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Message 2024 SPECIAL AWARDS NOMINATIONS & FINAL AWARD WINNERS
SENIOR SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD (1)LYNN OLSON BY SHELLEY CAMPFGood sportsmanship can be stated in several ways. Cambridge University denes it as the quality of “showing fairness, respect, and generosity toward the opposition and for the sport itself when competing.” This person had a life-changing accident in May of this past year, resulting in her not being able to ride and even worse, being in a neck collar for several months. She couldn’t drive and had to rely on others to get her around. Most people would have stayed at home and felt sorry for themselves, but not my nominee. As soon as she was out of the hospital, she came around to watch the horses and cheer everyone on. At the Team NW shows, she volunteered to run the Awards Shed, without being asked, and made sure all those pony kids got what they wanted. She never complained, she always smiled, and she rooted for every exhibitor from ev-ery barn. It is easy when things are going well, and riders are winning. It is those hard days when things get tough. This nominee always manages to be there to give support when people need it as well as graciously applaud the winners for their achievements. What’s best is that she is always like this, it was only more obvi-ous this year when she was hurt and sidelined. That is why I nominate, Lynn Olson, for the 2024 OHJA Senior Sportsmanship Award.SENIOR SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNERSUSANNE FERNALD BY SAMANTHA RAYIt is with great admiration that I nominate Susanne Fernald for the 2024 OHJA Senior Sportsmanship Award. Susanne is the epitome of sportsmanship in every sense of the word. She has demonstrated, time and again, what it means to compete with integrity, dedication, and respect—both for the sport and the people within it.As a rider, Susanne is a erce competitor who trains tirelessly, both in and out of the barn, to bring out the best in her horses. Her commitment to excellence in both hunters and jumpers is evident in her impressive n-ishes, but what truly sets her apart is how she handles success with humility and grace. Whether she is winning or facing challenges, Susanne’s unwavering focus on her horses’ well-being, paired with her resilience under pressure, makes her a role model for riders of all ages.Beyond her competitive success, Susanne’s sportsmanship shines through in her interactions with others, particularly with the younger riders in her circle. She is always the rst to lend a hand, offer words of encouragement, or provide guidance to those who need it. Susanne is a mentor to many, offering invaluable reminders that growth in our sport is a marathon, not a sprint. Her ability to connect with and inspire the next generation of riders speaks volumes about her character and the way she embodies the true spirit of sportsmanship.Whether navigating the highs of championship wins or the challenges of recovering from injury—whether of herself or her horse—Susanne does so with positivity, dedication, and humor. She leads by example, showing that true sportsmanship isn’t just about winning, but about how we handle the highs and lows of the sport with grace and respect for our horses and our fellow riders.Susanne Fernald is a true ambassador of sportsmanship, and it is an honor to nominate her for the OHJA Senior Sportsmanship Award.2024 JUNIOR SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNERELLA DELGADO BY HAZEL HAMILTONI would like to nominate Ella Delgado for the Junior Sportsmanship Award. Here is my nomination:When I rst met Ella as a young 12-year-old pony rider, I immediately noticed her incredible maturity, poise, kindness, and work ethic. Unlike many of the other kids her age, you wouldn’t catch her complaining or speak-ing a single negative word. This is something I still see today after 5 years of competing together.This year has been no easy feat for Ella. With an early birthday making this her last junior year, the pressure
was on, and she responded. Ella did anything and everything in her power to enhance her riding and horse-manship skills throughout the year. Showing up before the sun came up and leaving long after dark. Working without her irons, riding other horses, and taking whatever opportunity was presented to her. All eyes were on Indoors for the fall, and by early summer, it was looking like it would be a successful and competitive trip Back East.In a terrifying turn of events, Ella’s equitation mount, her heart horse who she has had for 5 years, colicked and was forced into emergency surgery to save his life. I was with her the night it happened, and I was truly im-pressed by her reaction. She spent most of the day with him at the hospital, just standing with him and provid-ing him company. When offered sympathy about the unfortunate end to her last year in the big eq, Ella quickly responded by saying she was just glad her horse was okay, and that showing didn’t matter at that point, and I know she truly