By Karen Lato-Jensen

Carol Bussey is the epitome of today’s woman. She is an active REMAX Realtor, specializing in Newtown, wife, mother and devoted grandmother. Yet, she finds time to include “horsewoman” to her already full life.

Carol and her very special horse, an American Quarter Horse officially pedigreed as Poco Bonanzas King, is lovingly known as Rusty. He and Carol have been a team for many years. Rusty is 28 years young; Carol and Rusty can be seen around town either in the Newtown Labor Day Parade, trail riding or on local hunter paces such as the Newtown Bridle Lands upcoming Frost on the Pumpkin.

Carol has always loved horses but was not able to have a horse of her own. As with most who can identify with that undeniable passion for these beautiful creatures, that love always finds a way to surface. For Carol, she would read The Newtown Bee Classified Ads as a child just to find a closeness to local horses.

When Carol was 13 she was given a horse for the Summer. This taste of reality only solidified deep within her that horse ownership was a dream to strive towards. When Carol turned 20, her father offered her a sum of money to purchase something special for herself; the obvious choice – a horse. She enjoyed her companion for four years, but alas, life was calling and many things would lie ahead.

For 23 years Carol became educated, worked extremely hard to build a successful career in real estate, married, became a dedicated mother and created, by all standards, a comfortable and satisfying life. As all who truly have the equine passions running deep within their souls, something was missing.

After her children had successfully graduated from college and the nest was naturally empty, it was time for Carol to put herself first and “fulfill” her dream. She picked up that old friend from the past, The Newtown Bee, and headed straight for the Horse classifieds. She looked at a few local horses but none had the spark or pulled her heart strings.

One day, she came across a mid-aged sorrel (brown) American Quarter Horse with flashy white markings. He was an old fashioned Quarter Horse who had obviously been in the hands of a good trainer at the beginning of his life. Although he was edgier than some horses, he was obviously a talented creature. This horse had get-up-and-go and you could do anything from his back. He was a sweet-tempered horse who simply needed a trusted partner.

Although Rusty was a little more forward than Carol should have purchased, it was instant love and Carol bought him on the spot.

Ever since that time, they have been partners. Rusty and Carol have done everything from camping, trail rides, team penning and hunter pacing just to name a few activities. Carol describes it as “fulfilling and living my dream.”

When asked, she advises, “If you love it you should go for it!” When asked why be committed to horse ownership, when it requires much time, money and dedication, she simply replied, “going to the barn is like being on vacation. I’ll always love it!”

There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. ~Winston Churchill

If you are a dedicated horse owner and live, work or play in Newtown and wish to share your story in Hoof Prints, please contact Karen Lato-Jensen c/o Kim Harmon at The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown, 06470.