EOQHA Celebrates with Two of it’s Members

Congratulations to Petite Heart Strings owned by Sheryl Chillson and driven by Randy Storey finishing 6th in the Nation in Sr. Pleasure Driving for 2007 with 14 shows having 11 wins, the mare qualified for the 2007 & 2008 World Shows and was the high point Open and Amateur Pleasure Driving horse for OQHA and EOQHA.

"The real testament here is to the driver who trained and showed her" said Sheryl, of her trainer and friend Randy Storey. "He has been an icon in this event in Ontario for several years. He and "Libby" had some limited showing in 2006, however 2007 was her first full season driving and he took this green horse and drove her with his skill and experience to some great achievements."

As anyone who has ever been to an EOQHA show can attest to, Pleasure Driving is an honoured staple at our shows. Through the years EOQHA has qualified many a great horse for the AQHA World Shows in this elegant event and we are thrilled to see that this tradition is still going strong.

EOQHA board member Debbie Haughton commented; "It's wonderful when our friends do so well, but in this case it is even more special to say because these two our both strong supporters of what we do here in EOQHA, as sponsors, patrons, and board members, Congratulating Sherly and Randy on their success is something whole heartedly shared by each and ever EOQHA member"

EOQHA Remebers A Life Member & Past EOQHA President

Bill Borland, a life member, former executive member and past president, passed away suddenly, at the age of 80, on Tuesday February 19.

Bill leaves behind his wife, Sybil and daughter, Brenda.

In his day, Bill was a work horse for EOQHA, acting as announcer, judge chauffeur, & event organizer.

He will be sadly missed by all those who knew him. EOQHA will be making a donation in Bill's name to the Canadian Diabetic Association.

Miss Docs Melody 1978 – 2008

Bred by J Bar J Quarter Horses of Franklin Tennessee, sired by Doc’s Melody out of a granddaughter of Kool Bars, Miss Doc’s Melody was the type of horse that many considered a living legend right up until her passing in mid February of this year.

Melody was a two time AQHA Western Pleasure World Champion, with multiple superiors in youth, open, & amateur western pleasure and over 800 lifetime points. She was the type of horse, who knew her job, did it well, and made no apologies for the steady performances she knocked out year after year.

She wasn’t a big mare nor was she the flashiest, but she was a textbook version of what AQHA describes as a Western Please horse. With a true sweeping stride, and a cadence that could have operated the grandest of grandfather clocks, watching her lope down the rail was a true vision of poetry in motion.

There is no doubt that this mare was talented, and that her reputation within the industry was admired. It was rare; that even in more recent years when her name would be called out in youth 14 to 18 western pleasure classes with Lucas Rinzema riding that one wouldn’t see a smile sweep across the face of the judge in recognition of her name and amazement at how she still so obviously loved the show ring.

Melody was a very special horse, as the Rinzema & More families will attest to. These two EOQHA families have a long a meaningful history with the sorrel mare, from Bill Rinzema presenting her at the AQHA World Show in the 80’s, to Bernard More earning an AQHA amateur superior in the 90’s, and Kristy Rinzema becoming an AQHA Justin Rookie winner for Ontario in 1998, and going on to be shown successfully by Lucas Rinzema in the new millennium. Melody proved that just like a fine wine, some horses just get better with age. She will be greatly missed as a member of their families and as a member of the EOQHA family.

 

 

This page was last revised June 2, 2008.