Gabriel Donoso died today from irreversible injuries in a polo accident. It is with great regret we post this news, but it was going to happen as he was in a irreversible state of brain damage from what we’ve been told. It was said he was playing too soon after an accident he had in the UK, but it was polo and who ever waits for the Doc’s ok? This man was a very social person for lack of a better word. Gabriel was fun and always full of life and never short of words. You never knew what he was really saying because it could always be another way, but he was always fun, fun, fun. Gabriel lived a good life. It was fast life filled with fast horses and beautiful women and sometimes the other way around. Gabriel was always moving forward. In these times I think of the person and something fun or funny I remembered about him. It was in Boca Raton, FL about 15 years ago at least and I had a horse. She was a chestnut mare named Smart alec. I think she should have been etched in my memory forever, but that’s what happens when you get hit too many times on your top end. Anyway, I bought this mare from a California dealer named Chava and should have known better. I rode her twice before getting knocked out for quite a while and not riding for 6 months afterwards. I had a lady named Diane working for me and she played a little and she played Smart alec the rest of the season in California and then in Oklahoma. W hen we first got to Florida and I was finally cleared to play, Smart alec bucked me off two or three times and everyone was mad at me. She was a great mare who was pretty and quick, but a bonafied bucker. Gabriel was in Boca Raton with Miss Muldoon and he wanted to ride her and play her. I told him she could really buck so he said fine as he did not care. Gabriel put some super bridle on her and was galloping everywhere on her and bragging . . . “see they just need to know the boss is.” He rode her over to see Miss Muldoon’s Father and proceeded to tell him how great he was and suddenly he was thrown over the car. Needless to say he never bought the mare. This mare suddenly was gone as I sold her to Hoss Inman a rodeo producer. Smart alec became bucking horse of the year. It was not just polo players who could not ride her. Guess what . . . when Smart alec was bucking horse of the year, that same year a lady rode her in a parade. It was simple, Smart alec just did not like men on her and they seldom were . We would as a POLO Community in California like to send our condolences to the family of Gabriel Donoso. We are thinking of them during this difficult time and we are sorry for their loss. I’m sorry Gabriel is no longer with us, but I know he is moving on. – Steve Crowder
Click here to post a message on Gabriel Donoso’s Virtual Memorial