How It Feels to Be Named AQHA Professional Horsewoman of the Year!

By: Lainie DeBoer

Day 3-

I’m sorry for the delay in my last report, but the last two days were a whirlwind. The awards banquet started out with a bang in true Vegas style with an Elvis impersonator that gave a mini concert to all the AQHA members. I have to say it was AWESOME! Everyone was clapping along, and it was such a great kick off to a night of celebration. The All-Around award winners each stepped up to give their speeches and each one was so touching. You truly realize how much work it was to haul for these awards, and it was clear that each and every winner truly has a special bond with his or her horse.

Next was AQHA’s Most Valuable Professional, and many affiliates from around our nation brought forth some solid candidates. Leslie Lange from Greeley, CO won the overall award and it was well deserved. Leslie works tirelessly for the AQHA and her affiliate to better our association. I have had the pleasure of teaching a seminar with her, and she is so passionate about all things AQHA.

The 2015 Professional Horseman of the Year went to Larry Little from North Carolina. Larry has literally transformed the show business with his Little Futurity and he has injected fun and money into our shows. He was so thankful to his family, for all they do for him, and it was clear he was overwhelmed by this honor.

I was named the 2015 Professional Horsewoman of the Year, hence why my report is a bit tardy. It really hasn’t quite sunk in yet, and I’m so honored and humbled. This is a special award, because it comes from my peers. What many of you don’t know is that I didn’t grow up showing in the AQHA. I had strictly ridden AHSA/USEF, even though I did have a Quarter Horse pony hunter. I got a job as a professional with a Quarter Horse barn early in my career, and that’s when I entered into AQHA. It’s a tightknit group of people, more like a family, so I was really intimidated when I first started, because it was clear that I was a bit of an outsider. After my first couple of shows, I noticed how nice people were and how they embraced me. I’ve always felt a sense of connection with this organization and have made lifelong relationships with some of the best people a girl could ever know. I’m so grateful, and again humbled, by this recognition, and it’s my pleasure to serve the AQHA and our great horse. A special shout out to my family who is so supportive in all I do and are my biggest cheerleaders. They keep me grounded and balanced, and I love them all so much.

Sorry for the rambling, but I figure it’s my blog and I want to share with you all how much this means.

Now, moving on to committee meetings and a lovely Foundation Luncheon. If you ever get the chance to do anything with the AQHA Foundation, I urge you to reach out. They support so many great causes from scholarships to scientific research, and it’s such a great group of people to be around. Everyone is there for one reason only, the betterment of the American Quarter Horse.  I look forward every year to this luncheon, and I always shed a tear over a speaker or  a video they show, which shows the continued love for our horse.

The final day is always filled with committee reports, which I urge you to read. Although I won’t go into every one, I will say the convention was filled with passionate members who talked about some of the important issues brought forward.  The new clicker system to vote came in so handy and it kept the meeting on more of a parliamentarian path to success. Thank you Craig Huffines for running a clear cut meeting, that was to the T perfect, as far as protocol. I was very impressed with his demeanor, how he was in control at all times, and crystal clear about what we were voting on.

Last, but not least, Dr. Bloggett stepped down as President and Sandy Arledge of Encinitas, California took the reins, literally.  She is the first Professional Horseman to be President and the third woman. It doesn’t get any better than that! She laid out her goals and initiatives for the year and, again, what a breath of fresh air. Welfare is at the forefront again this year, and it is here to stay. She is going to see through the new stewards program and make sure of its success. For those of you who grumble about the new stewards program, please be patient. It’s a work in progress, but I have seen the outlook, and coming from a USEF viewpoint it’s excellent and will be highly effective. She has many things on her list, and I urge you to read about her and the whole Executive Committee. Also, the newest member Butch Wise from El Reno, Oklahoma, was introduced.

So, the 2015 Convention is a wrap, and I’m officially exhausted. I’m off to Switzerland to give a clinic to some super special AQHA members and will hopefully spread the word about all the excitement the AQHA shared under their new leadership. One of the coolest things they are working on is expanding the convention. It would include more seminars for the members coupled with a trade show. If the Professional Horseman Small Business Workshop , that was put on by Merial, is just a small taste of what’s to come, the convention could be huge! I got so much information in such a short period of time. I cannot imagine if there were multiple talks on a wide array of topics over a few days. If this comes to fruition, then we are in for a very large convention in San Antonio, TX in 2017. Stay tuned.

Thank you to The Equine Chronicle for asking me to blog. It’s always a pleasure to help you out, and I appreciate everything you do for our industry.

– Lainie DeBoer

Click on the links below to read other blogs from the 2016 AQHA Convention. If you’d like to write a blog for EquineChronicle.com, about your favorite topic in the horse industry, or report from a horse show, contact b.bevis@equinechronicle.com and we will help get you started! It’s a very unique opportunity to have your voice heard by our thousands upon thousands of loyal readers. 

Day 1-2 at 2016 AQHA Convention with Lainie DeBoer

En-Route to 2016 AQHA Convention with Candace Jussen