much she did for all of the Pony Clubs in the Midwest. She held shows at her farm, called Winds Reach, so all of you horse lovers out there may know her. We are very proud to have taken lessons from such a great horsewoman. We will really miss her.
- Rose Danaher & Ali Berman
The first time I met Betsy it had nothing to do with horses. Some friends of mine had formed a band and they were using the Coester's basement for rehearsals. I visited the house several times before remarking on all the boots on the stairs. "Oh, yea, we all ride horses" was Susan's remark. I never saw a barn or any horses. My only thought was Mrs. Coester was one nice lady for putting up with the rock and roll ruckus.
Many years passed and I became an equine junkie. I went to Wind's Reach to see a Dressage demonstration. Something seemed familiar about the driveway and as I drove past the house I was sure I had been there before. It took awhile to put the pieces together. I ask Betsy about it and her face lit up with recognition as she uttered the lead singers name. Her eyes twinkled and she exclaimed "What a voice!"
Now I realize she had a way of cultivating talent, whether from a horse or a rider or a basement band. If you were willing to work towards your goal, she was willing to help.
- Megan Ward