YOUTH

Robin LaB�

Pennsylvania competitor keeps the focus on enjoying all the little and big things in life, including horses

Text Corrine S. Borton Photos RG Photo & Shane Rux

Amateur competitor Robin LaBar, of Bangor, Pennsylvania, has the right idea. At 68 she’s at a point in life where she’s already completed a taxing but rewarding career, raised two children and supported a family business. These days, she says, she’s just thankful that she is still healthy enough to be able to work, do what she loves, go where she wants and do whatever she decides to do at the time. “When I get the chance, I sit back, smell the coffee and give thanks for what is still good.” LaBar said. “My goal is to continue to enjoy the little and big things in life.” And that goes for showing horses as well. “My focus has been to create the best ride that I can, and to enjoy the journey,” LaBar explained. “I try not to sweat the end result. At the end of the day, two living, breathing entities do their best to become one and deliver the best performance they mutually can, subject another’s subjective opinion.” Since joining the Ty Hornick Quarter Horses program, located in Jamestown, Ohio, a few years back, LaBar’s focus has been on Western Pleasure. Karen Hornick found RL Sudden Melody (Perry) for LaBar at the 2015 AQHA World Show and brought the 2013 bay gelding by RL Best Of Sudden out of Potential Melody, back to Ohio. “I fell in love immediately,” LaBar said. “Perry was a special horse who appropriately earned the nickname, ‘Perfect Perry’ around the show barn.” In 2028 Robin and Perry won the Amateur Select Western Pleasure at the American Quarter Horse Association’s Level 1 East Championship. “We took a wonderful journey in the world of Western Pleasure,” LaBar said. “He brought me and my show family, Karen and Ty Hornick and assistant, Lauren Louw, many ribbons, prizes, trophies and money.” While the success was great, LaBar says the most special gift Perry gave her was his wonderful, can-do attitude and sweet and cheery nature. “I will always cherish our special journey together,” she said. Early in 2020 LaBar purchased her current show partner, KM BestNTheMoonlite (Louie), a 2017 bay gelding by RL Best Of Sudden out of Golden Moonlite, “Louie has taught me so much about being correct in the saddle,” LaBar explained. “I am really enjoying my time with him and I am impressed with how he has become such a great competitor in the Western Pleasure arena.” LaBar’s passion for horses goes back to when she was just a child. “My aunt, who is six years older than me, received a horse for her birthday when she was a teenager,” LaBar said. “Her interest soon changed to boys, but my passion for horses was born.” Sonny Boy became the object of Robin’s affection and she spent many

happy days on her mother’s family farm, feeding and caring for him. “Although I wasn’t allowed to ride him alone, my great grandfather would lead me around and we’d have great conversations,” LaBar said. “I was that girl who saved my allowance to buy model horses and dream about having my own some day.” Robin grew up in Bangor, Pennsylvania and attended school there. Music was always an important aspect of her life and she began taking clarinet lessons in third grade. “Space for the music program was limited in those days, so my lessons were in the local firehouse down the street form the elementary school,” she explained. “I began thinking of music as a career and added saxophone and piano as I entered secondary school. I participated in concert and marching band from seventh to 12th grade, and assumed the role of student director as a senior. I also participated in choir during my high school years and joined the journalism club in my junior and senior years. After high school LaBar attended West Chester University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education in 1975. “Music was a very intense course of study, and much of my time was devoted to learning new instruments, performing in various performing groups and generally learning my craft,” she said. “In my sophomore year, I joined the Epsilon Kappa chapter of Alpha Phi, an international women’s fraternity. I became president in my senior year, and we worked very hard to transform an ailing chapter into a robust club. It was a wonderful leadership opportunity for us all.” After graduation LaBar returned to Bangor, where she was hired as an elementary general music teacher and choir director and earned a Masters Equivalency by taking courses pertinent to her degree and profession from various universities. It was there that she met her husband, Brad, through a friend. “We were married in 1978 and raised two beautiful children,” she said. “He passed away five years ago.” LaBar retired from teaching in 2012 but continues to work as a receptionist in the family’s fuel delivery business, started by her grandfather and great uncles 80-plus years ago. When she is not showing, LaBar enjoys spending time with her family. Her oldest daughter, Kelli and her husband, John Johnson live in North Carolina and Kelli is still active in the horse industry, previously showing AQHA events, and currently in the Appaloosa Club. Robin’s son, David, lives near her with his wife, Amber and they have a daughter, Annabel Grace, who is a year old now. “I work with my son and siblings, as well as cousins. We are all very close and support each other,” she said. “We share a sense of humor that gets us through our day.” Robin’s life is busy but she makes sure to take the time to enjoy the journey, much of which comes from horses. “I am always working to improve my riding skills and to achieve unity with my horse,” she said. “I enjoy my lessons with my trainers, Karen and Ty Hornick, and Rob Fowler, their assistant. Showing gives me the opportunity to apply my learned skills and to compete against my peers.”

ttt Robin LaBar is pictured on the opposite page (top) with RL Sudden Melody at the AQHA Level 1 East Championship Show in 2018 and with her current show partmer, KM BestNTheMoonlite. On this page she is pictured (top) with her family and winning a trophy at the Tom Powers Futurity with RL Sudden Melody. Amateur Profiles are part of InStride Edition’s editorial content. If you know someone who would make a good subject for an amateur profile email Corrine Borton, Editor, at: CorrineBorton@InStrideEdition.com.