≤ RAIL AND PATTERN Pay It FORWARD

A≤HYA President Colin Luba’s generous, outgoing spirit is contagious.

By Tonya Ratliff-Garrison TONYA RATLIFF-GARRISON THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IS THE OUTSTRETCHED HAND AND easy-going smile. “Hello, I’m Colin Luba. It’s great to meet you.” The 18-year-old relentlessly goes out of his way to make everyone feel welcome. He’s constantly there to lend a hand, offer a bit of advice or just be a cheerleader from the stands. “He’s always there giving of himself,” said Colin’s mother, Lorraine. “That’s just who he is.” Colin, though, says his outgoing personality is due to his mom and his dad, Norman. “That’s the way I’ve always been taught,” he said. “That’s just how my family is and that’s the way it should be.” TColin also credits horses for molding him into the person he is today. “Horses have taught me dedication and hard work among many other things.” Horses have been a part of Colin’s world ever since his par- ents put their 2-week-old son on the back of an American Quarter Horse. “I was very young, and they had to hold me up there,” the Louisville, Kentucky, native said with a smile. Colin credits his family for his generous, outgoing nature. He’s pictured with his father, Norman, mother, Lorraine, and 16-year-old brother, Christopher, who will The Chain of Love be running for an AQHYA state directorship for the first time this year. You don't owe me a thing, I've been there too Colin started out like most, just riding around on trails Someone once helped me out, and around home, but eventually he started showing in 4-H. Just the way I'm helping you He got his first show-caliber Quarter Horse in 2001 and If you really want to pay me back, made it to the AQHYA World Championship Show in 2004. Here's what you do “That first one was a learning experience,” Colin said. “I Don't let the chain of love end with you had some great goes but I didn’t make it back to the finals. I wasn’t quite to that point yet.” -Rory Lee and Jonnie Barnett Although he might not have made the finals, that first

156 JULY 2008 THE AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE JOURNAL ≤

As the AQHYA president this year, Colin Luba’s RAIL AND PATTERN goals were inclusion, expansion and engagement.

TONYA RATLIFF-GARRISON ≤ JIM BRET CAMPBELL

RAIL AND PATTERN RULES TO LIVE BY The 10 principles behind Colin’s success: 1. Everything is a learning experience “I always try to learn by my own mistakes.”

2. Get involved. “Don’t be afraid. Anything that you can do to be involved with AQHYA, your community or anything is worth doing. Try to make the most of every situation. If you do, you’ll make mem- ories that you will cherish for a lifetime.”

3. Always give 100 percent. In February, Colin met Kentucky State Sen. Damon Thayer, State Rep. Jody Richards “But whatever you’re involved in, make sure you give 100 per- and AQHA First Vice President Jim Helzer at a Kentucky legislative reception. cent of yourself. Everybody will see you’re a person who is Youth World experience did open Colin’s eyes to the other on a good track, and you’re headed down the right path.” facets of AQHYA. “We had a great youth adviser from Kentucky, and she 4. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice. was great in showing us what AQHA had to offer at the “I always ask for advice. Even before I became AQHYA pres- state level. Yet when I got to Youth World, I saw all the dif- ident, I was always on the phone with Jackie Rapp, who ferent contests and other ways to get involved.” was president before me, asking for advice. She helped me In 2005, Colin attended his first YES Conference in so much.” Amarillo. There he saw what it was like to be a part of AQHYA leadership. 5. Eliminate the bubble. “I talked about it to a bunch of people, and they told me “Sometimes there’s a bubble out there and you’ve got to I’d be great for the position and I should try to run for a break that bubble. My goal for this past year has been to director. So I ran and was very fortunate to become a direc- make people see they don’t have to be on the outside and tor my first year and got a scholarship committee chair. looking in all the time. They can just come right in and not That’s when I knew I wanted to do something big with have any problems. Any youth that I see, I try and go up to AQHA. I wanted to make a difference.” them and say, ‘Hey, are you having an OK day? Is there some- In 2006, Colin let it known he would be interested in run- thing I can help you with?’ Even just the slightest smile or ning for AQHYA president and in 2007, he was elected. look at somebody makes the difference. They realize, ‘Wow, Colin graduated from high school in May 2007 and decided there’s a place for me.’” to take the year off to concentrate on his AQHYA duties before enrolling in college. 6. Give advice but also listen. “It’s been a great year and a great experience,” Colin said of “You need to be able to give advice, but you also have to be his presidency. “The three biggest things I wanted to do this able to listen and try and incorporate everybody’s advice. year were inclusion, expansion and engagement. That way you can make the best decision for everybody. Be “I wanted us to include more members in what we do, expand a leader, but at the same time, devote a lot of time listening our membership and engage our members on what AQHYA to other people.” has to offer. We get kids and youth advisers who say, ‘Oh, I’ve never even heard about this program that AQHA has.’ 7. Keep a positive attitude. TONYA RATLIFF-GARRISON “Always keep a positive attitude. If you can keep a positive attitude, everybody will see a person in a leadership position and will respect you.”