meant that. Even under all of this stress and disappointment, Ella showed up to the barn to ride her other horse and work hard without a single complaint. Watching Ella grow up, I’ve always been impressed with her tenacity, grit, and ability to nd a positive thing to say about her fellow competitors. She’s the rst one to get back on after a fall or offer congratulations to another rider who nished ahead of her. Ella embodies hard work and high standards for herself, and manages to balance this with an incredibly caring and empathetic approach with both her horses and other riders. It’s almost impossible to catch her complaining about anything.To this day, I’ve never met anyone with a work ethic and attitude like Ella. She truly embodies sportsmanship in all of its forms. She is gracious, win or lose, success or disappointment, and her care for her horses and their wellbeing is always paramount to any goals she has for her riding. JUNIOR SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD (2)MADDI FALLON BY EMMA DRAKEFor the Junior sportsmanship nomination I would like to nominate Maddi Fallon. Maddi is a great rider. But be-sides from that win or lose Maddi always comes out of that ring with a smile on her face and congratulates the other rides. She always puts the horse rst and overall has amazing sportsmanship. I hope you consider her for the junior sportsmanship award.JUNIOR SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD (3)GRACE BRENNEKE BY RILEY CONANTI would like to nominate Grace Brenneke, she is my best friend and I am so lucky to have her as a barn friend. She is always so supportive and is kind. She always comes and watches my shows. I love that we both are on ponies and I am so happy that she just got her rst 2’6 rated pony! I can’t wait to see where she goes with him. I think she would appreciate this so much and I would appreciate this so much too. She denitely deserves this.JUNIOR SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD (4)READE CONANT BY RILEY CONANTI would like to nominate Reade Conant. She is such a good rider and she is the best sister ever! I think she de-serves this. She brings me my stuff to the show ring and helps me at the barn on lessons. She has had a rough year with her horse getting hurt, and not knowing what happened to him. They are nally getting back. She denitely deserves this because she is so tough. She pushed through this year like it was nothing. I hope she gets this. Thank you.
FATHER OF THE YEAR AWARD (1)SCOTT PALMER BY PAYTON COFFLANDI would like to nominate my dad, Scott Palmer for the father of the year award. He supports my rid-ing and career in every way he can, attends every horse show, helps with set up and grooming, and is always at the back gate with a high ve after my round.FATHER OF THE YEAR AWARD (2)DREW CONANT BY RILEY CONANTFather of the year, I would like to nominate Drew Conant, he brings me joy and so much support in my years of riding. He takes days off of work to come and support us all around the U.S. I would love for him to get this. He loves all of my ponies and brings treats to all of them. I think this is such a good way to thank him for the support over the years. FATHER OF THE YEAR AWARD (3)WILL DELAGADO BY ELLA DELAGADOMy father, Will Delgado, deserves the award for Father of the Year and should’ve been nominated for the previous ten, but I will make up for lost time now. In a world of supportive parents, mine are the ones who form the foundation of each one of my goals. My parents went into this sport without a clue and supported me anyway. I’ve been riding for ten years now, and there has never been a time where the goal I was chasing was too big, too challenging to accomplish, or too far away. My parents entered the sport utterly blind to the hunter/jumper world and its many costs, but they have supported me and my passions regardless. They made sure this was what I wanted and, from there, supported me and gave me every opportunity they could. My parents chose the barn well and always ensured I enjoyed the lessons and my excellent trainers. I feel so lucky they started me at a barn that goes from lessons to A shows. When it came time for me to get my own pony and later get many other horses, they always put safety rst and then looked for ability. From the rst pony to pack me around the short stirrup to the latest jumper with the scope to jump a 1.45 track, my parents wanted me to have the tools of success and the partnership to go with it. In addition to supporting the sport and horsemanship, my parents supported my education alongside riding. They saw a pas-sion for both and made them happen, even though it meant transferring to an online school for my high school education and spending more time away from them.Over the years, my father has supported the horsemanship aspect far more than he realized. Coming from a guy with no idea what a martingale or girth was, he was eager to learn with me. My dad applied all his knowledge and passion for other sports, like his true love of baseball, to riding. He taught me to shine