April 26, 1930 to June 4, 2000
It is only natural that Beverly Mobley would become a horsewoman, since her grandfather owned several Manufacturing plants in Houston and San Antonio and used only horse drawn ice wagons for delivery. Her grandmother drove her horse and carriage down S.A. streets regularly with her own inimitable flair, her aunt showed American Saddlebreds from the 1930's and her mom had Bev at the age of three months, with her on a horse riding many miles to Brackenridge Park and back.
While on Vacation in Cancun, Texas around 1949, Bev and her mother spotted a beautiful American Saddlebred gelding "Anacocho Cramwell" leading a group of Dude ranch guests and fell in love with him. They made immediate arrangements to buy him. They new him to be the son of the famous Saddle stallion Edna's May King, who brought a world record price of $40,000 in 1926. Both were great horses from the famous Anacocho Ranch in Spofford, Texas.
Bev trained "Anacocho" to do the five gaits required of a Saddlebred and showed him successfully many times, much to her pride and delight! In those years Bev and her family took over and ran the Brackenridge Stables. Bev led the big parades on Palomino stallions and showed other people's horses of various breeds as well as her own horses. Also when fun came she founded the Royal Oak Mounted Square Dance Team made up of talented teenage horsemen and horsewomen, who toured Texas Rodeos, Stock Shows, and Horse Shows as a paid exhibition. Great friendships arose and wonderful memories still abound.
Bev, her husband and parents built Blue Ridge Stable. Hard work paid off at Blue Ridge with 63 school horses not being enough for their many students, boarders and a "whole lot" of horses in training. Regular schooling shows became larger and began drawing horses from around the state, as well as out of state entries. Around that time some of Bev's clients arranged a Charity Horse show at the coliseum which became an annual event.
Gradually she was drawn into training horses for other people and teaching saddle seat, western and classical riding / horsemanship. Her student list read like a who's who of San Antonio included Kallison, Milligan, Loring, Midcap, O'Krent families, Marty Allen Wernle, Kathleen Hemphil, Suzanne Martin, Bettie Ward, Susan Moeller Calaway, Suzanne French Smith, and many, many more.
Many of Bev's Students have gone and on to train, judge, teach and become veterinarians all over the world with many keeping in touch and showing gratitude for her influence in their lives.
More space was needed since having gained nation-wide fame with their training and showing program, plus the equitation school conducted, so the R.V. Mobley Stables part of Blue Ridge with some 250 pupils moved across San Pedro into a huge, sparkling new facility with large barns, indoor work rings, encompassing the entire corner of 281 and Bitters Road.
The Mobley Stable became known for being the horse hotel with many famous guests including Mexico's movie stars Antonio Aguilar and wife, Flor Sylvestre and their beautiful movie horses (Bev was instrumental in selling them a trick horse). Among others guests were the Budwieser Clydesdales, Peruvian Paso horses from Chili, and many more.
In 1971 the Mobleys moved again to property with a huge fishing lake near Loop 1604 and IH 35 and continued showing mostly American Saddlebred horses on the Southwest Circuit and other prominent out of state shows having many Champions, High-Point Circuit Awards and buying top horses including World Champions.
Bev's greatest love was the American Saddlebred horse but she would always love a good horse of ANY breed. She has been noted for carefully choosing a perfect horse for a particular student. Long before it became the norm, she outfitted her students in the choicest styles and coordinating and blending colors to enhance the horses for the perfect effect.
In 1981 Bev's grandmother became seriously ill and soon after her own mother's health began to fail with the on set of Alzheimer's requiring 24-hour care. Bev, daughter Tina and son-in-law Ron, provided and cared for her, extending her life 3 years beyond the doctors predictions. Although teaching on a daily basis was impossible, Bev never gave up teaching entirely. She said the beautiful American Saddlebreds Tina and Ron breed and raise were invaluable in putting a smile on her face on some of those dark days. She adored her daughter, Tina, a great horsewoman in her own right who also trains teaches and shows. And, she is very grateful for the longtime friends that "Hung in There" during sad times.
Beverly Mobley died suddenly June 4, 2000 at the age of 70. She was still teaching. She was a wonderful Mother, Grandmother, Best Friend, and Teacher. Leaving behind, her daughter Tina and her husband Ron and 4 grandchildren Robert, Steven, Frank, and Jacob and many dear life-long friends but especially Rosemary Neal and Marty Alan Wernle. Bev was a riding "Master" for over 50 years in San Antonio. She was devoted to instilling into her many hundreds of students the magical workings of the horse and the joy the horse could bring into their lives. She will always be greatly respected, loved and missed. There was a gathering of students, friends and family to tell stories and reflect upon how she had touched each of us; 7 P.M. Sunday, June 11th at the old Blue Ridge Stables, 1241 Blue Crest Lane, S. A. TX. Heaven open up your gates and let a true horsewoman ride through.
WARNING
UNDER TEXAS LAW (CHAPTER 87, CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE), AN EQUINE PROFESSIONAL IS NOT LIABLE FOR AN INJURY TO OR THE DEATH OF A PARTICIPANT IN EQUINE ACTIVITIES RESULTING FROM THE INHERENT RISKS OF EQUINE ACTIVITIES.