Communications Pro Blog

Wissahickon Horse Lovers Organization Forms
By Barbara L. Sherf

They call themselves the Wissahickon Horse-Lovers Organization for Adults or WHOA. Four women, in their late 30s and into their mid-40s, who have been taking riding lessons at Northwestern Equestrian Facility (NWEF) together on and off for over a year, decided to formalize their love of horses and share that passion with other adults.

The women – Sue Landers and Bee Morgan of Mount Airy, Andrea Shumsky of Chestnut Hill and Kristen Bowman-Kavanaugh of Center City – formed the group that had its first meeting at NWEF on Sunday, October 18th. The second meeting, featuring a farrier (person who shoes horses) demonstration and Q&A session, will be held on Sunday, November 15th at 10:30 a.m. Refreshments will be served and the program is free and open to the public.

According to Landers, WHOA’s goal is to provide a forum where adults can learn about horses, connect with other equine-lovers, and have fun. WHOA’s focus is not on any particular equestrian discipline, but on any and all aspects of horse-related interest. The group plans to have monthly meetings, clinics and field trips. They have already visited an equine rescue and several events at the Devon Horse show, and plan to visit an area therapeutic riding program.

Adults are the group’s focus since they often return to horses after not having ridden since being children; this can be challenging since so many horse activities are geared to a younger audience. Adults who have never ridden are also welcome to the group, which sees itself as a vehicle for learning and potentially an entry into lesson programs or riding clubs at local barns.

“Did you watch the steeple chasing event on TV yesterday?” one of the eight women present asked another, prior to the meeting in mid-October. They chatted while gathering to hear the speaker, Tarah Hannes, Assistant Barn Manger of NWEF, talk about horse care, barn management and her experience with miniature horses. NWEF is a city-owned stable run by the Fairmount Park Commission, whose lease has been renewed for 10 years.

Hannes – who remembers drawing horses at the age of 5, and who got to live her dream of owning a horse at age twelve – is very supportive of the group’s efforts. “I think it’s great for the adults in the area that didn’t ride as much as kids and they can learn and support each other. “

Shumsky, who lives on Evergreen Avenue, works as a librarian in Ogontz. “I have been taking lessons on and off for about 8 years and I’ve found this to be very therapeutic and rewarding. I would come riding and be jazzed and go home and nobody there shared that same love of horses. This is a way for us to get together and share information and support each other in our riding.”

Kavanaugh, a civil engineer, always wanted to ride when she was younger, but never got the opportunity. She learned to ride while at college and has returned to riding over the past few years. “We thought it would be nice to do something outside of lessons. We jokingly talk about franchising WHOA and going worldwide, but really it’s just a place where other people like me who wanted to get involved in horses can. I feel lucky that I have a place to go to ride and can afford to ride. “ Kavanaugh said she hoped to get other barns in the Wissahickon involved.

Morgan is a financial services professional whose childhood home was near a small horse farm in Surrey, England. She moved back to Mount Airy in started looking for “something to keep my mind off of work.” She started taking lessons at NWEF in the fall of 2005 and hasn’t looked back.

Danielle Mucciolo, at 23, is one of the younger members of the group. “I guess I’m the first official member and in charge of programming and barbecues,” she joked prior to the meeting, while riding Coosa, an American Quarter Horse, whom she owns and boards at NWEF.

During the meeting Hannes talked about managing the 30 or so horses at NWEF and fielded questions from the group. When the topic turned to first aid and the issue of bloating in horses, several wondered aloud about what the causes were. “Let’s look it up, we have an equine library,” said Kavanugh, pointing to WHOA’s nearly 4 dozen horse-related books housed in the meeting room.

Landers said she hoped that WHOA would give individuals the confidence to move from reading to actual riding. “We see this group as a way for people to expand their knowledge of horses which could lead them to start riding, renting or even owning a horse. It could also prepare them to join local riding groups,” said Landers, who by day works as a medical billing supervisor at an area hospital.

Dr. Thomas Fitzpatrick, President of the Philadelphia Saddle Club, run out of Monastery Stables in Mount Airy, said he did not see WHOA as competition. “Any group that forms to get people more interested in riding in the Wissahickon can only help all of us,” he said, adding that he hoped the WHOA members would bring ‘new blood’ to help organize the annual Wissahickon Day Parade.

“We would love to support the parade and the local equestrian community in general. But mainly, we want to help people move toward their interest in horses,” said Landers.

The group’s tagline sums it up neatly: “WHOA – where your passion for horses doesn’t have to stop”.

For more information about the group, e-mail gowhoa@gmail.com or contact Landers at 215-248-6450. To find out about programs and events at NWEF, visit www.northwesternstables.com.

Barbara Sherf is a communications consultant who has written “The Cowboy Mission: The Best Sermons are Lived…Not Preached” about horseback riding with her father. She can be reached through her web site at http://www.CommunicationsPro.com.

50 Responses to “Wissahickon Horse-lovers Organization for Adults (WHOA)”