boots and oil tack and be proud of it. As the years passed, he also fell in love with the horses. My dad supported my ambitions through every horse I was privileged enough to ride. From the short stirrup on Sophie, nationals on Bentley, the lower-level jumpers on Eli, the children’s hunters on Lady, the equitation/derbies on Zach, the 1.10 with Aideen, my rst 1.30 GP with Pepsi, the jumpers with Amber, and this year purchasing Gigolo to continue my career- my dad has undoubtedly given me the horses I needed. My dad is beyond supportive, not just because of the capital he traded for my gloried “big pets that jump sticks.” No matter how the partnerships worked out or if I changed my mind, he allowed me to nd what I enjoyed in this sport and taught me how important it is to do right by each horse. My dad’s involvement in the sport I loved didn’t end with my horses either. He wanted to be involved in the sport so much that he bought his own horses, created an LLC to house them under, and began giving them to me and my trainers to sell. Beyond horses, my dad has supported me and the organizations that allowed me to show. I’m lucky that my dad has seen many pivotal moments in my riding career. From the rst championship on my
pony to the regionals win last year with my eq horse, he always has tried his best to come and support me. My dad is, without a doubt, the Father of the Year.Some parents might have attended more of their kids’ shows, helped more often with the care of the horses, or pushed their kids to higher levels in the sport, but my parents would still be Father and Mother of the Year. My mom and dad have been there for me in every regard through the thick and thin moments of my junior career, encouraging me to chase my goals over the past ten years and committing to supporting me in pursuing higher education and continued riding in the years to come. If they aren’t the Father and Mother of the Year, I don’t know who is. Thank you for your time and consideration, Ella Delgado2024 FATHER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERKEVIN FISCHER BY JULIE FISCHERI would like to nominate my dad, Kevin Fischer, for the OHJA Father of the year award. Ever since I started riding, he has been one of my greatest supports.It started (and continues) with him driving out to watch almost every single one of my lessons, de-spite how busy his multiple jobs make him, and it goes on.For shows, he’s built the horses a whole shade system so they don’t get too warm. When it was 100 degrees, he carried the heavy water buckets during rounds in case the horses were thirsty. He wakes up really early and goes to the show grounds to do the 6:30 feed, water, and muck job so we I could sleeping in after a day of competing. You’ll always see him at shows carrying my water bottle and his special red bag of bootshine, a rag, treats, and a hoof pick. And a couple of times he’s driven 2 hours round trip to pick up my show coat.When we’re not doing shows, he’s still busy. He sings to the horses when they get upset or nervous (or look bored); our retired mare really likes it when he sings songs by The Doors. He’ll drive me to the barn just so I can spend like 5 minutes with the horses then go home - that’s 1 hour round trip. He’s even driven me to Gallops when I’ve needed new boots even though he had a thing for work to do.Most importantly, he patiently puts up with everything that comes his way- whether I’m tired, ner-vous, hot, or hungry. He’s there.Even if he does not get selected as the OHJA father of the year, he will still be the best dad and horse dad. He has done much more than some others would do so their child could ride, and I am insanely grateful for what he has done for me so far and all he will do for me in the future.FATHER OF THE YEAR AWARD (5)ROY NOTOWITZ BY BETH NOTOWITZI’m writing to nominate Roy Notowitz for the Father of the Year Award. What truly sets Roy apart is his consistent presence and unwavering support. He attends every event, from weekend lessons to shows, always offering encouragement when needed. He was dedicated to attending many events this year from shows at home to others in Sonoma, Bend, Canada, Temecula and Thermal. During horse shows, he is often seen at the ring offering support and cheering on all the riders.What makes Roy special isn’t just his presence at every show, but how he’s fully there in each mo-