8. Be passionate about what you do. “If you have a passion for what you do, then you will be remembered for what you’ve done.”

9. Stick out your hand and say hello. “Make yourself known to other people. Be outgoing to the extent that you can. Talk to other kids. It’s all about communica- tion, and being able to communicate with your fellow members.”

10. Make a difference. “Even if it makes the difference in only one person, then it’s worth doing. I feel very strongly about that. When you make a difference in someone’s life, they’ll remember that. The feeling that you get inside is very gratifying. I love making the differ- At the 2007 Ford AQHYA World Championship Show, Colin helped hand out ence in people’s lives.” awards for the scrapbook contest.

158 JULY 2008 THE AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE JOURNAL ≤ There are so many great things to do this,” Colin said. “They were

take advantage of, but nobody knows thrilled to have the money we raised RAIL AND PATTERN about them. So we spent a lot of for them as well as the items, and they time trying to get that information KAYCE CARTER were going to put it all to great use. out to people.” They were very pleased and very Another goal for Colin and his offi- thankful for what we’d done for them. cers this year was raising money for And it was a worthwhile project. They therapeutic riding programs. work miracles.” “We did spend a lot of time on our Colin will soon be handing over community service project, supporting the reins of leadership to the next special equestrians with the therapeu- president and is looking forward to tic riding center. We tried to work starting college this fall at Southern through the Foundation a little bit Colin, along with AQHYA officers Courtney Mull and Jessica Methodist University in Dallas. But more with our project. Our goal was McMullen and Region Five Director Jenna DiNenno, traveled he will always cherish the year he led to Special Equestrians in Warrington, Pennsylvania, to deliver to send four students through the the $3,100 they raised for the therapeutic riding program. AQHA’s youth. program as well as purchase items “When I give a speech, I use a song needed for the therapy group’s wish list.” by called ‘The Chain of Love.’ It’s kind of like In May, Colin, along with AQHYA officers Jessica help somebody out and that person will turn around do McMullen and Courtney Mull and Region Five Director something for somebody else and it will all come back Jenna DiNenno, traveled to Warrington, Pennsylvania, to around. You will see the effects of what one little thing that deliver the $3,100 raised for Special Equestrians Therapeutic you have done. That’s what I try to do.” Riding Program. They also donated four large boxes of items ranging from dewormers to first aid items to office supplies. Tonya Ratliff-Garrison is a field editor for The American “It was a wonderful experience to get to see the children and Quarter Horse Journal. She can be reached at [email protected]. COLIN’S HORSES JEFF KIRKBRIDE COURTESY OF THE LUBAS

Doc Kaper was the horse Colin showed in 4-H and the one that taught him the ropes. KC MONTGOMERY

Blueboy Dreamer was Colin’s first AQHA show horse and the two garnered Colin is now showing Good For The Ladys. He’s pictured here with his trainer, many awards together, including the 2006 youth high-point trail horse. AQHA Pro Horseman Tommy Sheets, at the 2008 Arizona Sun Circuit.

THE AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE JOURNAL JULY 2008 159