HAVE A HEART
Please donate to the Patti Engler Memorial Fund
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ONE WOMAN'S STORY
The Patti Engler Memorial Fund
When forty-one year-old Patti Engler, beloved horse-back riding instructor and owner of 3 Bay Sporthorse, died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack, her extended family and friends took on a new cause.
Have a Heart campaign is being led by eleven-year-old riding student Karianna Knezevich of Katy, Texas to help raise
awareness and funds for the WHF. The following is a tribute to Patti, written by Karianna's mother, Kristen Knezevich
Patti Engler grew up in New York and never really lost her New York edge… and had the heart of a Texan. She learned to ride in New York then moved to Texas after college (she was a double major in Science AND English) and was working in a laboratory and as a part-time career started teaching riders young and old and training horses (underdogs in both departments were her specialty). She worked out of the Great Southwest Equestrian Center when they had riding programs there and started her business... "3 Bay Sport Horses". 3 Bay was aptly named as the first three horses in her business were bay (brown with black manes and tails for those not familiar with horse terminology).
When the Great Southwest Equestrian Center closed their doors to trainers and focused on hosting shows and events, Patti and the 3 Bay students bounced around a few times before they landed in Katy where I met Patti in 2006. My first impression was uncertainty as she seemed very sweet but definitely seemed a bit rough around the edges. After a few lessons and seeing my 8 year old daughter being sent back to basics boot camp, I understood that Patti was serious about equitation and quality riders. Within six months, her insistent requests to move my daughter to the next level worked and I bought my daughter a pony. In addition, I started riding again too. I had NEVER been a good rider, in fact I had quiet a knack for the tuck and roll maneuver since I was apt to fall off but wanted to dabble for the value of exercise and an escape. WOW was I surprised when not only my daughter, but even me, the tumbling queen, started to take off and understand how to ride and later how to win at horse shows. A few months later I bought a horse too. I was unsure at first WHY we bought Travis. His initial test rides were less than impressive (scary actually), and I for one thought we were going to pass but as Patti muttered "I always wanted a bay with four white socks and a blaze!" I was not sure if we were buying a lawn ornament or a horse for me. I trusted her and was so glad that I did. Travis and I, and even my daughter when she rides him have had more than our fair share of victories and triumphs after much hard work and guidance.
This story was repeated many times at 3 Bay. As the business grew, Patti found a client willing to become an investor and was able to build her own barn in Sealy, Texas. My daughter and I, along with a few other clients helped Patti pack and move…the day before hurricane Ike hit our area in September 2008. The client assisted with the finances, but it was 100% Patti running the show. She lived on the property and you knew that before she went to sleep each night, your "baby" would be checked and tucked in by Patti. She had a sixth sense about knowing when a horse was not feeling well, even before the owner could see it. Her dream had come true to have a place of her own. We frequently admired the colorful sunsets together with her. She was very proud of her accomplishment.
The other dream she had was to ride and show again. She battled with her weight for years and in the last two years had dieted and dropped quite a bit of weight. Then she purchased the horse of her dreams "General". A large grey warmblood who was beautiful and talented. She rode him often and trained with a well known dressage trainer. Her first shows in many, many years occurred in the last months of her life. She was so excited to share with us HER blue ribbons and triumphs. Patti went to lunch with a friend just weeks before her passing and let her know how much she appreciated the many gifts she had been given.
Patti was tough, but the kids, young and old loved her. It was hard to tell sometimes who was the kid…but that made them like her even more. She pushed you out of your comfort zone and made you challenge yourself. Made you do things, you probably never would have imagined doing. She made you live life. It's so ironic that she was the first life taken away from the 3 Bay family.
 
Aside from her career, she also loved the social side of our 3 Bay team. She invited herself over to make Christmas cookies one year, and it became a tradition. Many 3 Bay families have similar stories of Patti traditions. She always insisted that we have a 3 Bay Halloween and New Years party. You never knew if she would be dropping by for Thanksgiving. The 3 Bay family has been a bit lost since our social coordinator left us…it's just not the same.
Patti never married nor had children. Her black standard Poodle "Drake" (named after the General Hospital character Noah Drake, Patti was in LOVE with Rick Springfield by the way) who went EVERYWHERE with Patti for years could have been considered her son, along with "Eli" a huge black Great Dane that Patti purchased at 12 weeks of age right before the move to Sealy. Along with her horses, they were her family. Drake is up in age and Patti's family in Virginia Beach now takes care of him. Young Eli is now the 3 Bay "barn" dog and frequents many shows now with the 3 Bay team.
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