ment beaming with pride. He celebrates Ayla’s efforts as much as her achievements, teaching her that her worth isn’t tied to perfection. His adoration for his family shines as his guiding light, inspir-ing him to be not just a better father, but a better horse dad. I strongly believe Roy exemplies the values this award represents.Thank you for your consideration.FATHER OF THE YEAR AWARD (6)ROY NOTOWITZ BY AYLA NOTOWITZI’m nominating Roy Notowitz for the father of the year award because of his unwavering support and commitment to ensuring that I can accomplish all my dreams. He shows up to almost every single Saturday morning lesson and every single horse show because he doesn’t want to miss out on any parts of my journey. No matter if it’s good or bad, if I win or if I lose, he’s always there cheering me on and telling me he’s proud. He often follows me around videoing every round no matter if it’s rain or shine. When I receive unexpected texts about my riding from distant family members or com-ments from random people, that’s when I know my dad’s been busy bragging about my accomplish-ments, simply because he’s proud. His love and support hasn’t only affected me, but also every other person in our barn. He runs from ring to ring at horse shows even if he has no idea where he’s going or what he’s watching just to be there to support the whole team. His affection has touched not only my heart, but the hearts of all my friends as he continues to spread his love to everyone. His infec-tious heart is a one of a kind and I’m so very fortunate to have him as my father.MOTHER OF THE YEAR AWARD (1)AMANDA PALMER BY PAYTON COFFLANDI would like to nominate Amanda Palmer for the mother of the year award. She takes time off work to travel to shows to support me, gives my horses endless cookies, and is continuously helping me grow my career as a professional. 2024 MOTHER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER JENNIFER STALEY BY DILLON TUNGMy name is Dillon Tung and I am writing to nominate Jennifer Staley to receive mother of the year.Jen is the most kind, caring, and seless person. She is a hard working single mother to my good friend and fellow rider, Olivia Staley. Jen is like superwoman, wether it’s accompanying Olivia to the barn after working long shifts, spending all day at a show and working remotely from our tent, or simply offering to give me a ride home if I don’t have one. She is always there with a smile if any of us have had a bad round, or a rough lesson. She has an optimistic outlook and always reminds me to see the good in an unfortunate situation. She is like a mother to all of us at Kimberlinn, and a great friend to my mom and dad. She always makes things happen for Olivia, even if money is tight or her work schedule is full. From shows in California to Olivia’s rst horse, she made it work. Jen juggles so many things and makes it look effortless. She’s just one woman who manages to give her daughter the world and more.MOTHER OF THE YEAR AWARD (3)LISA SCHALE-DRAKE BY EMMA DRAKEFor the mother of the year nominations I would like to nominate my mom Lisa Schale-Drake. For 4 years now she has driven me to horse shows, woken up early with me, helped me get ready for my class, and much more. She has always been there for me and I would like her to know that with more than me just telling her. Thank you
MOTHER OF THE YEAR AWARD (4)MADELINE FALLON BY JESSICA TSUIMother of the year, Madeline Fallon, nominee Jessica Tsui, Jessica is always supporting and helping out. She shows up even when her kid isn’t showing.MOTHER OF THE YEAR AWARD (5)BRITTANY CONANT BY RILEY CONANTMother of the year, I would like to nominate Brittany Conant, because she brings us to every horse show from Oregon to Canada. She takes out hours from her day to take me and my sister to the barn. She is very supportive to me and my ponies. Both of my ponies recognize her when she walks to them, they know she is very caring and kind. She is always there for me at the shows, even if it means running back to the barn to get me a pair of spurs or a safety vest. This would be a great way to show my thanks to my amazing mom! I think she would really deserve this award, so she can get recognized for all the hard work she does!MOTHER OF THE YEAR AWARD (6)BETH DELGADO BY ELLA DELGADOMy mother, Beth Delgado, deserve the award for Mother of the Year and should’ve been nominated for the previous ten, but I will make up for lost time now. In a world of supportive parents, mine are the ones who form the foundation of each one of my goals. My parents went into this sport without a clue and supported me anyway. I’ve been riding for ten years now, and there has never been a time where the goal I was chasing was too big, too challenging to accomplish, or too far away. My parents entered the sport utterly blind to the hunter/jumper world and its many costs, but they have supported me and my passions regardless. They made sure this was what I wanted and, from there, supported me and gave me every opportunity they could. My parents chose the barn well and always ensured I enjoyed the lessons and my excellent trainers. I feel so lucky they started me at a barn that goes from lessons to A shows. When it came time for me to get my own pony and later get many other horses, they always put safety rst and then looked for ability. From the rst pony to pack me around the short stirrup to the latest jumper with the scope to jump a 1.45 track, my parents wanted me to have the tools of success and the partnership to go with it. In addition to supporting the sport and horsemanship, my parents supported my education alongside riding. They saw a pas-sion for both and made them happen, even though it meant transferring to an online school for my high