ACTHA Monthly July 2015 | Page 5

Dr. Susan Wingo

The 2014-15 ACTHA riding season was a frenzy of activity and I LOVED every minute of it! My typical weekend ACTHA adventure began like this; after finishing up my physician duties in the Emergency Room in Louisiana, I'd jump into my truck heading home, call my husband at our farm to get him and our boys to begin readying the horse trailer. At home I would throw on boots and jeans, load Cat, then hugs and kisses bye and on the road!

Seeing and riding new places was fun and an opportunity ACTHA provided for me in a safe and comfortable environment. I attended rides in TN., FL., AR., MO., OK., as well as TX. Many with great ACTHA friends along to make the trips a 'mini vacation'!

Upon reflection, it is the encouragement and support that kept me competing at a level I had never attempted before. My deepest thanks to my husband, Jody, who cared for our home, kids, and critters, Camron, my oldest son, who has become quite the chef, my son Dustin who has always been willing to help out, to my Mom, head Cheerleader and the one always able to coordinate an outfit with a saddle pad, and to my friends for opening their barns and homes to make trips easier.

I appreciate my long time friend and hauling partner, two time ACTHA National Champion, Kathie Norman, for planting the seed that I could be competitive in ACTHA and for being my role model of how a competitor should be. I owe my brother gratitude for raising Cat Bar Bobby, an outstanding AQHA mare that has always given her all.

The fifteen years Cat and I have been a team showed on those tough, challenging obstacles, taking us ultimately to be First in the ACTHA Pleasure National Ranking.

1st Place Pleasure National 2014-2015

Dr. Susan Wingo and Cat Bar Bobby

AQHA mare

Karnack, Texas

Photo by Aponi

NationaL Pleasure Champion