OHJA 2011 Bylaws and Rules

OHJA 2010-2011 Bylaws and Rules

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2009 Father of the Year - John Whisler

Dear OHJA,

Looking out at our barn’s viewing area during my weekly Saturday lesson I see a row of moms chatting and laughing and there, yammering away with the best of them, is my dad. My dad, until recently, was never a horse person. He never rode as a kid and he never had some closet horse obsession. My dad became interested in horses when I did.

When I started riding at the age of 7 I don’t think my dad understood how serious it would eventually become. . He probably thought that this was the fulfillment of the Normal, little girl horse obsession. He probably thought it was a phase. How wrong he was. Yet once he realized that this was my passion, not something I would grow out of, he didn't complain about the cost or try to talk me out of it, but supported me 100%. He not only began to drive me to lessons and horse shows, but he began trying to learn everything he could about riding and horses. Soon after he was hooked. Now my dad can judge a flat class almost as well as my trainer and if I'm running late for a class, he knows exactly which piece of tack to grab from my trunk if I'm freaking out over the fact that I've forgotten my martingale.

My dad's interest in horses really intensified when we bought my horse Fashionably Late. Even though Felix has the tendency to pin his ears to whenever my dad comes within 10 feet, my dad keeps patiently trying to win his love. It is probably in thanks to my dad that my horse is so spoiled. When my dad picks me up from the barn he always makes sure that I save an apple slice for him to give to Felix. I really knew how much my dad loved my horse when I came out to the barn after being away at summer camp for 10 days and someone said to me, "You know that your dad was out here like twice by himself feeding your horse?" I wasn't surprised in the least.

When Felix was injured last year my dad was an unbelievable pillar of support. He was there for me when I was whining about how much I missed riding my own horse and how unfair the whole thing was. He was the one who kept encouraging me to go out to the barn week after week. My dad was always calling the vet and my trainer to see how Felix was doing and he even tried some of Felix's shockwave therapy himself. He read everything he could find on Felix's injury. My dad was the one who remained positive through the many disappointments and temper tantrums. He was the one who got me through it.

Most of the fathers of the girls I ride with drop them off at the barn occasionally and come to a few shows, but not my dad. He comes to every lesson he can and hardly ever misses a show. He is the one who holds two horses while we walk our medal course and makes sure that everyone has water. He is the one, who without fail, is standing at the side of the show ringwearing his dorky cowboy hat and videotaping my rounds. He is the one who waits around at the back gate to hear the class results and who loves my horse unconditionally. But most importantly, he is the one who is behind me 100% of the time. That is why I nominate my father, John Whisler, for Father of the Year.

Sincerely,
Emma Whisler