school education and spending more time away from them.My mother deserves recognition in equal or greater measure than my father. Although she did not express the same interest in it as my dad, she did more for me and supported me more than I can speak. Horses were never her thing, but they were mine, and she let me chase every goal even though the horses worried her. She drove an hour every day so I could take lessons and let me quit my other after-school activities to focus on riding. She often asked me if I needed new gear or clothes, always wanting me to have the proper form and function of my riding. My mother gave up many hours in cars, planes, and ringside to support me. She brought me to nearly every show, from the rst time in the desert to my rst Maclay nal. My mother had always supported me, even when her apprehension stopped her from watching directly. She often stands ringside, facing away from the arena as soon as I walk in and turning back around to cheer for me as I walk out. She never let her nerves stop me from competing or worry me. Even as I stepped into the jumper ring and spiked her nerves even higher, she was there for me. My mother also ensured that I remained aware of the privilege of competing and having horses as part of my ambitions. She was a big proponent of giv-ing treats, patting the horse after the ride, and giving thanks to the grooms who ran the show be-
hind the scenes. Her reminders shaped how I treat my horses and those around me. My mom stood ringside for a long time, and even when she stopped, it never stopped her from supporting me. My mother sent me to shows without her, knowing I loved it and it was worth it even if she didn’t love it or life was too hectic to join me. She called me every night to see how I was and how the day went and wanted me to continue to ride. My mom watched me step in the ring for the rst time in Ther-mal aboard my pony, and she’s seen nearly every comeback, fall, and victory there is with the same pride and support. My mom is undoubtedly the Mother of the Year. Some parents might have attended more of their kids’ shows, helped more often with the care of the horses, or pushed their kids to higher levels in the sport, but my parents would still be Father and Mother of the Year. My mom and dad have been there for me in every regard through the thick and thin moments of my junior career, encouraging me to chase my goals over the past ten years and committing to supporting me in pursuing higher education and continued riding in the years to come. If they aren’t the Father and Mother of the Year, I don’t know who is. Thank you for your time and consideration, Ella DelgadoMOTHER OF THE YEAR AWARD (7)JENNIFER STALEY BY OLIVIA STALEYWhenever I show up to the barn without my mom, the rst thing everyone says to me is “Where’s your mom?”. That just about sums up the kind of person that she is. My mom brings such a caring and optimistic personality to the barn. She will go the extra mile for everyone and everything. You can often nd her walking the dogs at the barn for fun, giving some love to the retired horses, taking videos of everyone who’s riding, or just making people laugh. My mom never knew horses before I started riding so she learns along with me, and tries her hardest to keep up. Since my rst lesson she has been more supportive than words can explain. She gives me absolutely everything, including my rst horse, who now has her own Christmas stocking in our house. Whether I have the best or worst round of my life she is always cheering me on with a smile. She will gladly work remotely from the barn and our show tent, or even take time off of her crazy work schedule just to make time for me to do what I love. She’ll happily wake up before sunrise, and stay past dark just to watch me, or anyone from the barn. She’s a go-to woman that you can always count on. My mom is a single mother who’s given me the world. She’s made me who I am today and her support has gotten me to where I am today. She truly is so magical and the best person I know.MOTHER OF THE YEAR AWARD (8)SAMANTHA RAY BY BETH NOTOWITZI’m writing to nominate Samantha Ray for the Mother of the Year Award. Through her tireless dedica-tion to our barn and community, she has made a lasting impact on countless families.Samantha has gone above and beyond in her volunteer work, taking on multiple responsibilities that ensure every rider, trainer and groom feels valued and included. One of her most notable contribu-tions has been coordinating gift-giving initiatives. She carefully organizes these efforts to ensure that our auction items, holiday gifts and team apparel are extra special while she also participates in an Adopt-A-Family Christmas foundation program as an Adopting Angel. Her commitment to the team extends far beyond typical volunteer duties. What truly sets Samantha apart is her unwavering dedication to her family, her horses and dogs. Her contributions to our pro-gram’s success, combined with her genuine care for others, make her an outstanding candidate for the Mother of the Year Award.
