In Memory of Catherine Carter Bass (VA)

Carter riding Gossamer

Born March 3, 1952, in North Carolina. The daughter of Admiral Thomas Edward Bass and Sophia Redwood Bass. Carter’s childhood including many moves with the Navy including living in Newport Rhode Island, France, Hawaii, Virginia, and the state of Washington. Carter said she developed her sense of humor to make it easier to make friends quickly in new schools.

Carter was passionate about horses from an early age. She developed a keen interest in dressage and became a long-time student of Hilda Gurney. Breeding sport horses became a special focus, working closely with Chestnut Lawn Farm in Virginia and Hans Hofschroer. Her knowledge of Hanoverian and Oldenburg blood lines was an important resource for many breeders.

She had an incredible eye for both young horses and horses under saddle. Two horses she bought as yearlings would become champions at the Devon breed show. Those horses were Wendemere and Winsome.

She loved to compete and achieved her silver and gold USDF medals on Gossamer, a horse she bred, raised, and trained. 

Along with teaching and coaching, Carter moved up the judging ladder, earning a reputation as an S judge of being encouraging, positive, and fair. Scribes described her as fun, tireless, and insightful. She did volunteer work with the Virginia Dressage Association Charlottesville Chapter.

She loved animals and rescued many dogs and cats over the years.

She will be missed by her friends and family for her keen sense of humor, her perceptiveness, and her gift of story-telling that had us all holding our stomachs in laughter. She was a light.

To make a donation to The Dressage Foundation in memory of Carter, please click the button below and note "In Memory of Carter Bass" in the Special Designation box on the donation page. Donations will be used to support the education of dressage judges across the United States, ensuring that Carter's legacy lives on through the sport she loved.

Remembered by:

Sandra Aldrich
Michelle Anderson
Kathryn Bass
Christel Carlson
Diann Carpenter
Beth Colon
Chip and Lisa Cook
Drew Dawson
Jessie Ginsburg
Dolly Hannon
Bettina Longaker
Michael Marino
Deena McClain
Amy McElroy
Kitty and John Moynes
David and Renee O'Leary
John and Rebecca Penovich
Mary Phelps/Markel Equine Insurance with Mary Phelps, DressageDaily
Debbie Riehl-Rodriguez
Ann Robinson
Jennifer R. Roth
Kathy Rowse
Angela Littlefield Thorndike
Sandy Toby
Ann Warren
Bill Warren
Krystal Wilt
Virginia Dressage Association - Northern Virginia Chapter

Carter in Hawaii

Carter winning at Dressage at Devon

Carter with Helen George, Tigger Montague, and Susan Roblin, 2004

Carter and Gossamer