Get to know Amber...
Meet Amber Papp. She is representing the Indiana Quarter Horse Association. Get to know Amber in her interview below!
1.) Name and Association Representing:
Amber Papp. I am representing the Indiana Quarter Horse Association.
2.) Where are you from? Tell us a little about your hometown.
I have lived in 4 different states. I was born in Northern Michigan in a town called Iron Mountain, and moved to a small town in rural Iowa, Douds, when I was about a year and a half. This town consisted of approximately 200 people and a gas station. To do any shopping, we had to go about 30 minutes to the grocery store and about an hour to find clothes. I lived in this town until my sophomore year of high school, when we moved to the Davenport, Iowa area for a year, and then moved to Lorena, Texas just before my senior year of high school. My parents moved to Bloomington, Indiana in 2009, where I have lived ever since!
3.) Why did you choose to compete for the title of 2015 All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen?
I chose to compete for the title of 2015 All American Quarter Horse Congress Queen because I want to be a role model for current and future members of the American Quarter Horse Association. I am a firm believer that hard work pays off, and want to further enforce the message that even if you are not the wealthiest person with the nicest horse, you can still be very successful in the show pen, and/or through the other exciting AQHA programs that are offered. I did not get my first horse until I was 12 years old, and the first 11 years following that time, I spent a lot of time trail riding, roping, and showing in 4H and some small open shows. I did not become an AQHA show competitor until about 3 years ago when I met several IQHA members who took me around to various AQHA shows to watch and learn, and who helped me with the decision to purchase my current horse, Krymsun on Impulse. After being in training for a year (both him and I), we built my confidence up enough to begin trying AQHA shows, and I have not looked back. Even though I have only been a serious competitor for a short time, I have been going to The All American Quarter Horse Congress to watch every year for the last 6 years, since I have lived in Indiana, and have also been to the Tom Powers to watch. Going to the large events such as Congress and the Tom Powers are great places to learn about AQHA, trainers, techniques, and anything you could possibly want to learn about horses, as well as some amazing shopping! They are also places where people can begin to dream and see their dreams come true. Krymsun on Impulse and I competed at the 2014 Level 1 World Championship Show in Murfreesboro, TN, and placed 6th in the Rookie Western Pleasure and were finalists in the Rookie Showmanship and Rookie Horsemanship, which had only been a dream for us the year prior. We would not have even thought about competing at this level had the dream not been started the first year I went to watch at Congress 6 years ago. To be the First Lady of the Congress, to serve as an ambassador for the organization, and to share my story, would be a huge honor, and hopefully will help others realize that with hard work, their dreams can become reality.
4.) Are you currently in school? Employed?
I graduated from Purdue University in 2013, and have been working full-time at Hawthorne Direct since December 2012. I am a Media Strategist & Analyst, and was promoted to this position quicker than anyone else who has worked at the company.
5.) Favorite Horse Memory or Accomplishment?
My favorite horse memory is the day I got Chuck, which was May 25th, 2012. It was a bittersweet day, as getting Chuck meant getting rid of three other horses. That morning, my mom and I loaded up Trub-a-Dub, Dottie, and Wilbur in our grey bumper pull trailer and headed up to Brian Craig’s barn. When we arrived, I rode my three for Brian to evaluate, and then he pulled a couple of horses out for me to look at. The first horse was a gangly three year old bay gelding with a long, flowy mane called Cupid. He had an adorable little snip on the end of his nose. I watched him lunge and ride, and thought wow, this horse is really cute. I was in love, even though I did not admit it to myself quite yet. We went back into the barn after watching a couple more horses, and this bay was standing tied along the wall of the indoor arena, half asleep without a care in the world. I had a “moment” with the horses we brought up, went back over to the bay gelding, and realized that he was meant to be. Opportunities like this do not happen very often, and little did I know, this was the beginning to something amazing!
6.) Interesting Fact about yourself?
I was an accomplished flutist throughout my high school years.
