PG.26
AQHA FEATURE
The business was offered up to their
daughter, Annie, who took it on with great
enthusiasm. Annie wanted to continue with
the pop-up shop at the horse shows, but was
also keen to add her own stamp on things.
‘So, I headed down the hat road!’ Annie
says. ‘I was very eager to learn from the
best. Shorty’s Caboy Hattery, in Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma, USA, is, in my opinion, the
very best. Lavonna ‘Shorty’ Koger started
Shorty’s Caboy Hattery in 1990. Since then,
much to her credit, Shorty has built quite a
name for herself in the horse industry.
She and her team make quality hats, worn
by many who are well-known in the western
world, including horse show and rodeo
winners, and country music stars. Shorty’s hats are unique
and incredibly high quality. I really wanted to do something
similar here in Australia, so decided to write a letter to
Shorty’s Caboy Hattery to ask them if I could come and help
and work for free, to watch and learn.’
Annie was even more inspired when they agreed for her
to visit and learn the ropes, so once things were organised,
Annie booked the first available flight after the AQHA
Nationals. She was excited to head over to Oklahoma, and
after arriving home from Tamworth on the Sunday, Annie
packed her things, and headed off to the airport to fly out on
Monday morning.
‘I spent 3 weeks under the expert guidance of Shorty and
Bobby,’ Annie explains. ‘It was an uplifting, motivating and
exciting time. I was learning the hat business and creating
some great friendships that will last a life time. I learned so
much more than I ever expected to. Shaping and fitting a
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION - WWW.AQHA.COM.AU