Lily, the horse that earlier this year was pelted 130 times at close range with a paintball gun, has died.

Lily at the animal sanctuary 

Last month, Lily was sent to a New Jersey farm animal sanctuary owned by TV personality Jon Stewart and his wife, Tracy. Lily died there Monday.

The animal sanctuary posted a statement on Lily’s death.

“It is with the deepest sadness that we share with you that dearest, sweetest Lily passed away yesterday. She went peacefully surrounded by so many that loved her. We stroked her hair and told her over and over again how loved and special she was. She was under her favorite tree on soft grass. She will live on in our hearts and in our fight to protect, love and cherish all animals.”

Lily was a 20-year-old Appaloosa/Arabian mix. That breed of horse typically lives to be 25 to 30 years old, according to Rose Nolen-Walston, senior clinician at New Bolton Center.

Earlier this year, Lily was found at the New Holland Auction stables, in pain after being hit by paintballs. “She was tied up in the sales barn and had welts underneath her skin,” said Kelly Smith, director of the Omega Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Airville at the time. “Never in 20 years of going to New Holland Auction have I ever saw anything like this.”

The horse was not registered for sale at New Holland Auction and had no identification when found.

But the horse, which was blind in one eye, was nursed back to help thanks to veterinarians at the New Bolton Center outside of Kennett Square. A team of specialists at New Bolton Center worked through the night to stabilize the horse, later named Lily after the Easter flower.

Coincidentally, the same day Lily was adopted by Stewart and his wife, Phillip Price Jr., 65, of Rhode Island was charged with transporting the equine to the horse sale. He was later convicted on counts of animal cruelty and handling animals without a license.

Tracey Stewart said she and Jon currently have 33 animals that are part of their sanctuary, and as far as farm animals go, they have many goats, many sheep, two pigs and three other horses. She said Lily would be an animal ambassador for the sanctuary, and people would be able to visit her.

At the time Lily was adopted, Stewart said Lily will be living the good life, she’ll get the best of care, and there will be no demands made of her. “From here on out, it’s going to be exactly what she wants,” she said.

Authorities have never found the person or persons who shot the horse with a paintball gun, despite a reward of more than $10,000.

The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club welcomes Olwen Busch of the Jacksonville Equestrian Center.

For equestrian Olwen Busch and her horse Filibuster, a dressage show last weekend held very special significance.

Busch competed in First Level to be officially inducted into The Dressage Foundation’s Century Club, which honors competing horses and riders whose combined age is at least 100 years old.

“Since I am 82 and Filibuster is 20, I figured we should do it now while we are both still sound! Busch said.

Florida Equestrian Society, which manages the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. Busch pursued the opening of hiking and riding trails at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center — trails that now stretch on for miles — and has been a generous donor and fundraiser for the Northeast Florida Equestrian Society.

In order to be inducted into the Century Club this past weekend, Busch performed a dressage test before a rated judge. She was rewarded with a ribbon from The Dressage Foundation, and a trophy is to come.

Despite masterfully completing her test (even with Filibuster spooking at a dog that took interest in the pair), the show ring has never been Busch’s favorite place to be. She began riding bareback across deserts in Idaho and Arizona at the age of five, and, throughout the next 77 years, she has ridden throughout the world in disciplines such as hunt seat, cross-country, saddle seat, reining, and dressage. Busch’s experiences on horseback have included international horse safaris with her husband, training sport horses, and riding a stag hunt with the Kermaingant Hunt Club in Normandy, France just five years ago.

Today, Busch enjoys dressage and trail riding with Filibuster.

“The real thrill I have always gotten from riding has nothing to do with competitions won or lost, but with the joy of still being able to handle a horse, keep a tight seat on a lively horse, work the horse in new ways, and explore new country (and new cultures) from horseback,” Busch said.

Busch and Filibuster have proven to be a strong team together.

“As a result of our many different shared experiences, I feel a camaraderie with Filibuster that I never felt with the veteran show horses I rode growing up,” she explained.

For Busch and Filibuster, it was love at first sight. “In 2002, I heard about a lively gray Arab/Hackney gelding that was for sale,” she recalled. Although Busch was advised to watch the gelding’s performance videos before actually seeing him, she insisted on meeting him in person first.

“One moment with him in his stall did it,” said Busch. “I dutifully watched the videos afterward, but they had nothing to do with my decision to buy him.”

Since then, the pair has enjoyed many memories together, and now will be forever listed in The Century Club’s rankings as well.

Now, Busch plans to spend her summer working with her five-year-old Akhal-Teke mare Gulkana. “Filibuster will be Gulkana’s trail companion this summer, and I hope to start showing her myself in dressage. After all, if I can survive the Century Ride class, maybe I am ready to start showing again. One is never too old to have new goals. May the bucket (list) never run dry!” smiled Busch.

And of course, she plans to continue enjoying rides on Filibuster throughout the summer and the years ahead. Busch said, “May we gracefully grow old together, helping each other stay fit, alert, and always curious about what lies beyond the next bend in the trail.”