Brian Bausch was a modern-day cowboy. Seemingly having a sixth sense around horses, he was a renowned horse trainer and world champion rider who lived in San Tan Valley. Despite his elite ability on and around horses, Bausch will be remembered by those who knew him for his kindness and how giving he was of his time.
Bausch passed away in a car crash June 11 in Tucson as he was on his way to a rodeo. He was traveling down Interstate 10 when a car attempted to merge into his lane, sideswiping his truck, causing it to jackknife and detach from the horse trailer he was pulling. He leaves behind his wife, Paula, and four kids.
A horse trainer, trick rider, trick roper and an all-around showman on horseback, Bausch was loved in the Queen Creek community and spent a lot of time working and performing at the town's Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre. Trick riding is when the rider performs various stunts while on horseback, such as standing on the back of a moving horse. He had an undeniably special connection with horses and friends of Bausch said there wasn’t anything on a horse he couldn’t do.
Bausch was a multi-time world champion mounted shooter, which is where the rider must shoot targets while riding on horseback. He has trained horses for the movie industry in Hollywood as well as trained champion horses for competition. He even showcased his talents in an audition for "America’s Got Talent."
Locally, Bausch participated in rodeos and clinics, both showing off his ability for the enjoyment of others and taking time to teach people about riding. He and his wife were crowd favorites at the annual Roots N’ Boots rodeo in Queen Creek, conducting clinics and helping with the Special Kids Rodeo, which gives kids with special needs a unique chance to be around horses.
“He loved performing, you know, the trick roping and gun spinning and stuff like that he was good at it... and he used them all at once,” said Lyndall Whipps, a close friend of Bausch. “He would go to these corporate events, (they) would hire him as an entertainer and he just walked around all night with his trick ropes and these guns, spinning guns, having fun with the crowd, you know, just interacting with people and he loved being a showman.”
While Bausch had an extraordinary sense for horses, his sense for people is what left a lasting impact on those he met.
Friends of his said he was always giving of his time and could sense when someone around him needed something. He could often be seen riding around his neighborhood on horseback, saying hello and getting to know all his neighbors. On the day he passed away, Bausch was in Tucson because he heard about a Christian kids rodeo camp in the area and he asked if he could volunteer.
Whipps remembered a story where Bausch, similar to how he did with horses, sensed a need and went out of his way to help two young men he had met.
“A handful of us were roping and there were two young men, they were 10-12 years old, and they wanted more than anything to be cowboys... Brian picked up on this and instead of spending time roping - Brian loved to rope and was always pursuing getting better at it - Brian picked up on the needs of these two young men and was over there spending time with them, showing them how to ride, giving them rides on his horse and just being a servant and meeting these young men's needs. Looking back on it, I see Brian didn't know these people, but he picked up on the need.”
Locally, Bausch introduced countless people to horseback riding, some that now own horses themselves and ride regularly, Whipps said. Bausch often had a waiting list of people looking to get help with their horses, but despite his schedule, he always made time to help those around him.
“I think Brian had lots of good friends because he was such a good friend. But he certainly impacted a lot of lives. From a horsemanship perspective, but I think on top of that, and more importantly than that, he impacted them for Jesus and left a lasting legacy,” Whipps said.
Brian Bausch was a jaw-dropping horseman with skills beyond his years and an uncanny ability to connect with a horse. More importantly, he’ll be remembered for the way he cared about people and how he always went the extra mile for others.
