Sandy Bilyeu’s lifelong love of horses lives on through a gift to Mizzou’s Veterinary Health Center, where a renovated stall will provide critical care for newborn foals and their mothers.
Sandy Bilyeu, pictured atop her heart horse Cat Balu, was one of the first women accepted into Mizzou’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Though she ultimately did not attend due to expectations at the time, she became a research microbiologist and her love for animals never wavered.
Published 4/21/25
Story contact: Deidra Ashley, CVMMarCom@missouri.edu
Photos courtesy Frank Bilyeu
Sandy Bilyeu (1941-2024) was happiest atop the back of Cat Balu, her beloved Paso Fino horse whom she had for nearly 30 years. The world felt right when she was in the saddle — the rhythm of his gait in sync with her heartbeat. Through rolling rivers, along winding trails and beneath starlit skies, the pair traveled together more than 25,000 miles in their time together. To Bilyeu, Cat was more than a horse; he was her best friend.
“She absolutely worshipped that horse,” Frank Bilyeu said. “I’ve never seen someone trust a creature so much. And Cat took care of her, just like she took care of him. They were a perfect pair.”
Finding her heart horse
Frank and Sandy Bilyeu’s love for horses shaped the fabric of their lives. On their wedding day, Frank surprised Sandy with a horse — a quirky one fondly named Wiggle Butt due to the distinctive motion of his hindquarters. Over the years, their herd grew, and the Bilyeus became a fixture in the local horse community, participating in shows and sharing their love for the Paso Fino breed.
But Sandy had always dreamed of finding the horse — the one who would be her perfect match. That search led them to Chesterfield, Missouri.
“There were five young studs out there in the field,” Frank said. “Without hesitation, she chose Cat, and that was that.”
The Bilyeus drove to the nearest bank, borrowed the money and brought Cat home to their farm in New Melle, Missouri. From that moment on, Cat was Sandy’s, a bond sealed not just with reins and ribbons but with unwavering devotion.
A life built on teamwork
Although Cat became a gelding and never had offspring, the Bilyeus welcomed 19 foals to their farm through the years, carefully breeding and raising young horses that carried on their love for the Paso Fino breed.
Raising foals is no small feat — it requires patience, skill and an unwavering commitment to both the newborns and their mothers. Frank and Sandy worked in perfect harmony, splitting responsibilities around the clock: Frank took the day shift for deliveries and foal watching, while Sandy cared for the babies through the night. Married for 58 years, the Bilyeus were never apart for more than two weeks.
Their dedication paid off. In all their years of foaling, they only lost two — a remarkable testament to their care and devotion. Every birth was a triumph, every wobbly first step a moment of pure joy. Sandy especially loved watching the foals grow, their playful energy filling the farm with life.
Honoring a promise
In September 2024, Sandy passed away — leaving behind a lifetime of memories, a beloved herd, and a grieving partner. One of her final wishes was to support the care of newborn foals and their mothers at Mizzou’s Veterinary Health Center (VHC). Now, her husband, Frank, is honoring that wish in a powerful way.
Through a meaningful gift, Frank is helping the VHC establish a specialized intensive care unit stall designed to meet the complex needs of foals and their mares — a lasting tribute to Sandy’s passion for horses and science.
“For years, the VHC has been growing our access to care for mares and foals across Missouri — especially in urgent, high-risk situations,” said Lynn Martin, DVM, MPH, DACVIM, an equine internal medicine specialist at the VHC. “This gift allows us to expand our capacity for care. And what makes it so special is that it’s not just functional, it’s deeply personal. Sandy was a scientist and a devoted horsewoman. This stall perfectly honors both sides of who she was and what she loved.”
For Frank, this donation is more than an act of generosity — it is a love letter to Sandy.
“Sandy’s happiest moments were on the back of a horse,” Frank Bilyeu said. “She dedicated her life to caring for them, and now, even though she’s gone, she’s still taking care of them. Every foal that steps into that stall is going to carry a piece of her legacy.”
The stall renovation project is currently in progress, with more details to come.