MQHYA Member Spotlight: Abigail Eddy

Nothing inspires holiday cheer quite like the fields of evergreen trees, hot apple cider, strings of Christmas lights, frozen water buckets, long lunging sessions, and the eight blankets that are currently hanging on your horse’s stall. With all of the changes that accompany Christmas and New Year’s, I figured that a unique December spotlight was more than warranted. And who better to help us hone our holiday spirit than MQHYA President, Abigail (Abby) Eddy?

Abby has been involved with the leadership of the Missouri Quarter Horse Youth Association for over five years and is wrapping up her second term as MQHYA President. Equally as impressive, she is also serving her second year as a Region Three Director on the American Quarter Horse Youth Association’s national board! Outside of the equine industry, Abby also serves as the Woodlandville 4-H Past President, 4-H Junior Council Officer, Vice President of the Columbia FFA Chapter, Reporter for FFA Area IV, and DECA District Vice President.

Abby is also incredibly successful in the arena! She competes in the Western All-Around on her mare, “Batt Attitude” (Addie). Although she loves every class included in the All-Around, Abby’s favorite discipline is Horsemanship due to the fact that it is very detail oriented!

When asked what makes MQHYA special to her, Abby mentioned that “our association is like a family” and that “involvement in MQHYA has helped [her] to develop long-lasting friendships”.  Furthermore, if conversing with a youth that was just beginning their youth career in the equine industry, Abby would stress the importance of “jumping in and becoming involved”. She would like to ensure that our youth are aware of the extensive number of opportunities that are offered through AQHYA, some of which do not even require a horse!

In light of the upcoming holidays, Abby has answered a short series of “this or that” questions.

Here are Abby’s holiday preferences:

●     She prefers hot cocoa over apple cider.

●     She likes Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer more than Frosty the Snowman.

●     Abby would rather build a snowman than go sledding.

●     She prefers ornaments over Christmas lights.

●     She hopes for a white Christmas!

●     Abby hates Eggnog!

Abby told me that she believes that Santa put her on the “nice list” this year… As MQHYA’s Reporter, it is my responsibility to check the status of Santa’s list to make sure that our leaders will not be receiving coal in their stockings! Fortunately, the North Pole Times just provided me with her status (pictured below). Good work Abby!

MQHYA wishes everyone a joyful holiday season!

Written by: Hazel Myles
MQHYA Reporter