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Members of the National OPRC Board of DirectorsMeet the National Old People's Riding Club Board of Directors:  President: Shiela HavilandLa Plata , MD I'm a military brat, born and raised in Wiesbaden, Germany. My father bought our first horse when I was about eight. That first horse experience was NOT optimal for a kid, but I loved riding so much that I ignored the fact that our three year old Hanoverian was determined to give me a run for my money, every single time I rode him. My father provided me with the best riding instruction our money could buy and the rest was up to me. After years of tears and numerous injuries, at 15 I couldn't take it any more and vowed to never look at another horse again. As it is in many horse families, horses are in our blood. Once my daughters were old enough to know what a horse was, my father was more than happy to put them in the saddle. That started my love affair with horses all over again. All I had to do was smell them and feel their warm muzzle and I was hooked. My oldest daughter joined the United States Pony Club and I fulfilled my duties as a Pony Club mom. I served as a joint-DC, as the Maryland Regional Secretary, the local/regional Webmaster and anything else that needed to be done. Even though I enjoyed my time as a Pony Club mom, I couldn't wait to concentrate on my own riding again. I saw OPRC as exactly what I needed. So far, I’ve been right. OPRC has given me the opportunity to try things with my horse, that I only dreamed of and the people are so accepting.  Vice President : Betsy BurnettJeffersonton, VA I grew up outside of Philadelphia, hunted with Pickering, and got my B rating from that Pony Club. I managed to show a lot at the big shows when one didn't need a $75,000 horse in order to get a ribbon; my hunter WAS my show horse. We were fortunate to live in an area where everything horsy was the norm so I tried it all. After marriage and a few other things, the family moved to Virginia into yet another horsy area. I was head of the local Pony Club for five years and judged the Stable Management part of Regional rallies for ten years. In between I ran a lot of horse events in the neighborhood. I still foxhunt, event, and teach. Not having enough to do!!, I decided to start an OPRC club in 2002 with emphasis on eventing. All 45 members are invited to participate in our monthly mounted meetings and also to enjoy “extra curricular activities" when the opportunity presents itself. The members have been exposed to, and have participated, in many things they would not have tried were it not for joining OPRC.  Secretary: Whitney WilliamsSeverna Park, MD I began riding at the age of 10, and 30 years later, I'm still at it. My focus is primarily hunter/jumper; however, OPRC has opened my world to other disciplines as well. I've enjoyed a mix of dressage, cross country, and even the occasional barrel racing opportunity at a fun show. My goal for this organization is to maintain a friendly, open opportunity for adult riders of all disciplines to get together for fun, educational equine activities. I hope to see this club grow to thousands across North America so that wherever I travel, I can say I have an OPRC friend there!  Member at Large: Karen FreemanDallas, OR As a child, I dreamed of galloping through fields and jumping logs on my own horse. A few riding lessons during my Jr. High years in Birmingham, Mich. were as close as I ever came to that growing up. 22 years ago, we moved to the countryside in Dallas, Or. One year later, we purchased our first horse, a POA for the kids. How we didn't kill the poor pony I don't know. With 21 years now of owning and learning about horses, it is a miracle that she did survive our incompetence. I see OPRC as such a great tool to help people to acquire the knowledge needed to be good, responsible horse owners. It is such a great way to meet other people with like interest and gather the support needed in the ups and downs of horse ownership.  Treasurer: Liza V. CraigUpper Marlboro, MD I was born in NYC, but raised on Capitol Hill in Washington,
DC. I attended college in New England, but returned
to the DC area after graduating. My husband, Peter,
and I live in Upper Marlboro, MD with our daughter,
Eryn (age 12), a pony clubber who has been riding since
the age of 5. We own two wonderful horses: Cricket
(my daughter's 12 year old 15'3 registered paint mare)
and Jameson (my 6 year old 16'3 percheron x hackney
gelding). My husband does not ride, but he supports
us avidly and patiently from either the ground or from
the safety of the truck! I started riding when I was about 13, and I rode every
summer until I went away to college. Living in the
heart of Washington, DC, it was difficult to get to
the barn, but my parents thankfully made the effort.
I did not resume riding until my daughter began to
ride in 2001. She took to it quickly, and that
gave me an excuse to once again explore my passion.
While my daughter has been working consistently with
local trainers since she began riding, I mostly supported
her from the ground until I began taking formal lessons
myself in 2004. I am an English style rider, I enjoy
trail riding, and I am interested in eventing and fox
hunting. I discovered OPRC quite by accident. A dear friend and fellow rider recently encouraged me to tag along with her to a meeting being hosted by members of the Formidable Founders chapter, and we both joined that evening. When I met such wonderful people who shared my passion for riding and my love for horses, I knew this was the organization for me. OPRC states that its purpose is “to have safe, enjoyable riding activities, meet other riders with fresh new outlooks on the sport, and encourage knowledge of horses all around.” I look forward to doing all of these things in the coming years with OPRC. Back to top |
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