Walking On Volume 3, Issue 4, April 2016 | Page 10

2016 American Youth Ho The Walking Horse Owners’ Association (WHOA) was proud to serve as a sponsor of and participate in this year’s Am Walking Horse Owners Youth Association (WHOYA) President Shelby Finch, WHOYA Reporter Olivia Hayes, WHOA Shelby, Olivia, and Ranger T. were kind enough to share their thoughts on their activities during the symposium. The American Youth Horse Council Symposium 2016 By Shelby Finch, WHOYA Presi dent experience that The American Youth Horse Council Symposium was an incredible it was better but I can’t even begin to explain. It was not exactly what I expected, nd girls running that way. I expected it to be this crazy, chaotic thing with a thousa at the very most. around, but it wasn’t! There were 150 kids and 100 or so adults s! I learne d all friend This allowe d me to get to know a lot of them and make new e. I learne d so kinds of things about just about every discipline you could imagin y. much and met so many amazing people from all over the countr and get to talk rides also One of my favorite things is when I find someone who days of getting to do to them about horses and share stories. The Symposium was 3 that. g to tell people Being the extroverted person that I am, I especially liked gettin Just Say WHOA about Ranger T. Walker and Just Say WHOA (and of course the of kids) and by the Song). We sang the song 3 times total (2 with the whole group We played Bingo end of the weekend, just about everyone there knew the song. etc.) and when the last night with horse relate d things (tack, breeds, associations, meant one thingthey called WHOA, I heard several people singing the song. That Just Say WHOA mission accomplished! We sang the song and told the message of it to their local bring to in such a way that allowe d them to remember it enough horse clubs and associations as well! , whether There were also several educational talks that could apply to anyone whether life, whole your riding you just starte d riding two weeks ago or have been en, betwe in ng you ride Walking Horses, Thoroughbre ds, Quarter Horses, or anythi me ideas of ways you could get something out of it. The talks that I went to gave activities that on” “hands as Such that I can teach younger people about horses. club and help 4H my require a horse and also some that don’t. I can take these to the thing brings those who are just getting starte d riding and help them to pursue be used in future them (and me) the most happiness- horses! These ideas can also WHOYA activities as well. gave me this Words cannot express how incredibly grateful I am that WHOA amazing opportunity. 10 • Walking On The Ame Council By Olivia Hay Whenever I thou always thought of t thought of all the o that were in Lexing Rehabilitation and t es from post-surger with aqua therapy a ments to help the h healthy lifestyle. Go really opened my ey being the typical ve enough to learn abo breeds such as the oughbreds, Saddlebr I’m most comfortabl ing Horse I feel tha in person will help m them in the long ru anyone who is intere AYHC meeting. If yo not only will you lea also make new frien get! Even though yo the same horse ridi have a burning desi knowing that someo much as you can cre a lifetime!