In Memoriam: Ellen DiBella

The AMHA is mourning the passing of one of our legendary members, Ellen DiBella, of Parker, Colorado. Ellen passed away the evening of August 20, 2023. A decades-long member and dear friend, Ellen owned, enjoyed, and showed numerous talented Morgans. She strived for every horse to be both valued and cherished. Ellen spent a lifetime supporting the Morgan industry via her countless volunteer roles including (but certainly not limited to) AMHECT Board of Trustee, AMHA Board of Director, USEF Board of Director, USEF Rules Committee Member, Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show® Committee Member and other countless subcommittees. Her passion for Western Dressage drove her to fulfill a lifetime dream; she was the founding President and Director Emeritus of the Western Dressage Association of America. The Ellen DiBella Western Dressage Scholarship was created by AMHECT to honor her years of service to all things Morgan and especially her support and creation of the WDAA. Ellen received many special honors which included the AMHA Person of the Year in 1999, the AMHA Dr. Albert Lucine Promoter Award in 2015, and the USEF Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, amongst others. 

A formal remembrance of Ellen will be published in an upcoming issue of The Morgan Horse magazine. No service arrangements are available at this time. Rest easy, Ellen, and know that you are already deeply missed by your Morgan family.