MOTHER OF THE YEAR AWARD (9)MADELINE HOHL BY ANNA HOHLI would like to nominate my mother, Anna Hohl, for the OHJA Mother of the Year Award. My journey with horses began almost ten years ago, and since then, my mom has been my unwavering support-er, encouraging my dreams. Her dedication to my passion for horses goes far beyond just driving me to the barn and taking me to lessons. She has devoted countless hours to help me achieve my dreams. Whether it’s attending every show and being the best horse show mom ever, or volunteer-ing at Pony Club events, my mom has always been there for me. Most recently, my family and I pur-chased a new horse. My mom has worked tirelessly and put in so much effort to bring my dream into reality. Even with her busy schedule, she has always made sure that I have had the resources I need to succeed in the equestrian world. She has supported my equestrian goals while also balancing the goals of my brother and sister, ensuring that each of us feels equally valued and supported in our individual passions. She’s not only my mom, but my biggest supporter, role model, and inspiration, and I am so incredibly grateful for all that she’s done and continues to do. Without her continuous dedication, generosity, and patience, I would never be where I am today, which is why I truly believe that she is more than deserving of the OHJA Mother of the Year Award.2024 SCHOOL HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERWILLOW BY ROBERTA FALLONSchool Horse of the year, Madeline Fallon, horse Willow (Katie Cornwell), willow has taken the through my rst show season. She was such and great teacher, and I was able to ride her at so many shows this summer.2024 SCHOOL HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERWILLOW BY EMMA DRAKEFor the school horse nomination I would like to nominate Willow from Westside stables. Willow is an amazing horse. She is a great teacher and such a sweet loving horse. Willow was the horse that took me to my rst horse shows and I have seen her take many other riders to there rst show as well. This is why I would like to nominate Willow. Thank you!2024 SCHOOL HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERWILLOW BY LISA SCHALE-DRAKEI am honored to nominate Willow, a sweet and patient horse from Westside Stables, for School Horse of the Year.Willow is the gentlest of teachers and a true partner in developing young/green riders. My daughter had the privilege of riding Willow for nearly four years, during which time she learned to be a qui-et, patient rider while also understanding the importance of clear communication to build a strong partnership. Willow took my daughter from her rst show in the Trot-a-Pole division all the way to condently competing at 2-foot.After we transitioned to our rst full lease, a fellow barn friend began consistently riding Willow. True to her reputation, Willow remained the ultimate “condence booster,” and the new pair went on to win several championships throughout this summer in the 18-inch division.Willow excels in teaching riders the foundational skills needed to become thoughtful, balanced, and compassionate equestrians. She is gracious in the face of mistakes, providing her riders the space to grow and learn without fear. Without horses like Willow, these essential lessons might never be developed.Beyond her incredible teaching abilities, Willow is the denition of sweet. Her quiet and loving dis-
position makes her a joy to be around and a barn favorite. Riders, and parents alike, look forward to seeing her every week.Thank you for considering Willow for this honor. She is truly one of a kind and an irreplaceable part of our barn family.SCHOOL HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARD (4)HARLEY aka LASTING IMPRESSION BY BROOKE MCLEODWe all have horses that touch our lives. The horse that I am nominating for School Horse of the Year holds a very special place for me. Although he is recently retired, this horse taught many people. He was the one I could put anyone on, from the smallest beginner to the most advanced rider. For the ones who did not know how to ride, he was the best babysitter and the more a person knew the more difcult he would become. Always such an amazing teacher and a gentle giant. His career as a show horse consisted of all three rings from the amateur jumpers to the OHJA Medal Finals to the International Derbies. When he transitioned into the school horse life, he did everything from Trot-a-pole to the .75m jumpers and took care of his people. The last person who showed him suffered from debilitating anxiety. He took her around the 2’ hunters and equitation, helping her win multiple classes and instill a condence that she did not know she had. This special horse has so many stories from many different students. Although he enjoys his retirement, this horse is deserving of the award for all he has done as a lesson horse and all the people he has taught to be better horsemen. For this