OHJA 2011 Bylaws and Rules

OHJA 2010-2011 Bylaws and Rules

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2009 Mother of the Year - Cynthia Morgan

Dear OHJA,

Throughout my many years of riding my mother has supported me more than anyone else and has devoted a huge amount of time to my riding career. She has spent hours on the show grounds watching me ride, hours going over every detail of my lessons on the way home, and a good amount of time convincing my dad that it was a complete and utter necessity for me to go to that one extra horse show. No matter how much time her and I have spent talking about horses or how much time she has watched me ride, she has never ceased to enjoy every moment. When other moms would be ecstatic after their daughter passed their drivers test, my mother, on the other hand, lamented for weeks after I got my license because she knew that she would no longer take me out to the barn. But even though she no longer escorted me to the barn, she still found a way to join me in my riding journey. Whether it has been in my lessons or in the few minutes before I trot into the show ring, she has pushed me harder and believed in me more than anyone else. When she is watching my lessons, I am often bombarded with kind reminders to pull my shoulders back or push my heels down as I pass the viewing area, and although at times unwelcome, her words have shown me the value of perseverance and hard work. My mother has taught me that if I want to succeed, I am the only person who can make it happen. Even more so, she has taught me to be strong and confident even in times when my faith in my riding ability has not been at its highest. Her support has shaped the rider and the person I am, and has no doubt contributed to each riding success I have had.

However, her support was more evident than ever during this past fall season. Since February, my horse had been trapped in her stall because of a mysterious ailment that prevented her from being ridden or exercised. Each vet we consulted had a different reason as to why my perfect horse was suddenly losing massive amounts of weight and did not want to even trot on the lunge line, but none were able to pinpoint the cause of her pain. We spent countless hours devoted to her recovery, but nothing seemed to work. The successful career we had planned with my horse suddenly evaporated in front of our eyes. As her time off closed in on nine months, my mother informed me that we would have to make some tough decisions in that next couple of weeks. As the dismal results came back from her final body scan, it was time to make the difficult choice we had all been dreading. We would have to put her down. I heard the news, and was completely distraught. I could not believe that my beautiful, perfect and beloved horse, who I had built an iron-strong bond with, would no longer be in my life. I could not imagine never walking by her stall again and not seeing her head stretched out and tilted to the side, begging for a kiss. It seemed to be only a bad dream. However, the one person who completely understood my pain was my mother. She was there to talk to me when no one else understood the horrible situation I was going through, and there to experience it with me. Without her support in my greatest time of need, I have no idea what I would have done. She had taught me in the past to always be strong, even when I feel weak, and this time was no exception. We faced the circumstances with the most strength we could muster, and together, as always, began to heal and start the next chapter in my riding career. She stood by me, and stayed by my side throughout the entire situation.

Whether it was a time when my shoulders weren’t pulled back enough or a time when I needed her support the most, my mother has always been there. Never has there been a time when I yearned for her support or wished she had more interest in my sport, and I know there will never be. My mother has always been my biggest supporter and always will be, in riding, and in every endeavor I take on. This past November, in a time when her encouragement meant the most to me, I realized why I have been able to overcome the challenges I have faced in riding, and in life: I have my wonderful mom standing by me and teaching me the most important values to succeed and persevere. This is why I am nominating my mother, Cynthia Morgan, for the 2009 Mother of the Year Award.

Sincerely,

Olivia Morgan