In Memoriam: Brian Bausch • January 30, 1974 to June 11, 2022
By Rita Thompson-Tinsley
One of the hardest things we have to do in life is to say goodbye to someone who has meant so much to so many.
On his seventh birthday, Brian Bausch ran ecstatically to the kitchen of his family‘s rural Kansas farmhouse to see what his birthday present would be. From a very young age, Brian would mimic his western heroes, such as Roy Rogers and the Lone Ranger, while riding his imaginary great steed in stick form. To his grand surprise, he was instructed to look out the tall kitchen window and there, waiting in the yard, was his prize, the horse named Hobbie.
Learning to ride Hobbie just wasn‘t enough for Brian. Learning to leap into the saddle while the horse was running at full speed was more up to Brian‘s speed. Much of these efforts were done thanks to his older sister Jenny‘s assistance who sensed a star in the making. By eight, he was learning to start horses under saddle, spin a rope, and do trick riding.
After his high school years, Brian attended classes at Kansas State University. Aside from his equestrian strengths, Brian also loved music and mastered both the saxophone and guitar.
In the mid-90s, Brian was hired to work at the Double JJ Ranch in Rothbury, Michigan. His great work ethic paid off as he eventually became head wrangler. All the while, Brian continued to develop his horsemanship skills, training both horses and riders while adding horseshoeing along with performing to his resume. Brian was becoming the quintessential horseman, developing his own unique style with methods that would prove to be valuable.
In 2003, Brian met Paula Jean Swanson at a Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition in Madison. Two years later, the pair was married.
Paula, a barrel racing national champion, had a proven record in the horse-training arena, so the two became perfect partners in Beyond Riding, their path to training for excellence. Together, they watched proudly as their two young performing horses flew off with the cast of Cavalia, an international equine theatrical production on tour. Next stop was the Middle East in 2009, where the two talented trainers worked with Arabian stallions.
Though he was an amazing trainer, Brian‘s true love was performing. He not only mastered the art of trick riding, trick roping, and gun spinning, but managed to thrill audiences with his natural charm and charisma. His energy, athleticism, and keen sensitivity to the horse entertained audiences all over.
Brian and his black stallion, Rustler, were quite a team, and the first horse act ever to appear on America‘s Got Talent.
Looking back, Brian won countless awards and belt buckles riding Rustler, including his first World Mounted Shooting title. Rustler was a 7-year old, never-under-saddle breeding stallion on his way to auction when Brian made the owner an offer.
According to Paula, “I honestly don‘t know how many buckles in Mounted Shooting that horse won, but it was a lot. He was a faithful lesson horse for beginners all throughout his career. Super gentle.”
Rustler passed away at the age of 27 in October 2021. Though Brian had a half dozen stellar trick riding horses over the years, Rustler will be remembered as the one that stole our hearts. When he and Ruster were in the center ring, I wanted to be in the front row.
Brian, I will remember always as a gentleman cowboy, an extraordinary teacher and trainer, and an exciting performer. He was more than the business of Beyond Riding. He was beyond dynamic.
Brian is truly beloved in the equestrian community, and in his church community where he was able to touch many others through his own Christian heart. His church life and family meant the world to him: his wife Paula; Abram, 13; Hannah, 12; Elizabeth, 5; and the new baby girl who was welcomed to the world on August 15th as Briane Lee, already so loved.
“Brian‘s life and home were filled with love,“ says friend and family photographer, Joyce Tanner, who spent time with them. “I will always remember our photo sessions. Watching him work, always patient and soft. An amazing horseman.”
Brian Bausch touched the lives of all who were fortunate to know him. He was a man of great integrity, gentleness and grace, that he revealed every day of his life.