reason, I nominate Harley aka Lasting Impression of Pax Diem Equestrian Center. Respectfully submitted by Brooke McLeodSCHOOL HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARD (5)CHARLY OBOLENSKY BY KATY LIDSTERCharly is owned by my trainer, Kati Traunweiser of Phoenix Farm, and is a 2005 Westfalian gelding. I think he’s the perfect nominee for this award because even though he wasn’t meant to be a school horse, he’s become the best example of one. He spent his younger years winning in the 1.45ms in Europe then competing successfully in the big derbies stateside. There are videos of him all over the internet jumping massive spreads with ease and looking like a gorgeous grey unicorn doing it with his signature tongue sticking out. Unfortu-nately, just as his magical career was taking off, injury struck and it was questionable if Charly would jump again, let alone compete successfully on the big tracks. Despite the uncertainty, Kati purchased him and with care and patience the rehab was successful. He now lives at Phoenix farm where he truly embodies a new type of unicorn status teaching stu-dents of all ages and abilities. Charly helped me get back into the show ring and fall in love with going fast in the jumper ring, something which encouraged me to eventually buy my own horse. Watching Charly inspire that same joy with other clients over the years has been truly wonderful. Just this summer at 19 years old he took our assistant trainer to an impressive 11th place nish at her rst national hunter derby, a young nervous kid to cross-rails hunter champion at a schooling show, and an adult ammy to multiple blue ribbons in the jumpers. He steps into any ring with a winning attitude and takes care of his rider no matter the height, pace, or situation, then is happy to come home and plod around in with a beginner at summer camp. How many horses can do that reliably and soundly? All he asks in return is some peppermints at the in-gate or back in his stall. He’s taught so many riders at our farm to be brave and capable while being patient, sweet, a gor-geous mover and with just enough sass to ensure you’re always paying attention - exactly what a dream school horse should be! Charly is truly a real life unicorn, even if he’s sometimes a little more poop brown instead of white, and I feel so lucky to know and love him. I hope that the rest of the OHJA community can understand how special Charles is and celebrate him too!
SCHOOL HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARD (6)ROCKET MAN BY MARYA PETTINGILLI would like to nominate Rocket Man, of Meg Dunne Training to be considered for School Horse of the year. He has spent easily the last 10 years being an excellent school horse, taking young riders from their rst rides to their rst-rated show. I would love to see him recognized for his years of dedi-cated work as a school horse. Thank you, Marya PettingillSMOOTH JAZZ AWARD WINNERAKIKO HAMADA BY MARYA SAMANTHA RAYI am honored to nominate Akiko Hamada for the 2024 OHJA Smooth Jazz Perpetual Trophy. Akiko’s unwavering dedication as a horsewoman and trainer embodies the principle that “the horse comes rst”. Her seless commitment to the horses in her care is evident in every aspect of her work. When a horse joins Akiko’s program, she makes a heartfelt promise to always be there for them and to enhance their lives in every possible way. Whether it’s through the careful development of a young horse—taking the time to provide a solid foundation for a long, successful career and a com-fortable life after competition has ended —or saying goodbye to a horse that has been in her care for decades with dignity and compassion, Akiko consistently prioritizes what is best for the animal, even when it may not be the most popular or protable choice. In addition to her direct care for the horses, Akiko instills in her students the vital lesson that it is always “about the horse.” She encourages them to pursue their goals and dreams by maintaining a focus on their relationships with the animals. For Akiko, true victory lies not in the color of the ribbons but in the connections formed and the betterment of the horses’ lives. Through her actions and teachings, she exemplies true horsemanship and is nurturing the next generation of horse people, promoting stewardship and a profound dedication to the welfare of our equine partners.Thank you for your consideration,Samantha RaySMOOTH JAZZ AWARD (2)LISA CAMPBELL, DVM BY LYNN OLSONI would like to nominate Lisa Campbell, DVM for the 2024 Smooth Jazz Perpetual Trophy. Lisa has been an integral part of the Oregon Hunter Jumper community for 20+ years. As a veterinarian, Lisa has deep knowledge of what it takes to care for the vital members of our sport...the horses. Lisa navigates her challenging profession with compassion and humor. I deeply appreciate her ability to keep my horses happy and healthy with minimal treatment. I believe there is no one more deserving of this award than Lisa.
