MQHA Member Spotlight: Sheryl Haviland
Name: Sheryl Haviland
Where are you from: I was born in Milan, Missouri and I now live in Ashland, Missouri.
How long have you been showing horses? Oh gosh, probably since I was 12 years old
How long have you been in Missouri? Most of my life, we went to Boise Idaho for 1 year working in the potato fields.
What is your favorite horse show? My favorite horse is …is….is….just all of them.
What is your favorite event to show in? I like the Versatility classes, trail, reining, and ranch classes. I like the different things we do.
What is your favorite class to watch? Reining!!! I love the reining.
Do you have any superstitions when you show? No
Who is your all-time favorite horse? And why? That would probably be Billy, he was a pony when I was a little girl, I could drive him, ride him, braid his mane, drive him to a cart, dress him up like a doll, and he would wear clothes such as a hat. I put an old pair of pants on him once; he did not mind it at all. He would even drag the coon hide when he was training his coon dogs.
If you are not at a horse show, what would we find you doing? I don’t know, cleaning…or doing something with a horse…seems like my life revolves around a horse.
Do you have another job…besides taking care of your horses? No
What is your favorite thing about MQHA? All the people are kind and friendly
Favorite hobby besides showing horses? Maybe watching TV, resting…not sure
Favorite food? Dr. Pepper it’s a thing I have to have every day.
Favorite restaurant? Any good hamburger place, with COVID, I haven’t been eating out too much.
Favorite movie? Anything with John Wayne, he’s my favorite.
Favorite quote? “You better get on the stick”…by me
What is your dream vacation? Getting to go back to the AQHA World show again!
What are you terrible at but love to do anyway? Getting a horse to slide….I can’t get my ass in the saddle and I really want to get a 10 foot slide
What is one thing on your bucket list? To compete in the AQHA world show again.
Tell us something most people don’t know about you? I have lived and breathed horse all my life….but there was one time in my life...8 years of hell that I did not have a horse.
One piece of advice you would like to share with exhibitors who are just getting started? You always have to have faith in yourself and have trust in your horse. You have to have communication your horse.
If there is anything else you would like to share, please tell us! I am very blessed to be my age to get up every day and go to the barn and do horses, they have been my passion my whole life.
