The true value of showing and owning a horse was engraved into my mind and heart during my childhood years on a small, family owned farm in Grafton, Ohio. Day after day, my mother and father continuously train horses while maintaining full time jobs, which is an inspirational lifestyle that I have grown through and been inspired by my whole life. I take great pride in knowing that all that all our successes are from the self-discipline each one of us possess that spark our determination and efforts. From the moment I was born, at a horse show I might add, my days were spent in the saddle. As an infant, my mom and dad would pass me back and forth from horse to horse as I sat in front of whomever was not showing in the next class. When I was four years old, I received a Shetland pony, my very first, whose name was “Pretty.” We spent all day riding, but when I was not in the saddle, she would stand tied to the horse trailer on a lounge line, eating grass all day, or she would patiently wait in her corner of the tack room, not touching a thing.
As I grew too big for my childhood pony, my parents gave me the second-best gift I could have ever received, a Haflinger pony named Buster. Patience, hard work, and gratitude were just a few of the countless values Buster taught me. He and I spent hours working together and competing at 4H shows, where our dedication was rewarded with multiple Grand and Reserve Champions. Even though I began my career on the Quarter Horse Circuit after my successes with Buster, I continued to show 4H and the fair because it was the beloved place that held life long memories and never-ending laughter.
My parents’ lifestyle in the Quarter Horse industry was and still is something I love because they breed horses, but it does have the downfall of having to say goodbye to the horses who leave us. The most heart wrenching departure was letting go of a 4-year-old gelding named “Ain’t Life Sweet,” commonly called Dudley. Dudley was born, raised, and trained on our farm by my parents, but they had made the decision to sell him because he was too much horse for a little 12-year-old girl to handle. As we began a search 5 years later for an over fences horse, we stumbled across Dudley, so, naturally, we bought him back. I truly believe that what is meant to be will always find a way, and that is precisely what happened with the partnership of me and Dudley. Throughout our journey, Dudley and I had the honor of winning titles that include Reserve World Champion, Reserve Congress Champion, and multiple World and Congress top 10 awards as well. It is so humbling to work with a horse that was bred, raised, and trained by three amateurs who love the horse more than the accomplishments.
Aside from always being at horse shows and participating in equine related activities, education is also a key component of my life. I graduated in May of 2018 with an Associate of Applied Science and a Degree in Veterinary Technology, and I strive to work in a research facility to uncover lifesaving treatments for both humans and animals. I plan to continue my career in research until I am of age to become an AQHA judge.
My Year as Ohio Quarter Horse Queen has really opened my eyes to the opportunities that both OQHA and AQHA can provide. One very important lesson that I would like to leave for future generations of young ladies as well as Ohio Queens to follow is that, we are more than just pretty faces: we all have the capability and resources to inspire and promote the concept to all equestrians that they all will succeed, they all will be rewarded, and they all will have us to support them. These ideas, these values that are rooted in my lifestyle from the day I was born, are something I plan to continue if I am given the honor of earning the prestigious title as the All-American Quarter Horse Congress Queen.