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD (1)ALYSSA MARCHINGTON BY SHELLY CAMPFDear OHJA Special Awards Committee,Volunteerism is a wonderful thing that few do better than my nominee. Over the past few years, this person has jumped in with both feet in her role with the OHJA. She asked a lot of questions and more importantly, really tried to learn about all the things that she could about being a contributor to the greater good of the OHJA and local governance. She inquired and consequently learned about so many rules that would never have been relevant to her if not for her role on the OHJA Board of Directors. While she can have a ery personality, she uses that vigor to try to carry the proverbial torch for our local hunter jumper organization. She is not afraid of the tough questions and has a real sense of follow through. At the Team NW shows, she singlehandedly pitched a tent, lost a tent, and then remedied the situation to be ready to ip burgers and create a fun OHJA booth. This is only a snippet of the contributions made by my nominee, Alyssa Marchington, for the 2024 OHJA Volun-teer of the Year Award.VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD (2)SAM SHAHBAZI BY LYNN OLSONI would like to nominate Sam Shahbazi for volunteer of the year! I cannot think of anyone more deserving this year! Sam has not only given her time on the board of the OHJA, but she is constantly donating toward year end awards and the horse shows. We are thankful for all Sam has done for the Oregon Hunter Jumper community, while she is busy growing her own business.VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERBEKA SWAN BY ALYSSA MARCHINGTONBeka’s tireless dedication and leadership have been instrumental in keeping OHJA not just running, but thriving. Her keen ability to identify gaps in our operations and swiftly step up to ll them has been invaluable, demonstrating a level of commitment that goes above and beyond. As a respected leader within both our organization and the broader community, Beka’s presence and contributions have singlehandedly contributed to the success of this group, from expertly running the year-end banquet to pitching in crucial support for Medal Finals. Her remarkable talent for nding positive solutions to challenges has fostered a culture of growth and positivity. Beka’s unwavering support and leadership make her an exceptional candidate for the OHJA Volunteer of the Year award, and we count ourselves incredibly fortunate to have her as an integral part of our community.VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD (4)SERIN VON MARENHOLTZ BY Patti Blasko, Jill Brooks, Kathleen Dernbach, Adrian Downes,Kathleen and Rachel Gerber, Hope Grauel, Alena Guggenheim, Jen and Adelaide Hess, Kathy Kerron, Kim MacKay, Lexi McCormick, Kristin Meira, Vera, Lara and Emily Sell, Kristin and Audrey SponaugleA number of us from the Echelon Training program, listed below, are nominating Serin von Maren-holtz as Volunteer of the year.Serin has been very involved and has spent many hours with the JEF as well as other aspects of OHJA. Serin is so hard working, and this shows in her volunteer work for OHJA for sure. Some exam-ples include: Serin recruited Jen Hess to help her step up for OHJA’s concussion awareness event. Serin was one of the driving forces in developing this program and led the execution of the event including send-ing out invites to the event, posting on OHJA’s social channels, working with Gallops to obtain priz-
es, coordinating with Devonwood to host the event, obtaining all the food and beverages for the event and ultimately being the leader of the event activities. Serin asked Jen to come help set up and Jen was proud to see Serin successfully lead a team of volunteers throughout the experience, making sure everyone was on time, prepared to present or just having fun. There was a great mix of riders, as well as an equal representation of trainers from all levels of Hunter/Jumper programs there to listen and learn which showed that Serin has positive connections throughout our commu-nity. As a young volunteer and professional, Serin relates so well to the junior riders as well as treats the accomplished amateurs and her professional peers with respect and admiration. Serin is a pas-sionate advocate for helmet and concussion safety. A presentation was also organized for Eastern Oregon. Adelaide Hess also has had a very positive experience with Serin leading the OHJA’s Jr board team. Serin spearheaded this group of young riders during this past year. Addie commented that Serin was organized in leading their meetings and communicated clearly. Serin showed excitement and lis-tened to new ideas from the riders and pushed this team of Jr board members to be ambitious and in return they all listened to and respected Serin. Many of us also observed Serin’s hard work at the Wilsonville show during the medal nals a few months ago. This included the written test, awards presentations, etc. Serin is very dedicated to OHJA! This was even more impressive this year as Serin was also dealing with an injury for much of the year.