Celebrating Everyday Superheroes at the 2013 AQHYA World Show
Be Somebody’s Superhero!
The theme for the 2013 AQHYA World Show encourages youth competitors to celebrate individuals who have persevered in the face of extreme adversity, those who leap over incredible obstacles in a single bound. Team Australia’s stall banner probably says it best with a quote from the late Superman and equestrian, Christopher Reeve.
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” -Christopher Reeve, actor and equestrian
Some teams chose to take a literal approach to this year’s theme by decorating their stalls with comic book-style graphics, a replica of Superman’s famous telephone booth, and quotes from beloved superheroes like Spiderman, Captain America, and Wonder Woman. Others embraced the idea of honoring everyday superheroes like members of the U.S. Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard.
Team California’s decorations served as a memorial to all members of the armed services with patches and insignias honoring those in the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Youth belonging to the Tennessee affiliate adorned their stalls with an oversize photo collage that featured images of helicopters, tanks, fighter jets, and battleships. Team Florida camouflaged their stalls with palmetto fronds, army helmets, and news clippings honoring members of the community like those in the Peace Corp, EMTs, foster parents, teachers, and paramedics.
Team Nebraska chose to support the Team Jack Foundation, a national non-profit that is making strides in the fight against pediatric brain cancer, by supporting 6-year-old patient Jack Hoffman from Atkinson, Nebraska. Team Arizona created a loving memorial to honor the 19 firefighters who lost their lives in a blaze in Yarnell, AZ on June 30th.
During a Youth World Team brainstorm session, AzQHYA members came up with the idea of celebrating the lives of those who so bravely lost their own while safeguarding the community. AzQHYA President Gabriella Salamone spearheaded the idea and fellow team member, Taylor Searles, created posters with the photos of each firefighter.
“We were working on a theme of firefighters, police, and military when we lost the 19 men on the Hot Shot team in Yarnell, AZ.,” Salamone says. “When you see their pictures, you realize the tremendous sacrifice they made to protect us. Many people have stopped by the stall curtains to see their pictures, talk with us, and mourn. We wanted to honor them as real life superheroes.”
Team Oklahoma looked to the Heartland for their heroes and came up with a very creative way of showing the hero in all of us. Life-size cutouts of nurses, firefighters, and policemen stood in front of the team’s stalls with reflective mirrors placed on the figures’ faces. Those passing by can pose in front of the figures and see their own reflection in everyday heroes in the local community.
We couldn’t conclude a piece about superheroes without asking a few youth exhibitors to tell us about their favorite TV superheroes and the superpower they’ve always wanted to have.”
Trent Searles- “My favorite superhero is Captain America. If I had a choice to pick my favorite superpower it would be shape shifting, because you can turn into anything that you want and nobody would know.”
Taylor Searles– “My favorite superhero is Captain America. If I had any super power I would like to be able to read minds, so I could read the judges’ minds.”
Joshua Briggs– “My favorite superhero is Thor. If I could have a superpower it would be to fly, so I could get to horse shows on time.”
Claire McDowall– “My favorite superhero is Wonder Woman. I wish my superpower would be to be a horse whisperer, because I love horses.”
Kili Crawford– “My favorite superhero is Captain America. If I could have any superpower it would be to change into animals. There are so many different things you could do. You could fly, you could swim, and you could run fast.”
Keaton Crawford– “My favorite superhero is Wonder Woman, and I would like to teleport if I got a superpower.”
Jamie Cook- “My favorite superhero is Superman, and I’d like to be invisible.”
Cori Cansdale- “My favorite superhero is Iron Man. If I had any superpower I would fly because then you wouldn’t have to go on a plane and you could just fly to Oklahoma for the World Show.”
Tate Briggs– “My favorite superhero is Iron Man, and if I could have any superpower it would be to fly, because then I could go anywhere I want.”
Clay Arrington– “My favorite superhero is Spiderman. If I could have any superhero power it would be to fly so I could get to shows a lot faster.”
Clay McDowall- “My favorite superhero is Superman, and if I could have any power it would be to talk to horses, so I could tell them what to do.”
Click here to watch our superhero video montage on the Equine Chronicle Facebook page.
