Remembering Carol Harris – A Fearless Horsewoman

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68 – January/February, 2022

By Susan Winslow

On August 7, 2021, the horse world lost a vibrant member with the passing of Carol Harris at the age of 98. To say she used every single one of those years to the fullest would be an understatement. Harris was a fearless horsewoman who loved her family, friends, dogs, and horses. Harris transformed the Quarter Horse world with her famous stallion, Rugged Lark, and helped mentor and inspire countless horsemen through the years. She was passionate about breeding for quality in both her beloved Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, and the influence from Bo-Bett Farm in Reddick, Florida will be felt for generations.

Harris was born in New Jersey in 1928, and while growing up in West Orange, her parents indulged her love of animals. She had her first horses and dogs by the age of 10. Babe Ruth was a close childhood friend. They grew up in the same neighborhood, and because she wasn’t afraid to put worms on a hook, they became fishing buddies. Their friendship was a lasting one, and he even attended her wedding.

Harris attended the prestigious Westover School in New Jersey, an experience that instilled in her a belief in the importance of working hard and helping others. When she graduated from high school, her father gave her a cross-country trip as a gift, and it was on that trip that she fell in love with the American Quarter Horse. She prized the intelligence, strength, and versatility of the breed, and became interested in breeding. Harris married in 1945 and had three children–Wendy, Jeff, and Allison.